NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A nonprofit craft thrift store in Norfolk is looking for help dealing with air conditioning issues during the summertime heat.  

757 Creative ReUse Center relocated to the MacArthur Center in 2023, but since then, Executive Director Beth Dryer said they have been having ongoing problems with their HVAC system.  

“It poses health and safety risks for our employees as well as for our visitors who are in these conditions that are just too warm and too humid,” Dryer said.  

757 Creative ReUse Center is a thrift store and community hub that sells art and craft supplies as well as hosting activities. Dryer said the problems with the AC have yet to be resolved, even after going back and forth with property management.  

“We’ll make a complaint, and they’ll say it’s getting checked, and then they’ll say it’s functioning properly,” Dryer said. “And I have to say, I assure you, it is not functioning properly.”  

Dryer said they have had to close their doors during extreme heat waves because it’s been too unbearable to work inside. Most recently, they announced they will be closed starting Thursday until Sunday due to the situation.  

“Even on days where we are open, it’s uncomfortable to shop in here,” Dryer said. “So people who do come in are saying ‘I would have spent much longer shopping if I had been able to.”

Dryer explained how the situation is taking a toll on their finances.   

“In the past six weeks, we’ve gone through two-thirds of our cash reserves trying to maintain people’s salaries and dealing with the loss of sales,” Dryer said.   

The MacArthur Center is owned by the city of Norfolk. A spokesperson for the city sent 10 On Your Side a statement about the situation, which reads as follows:  

“The SL Nusbaum Property Management team has been actively working to remedy the HVAC issues in the area directly impacting 757 Creative ReUse Center. From the time the issues began in mid-June, property management has been very responsive and made consistent efforts to remedy the warmer than normal temperatures as contractors await the shipment of HVAC equipment, parts and availability of manpower. Final work was scheduled with the contractor for today, however, their team faced a scheduling conflict and were short-staffed, moving the estimated completion of repairs to tomorrow and Saturday,”

— Kelly R. Straub, Director, Department of Communications & Marketing 

Dryer said that she does not have much faith left in the AC getting fixed any time soon.  

“When somebody tells you something’s going to be fixed so many times and it’s still not fixed, it leaves you feeling like they don’t have a plan for fixing it,” Dryer said.  

Since Dryer is not optimistic that things will be fixed soon, she said they don’t plan to remain at in their current location for another summer. The nonprofit is currently fundraising to get enough money to move out as soon as possible.  

“We’re just trying to survive long enough that we can get out of here and get into something else that’s more suitable for us,” Dryer said.   

If you would like to support this 757 Creative ReUse Center, here is a link to their fundraiser.