Loving God and Loving Neighbors Since 1844

Important News About The Key Consignment Shop

Dear friends and neighbors in Cazenovia: 

It is with sadness for the closing of a chapter and gratitude for the support of our community that we announce that on July 31, The Key consignment store, which has been part of our community since 1960, will permanently close. We arrived at this difficult decision after much prayer, listening, and discernment. 

The Key has been a cornerstone of our community, offering residents a place to purchase affordable, gently-used clothes and household goods. At its founding, the purpose of The Key was to fund the ministries of the women of our church through the profits of the store. Over time, our purpose shifted and we were proud to put our profits directly back into our community through grants for local organizations like Caz Cares and Vera House.

Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, The Key has been operating at a loss for several years. This has created significant financial strain on our congregation, a reality which was only exacerbated by the pandemic. When our last Executive Director resigned in early 2023, we realized that we were unable to afford to hire a new director, leaving us with only a manager and a part-time assistant manager. The deficit budget of The Key meant that we had to borrow from our church’s endowment to meet operating expenses. Declining numbers of volunteers meant that we were trying to operate with a fraction of the required people to help the store run smoothly. The financial challenges we are facing have made it impossible to continue. 

Despite these challenges, the decision to close The Key was a difficult one because we know that many in our community have relied on The Key for affordable shopping and a place to consign their own goods. However, we believe and are hopeful that this new season will provide an opportunity for us to continue conversations with you, our neighbors, as we explore new and impactful ways to serve and strengthen our Cazenovia community, a community of which we are proud and grateful to be part. 

To our staff, volunteers, and the entire community, we extend our heartfelt thanks. Your dedication and support have sustained The Key through many years. We plan to honor you all at a closing celebration, with details to follow.

Rev. Rebecca Roberts, Rector of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, shares these thoughts:

"It is never easy to say goodbye to something that has been a significant part of our church and community for so long. We are deeply grateful for the countless hours of service and the unwavering support from our volunteers, staff, and community members. While this is the end of an era, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter for St. Peter's. We remain committed to our mission of sharing God's love through caring for our neighbors and one another. We trust that this change will open new doors for us to serve and connect with our community in meaningful ways."

St. Peter's Episcopal Church is a small but vibrant congregation dedicated to sharing the good news of God's love in Jesus Christ by caring for our neighbors and each other. We thank you for your understanding and support during this transition and look forward to discovering new avenues to contribute to the well-being of our neighbors and community.

With gratitude and hope,

Rev. Rebecca Roberts, Rector

McEwan Van der Mandele, Senior Warden
Suzanne Evans, Junior Warden
Cynthia Curtin, Betsy Moore, Tim McCay, Tim Galbreath, Rick Lounsbury, Lorie Riedl, Vestry Members