The Capitol Hill Value Village, beloved by hipsters and bargain hunters alike has closed its doors. The thrift shop was a focal point of the Pike-Pine corridor of Capitol Hill, a modest store for regular people in a sea of boutiques, clubs, and overpriced restaurants.

The company had been renting the original REI building on the corner of Pine and 11th for several years. A spokesperson reported that, “unfortunate, business conditions … made it necessary” to close the landmark store. Employees laid off from the Capital Hill location were encouraged to apply for positions at other locations.

The now-empty building is a historical landmark with some degree of legal protection. The Pike/Pine Conservation District must clear any new construction. Its current goal is to allow developers to build taller buildings in exchange for keeping portions of the original buildings they replace. The building was once involved in a plan for a 75-foot tall office/mixed-use development project, but current plans for the building are unclear. Construction on the building could start as late as fall 2016, leaving the building empty for over a year. There is currently no interim tenant.

Value Village’s closure has become an endorsement for rent control. There is speculation that the store was unable to pay rising rent costs as the neighborhood became more desirable. Supporters of rent control point the  shops closure as evidence that more needs to be done to stop the gentrification of Capitol Hill.

The Capitol Hill Value Village was notorious among young people on a budget as the best thrift shop in Seattle. It was the place to find unique, trendy, or vintage clothes for cheap. A favorite of Prep students too, senior Evan Sarantino’s post lamenting the stores closure  received 129 likes on Instagram. The Value Village was the  perfect place to shop for Color Wars, Homecoming week, or themed basketball games. With its great selection, low prices, and close proximity to Ranch Bravo Tacos and Cal Anderson Park, the shop was perfect for a lunchtime shopping spree or as a highlight of a leisurely afternoon on “The Hill.” Even Macklemore responded to the closure with a tweet on October 28.