Just five years after it opened, the Lake Ronkonkoma Goodwill store is no more. An employee confirmed by phone that the thrift store closed on Sept. 7. The 15,197 square-foot space, located in the Lake Shore Shopping Plaza at 585 Portion Road, will be occupied by a Planet Fitness in late 2019 or early 2020.

“The closing of the Lake Ronkonkoma store is a difficult but necessary decision from a business perspective, to ensure the long-term viability of our organization,” said Goodwill spokesperson Jose Medellin in a recent press release. “The decision to close this store is part of Vision 2020, our 3-year strategic plan, which we implemented to restructure our retail portfolio. After 24 months, this store continues to experience a significant operating deficit.”

Employees will be placed in other employment opportunities within the company, according to Medellin. “Our retail and human resources teams have been working with each employee from the store to relocate those who wish to continue working at a different Goodwill store,” Medellin said.

“Goodwill NYNJ is a nonprofit organization with multiple career opportunities. In addition to our retail division, we provide workforce development services, programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and behavioral health services. This has allowed many of our employees to explore jobs in a different area at our social enterprise,” he added.

Goodwill opened the Lake Ronkonkoma location in 2014 inside the space vacated by Sears Hardware. The only remaining Goodwill in Suffolk County is in East Northport.