Lawrence’s Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store — a longtime magnet for bargain hunters and financially struggling families — is going out of business.

Brenda Climer, the store’s manager, said the business would close May 29. She said the store, located in the Southern Hills Mall at 23rd Street and Ousdahl Road, was struggling to compete in a growing market of businesses that specialize in reselling merchandise.

“As far as we can tell, there is just too much competition in this town,” Climer said. “There’s all types of used clothing stores downtown anymore.”

The store is part of the national nonprofit Disabled American Veterans organization. The store’s proceeds support programs that help care for veterans who were injured during times of war or armed conflict. The store resold merchandise — everything from clothing to books — that had been donated.

Climer said she thought the store helped financially struggling families find a way to make ends meet.

“We get a lot of families who have quite a few kids come in here because they can’t afford to buy clothes anyplace else,” Climer said. “We sold baby clothes for a quarter and kids’ clothes for 65 cents.”

The store was busy on Tuesday as shoppers took advantage of a going-out-of-business sale. Many shoppers said they were sad to learn of the store’s closing.

“We go to some thrift stores, and you’ll see stuff that is only a couple of cents cheaper than brand new,” said Jody Smith, a Pomona resident who was shopping Tuesday at the store. “This place seems to be a better deal for the people.”

Climer said the store had been open at least 16 years but didn’t know when it opened. It employs six people.

Hollings Worth, McLouth, shops for a dress at the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store, 1601 W. 23rd St. The store's going-out-of-business sale attracted a steady flow of shoppers on Tuesday.

At least one large nonprofit thrift store, Goodwill Industries at 2200 W. 31st St., and several private used-goods businesses have opened during the past five years.

Several used-goods store operators said Tuesday that their businesses remained strong.

“Business has been good,” said Billy Collette, manager of the nonprofit Salvation Army Thrift Store at 1818 Mass. “Our location is good for a lot of college students to stop in on a regular basis and see what we have.”

At Lasting Impressions — a store that sells used merchandise on consignment at the Malls Shopping Center at 23rd and Louisiana streets — business has remained strong, said owner Susan Cook.

But she said an increase in the number of privately owned consignment and used merchandise stores might be hurting the traditional, nonprofit thrift shops.

“We offer a different experience than a thrift shop,” Cook said. “Sometimes it is hard to find something at a thrift shop. I’m sure you can if you want to dig around, but here you don’t have to dig around.”