{"id":38857,"date":"2026-02-17T12:16:51","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:16:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?p=38857"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:16:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T17:16:51","slug":"use-less-store-brings-refillery-thrifting-and-sustainability-to-downtown-glens-falls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2026\/02\/use-less-store-brings-refillery-thrifting-and-sustainability-to-downtown-glens-falls\/","title":{"rendered":"Use Less Store Brings Refillery, Thrifting And Sustainability To Downtown Glens Falls"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Kevin Kroeze stands inside The Use Less Store in downtown Glens Falls, where bulk refills, thrift finds and sustainable swaps offer shoppers practical alternatives to single-use plastics.
Ann Donnelly Photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Ann Donnelly<\/p>\n

When visitors walk into the building at 12 E. Washington St. in Glens Falls, the first thing they notice is the scent. For Kevin Kroeze, owner of the Use Less Store, that sensory experience is just the gateway to a business model designed to change how the community consumes everyday goods.<\/p>\n

The shop, which opened in early October, is centered on a concept Kroeze calls a \u201crefillery\u201d. It is an effort to provide Glens Falls with a sustainable alternative to the \u201cbuy-and-toss\u201d cycle of modern retail.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Use Less Store is built around the centerpiece there, which is the refillery,\u201d Kroeze said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s where we have bulk products\u2014cleaners, shampoo, conditioner, you know, body care items like that. You can just bring in your empty container and refill it rather than buy another container to recycle and throw out\u201d.<\/p>\n

The store\u2019s inventory extends beyond liquids. Kroeze stocks a variety of non-toxic plastic replacements, including shampoo bars, solid dish soap, and laundry detergent sheets. The shelves also feature glass straws, wood utensils, and bamboo cutting boards.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/b>Kroeze\u2019s path to entrepreneurship followed a 28-year career in the printing industry, including time at Quad Graphics. After nearly three decades of 12-hour shifts and 72-hour workweeks, the transition to small-business owner was driven by a desire for a different pace of life.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re empty nesters, my wife and I,\u201d Kroeze said. \u201cI didn\u2019t necessarily need all that, and I wanted to really be close to home. I can, and I have done it\u2014I left my house at 10:59 and got to work on time for 11\u201d.<\/p>\n

The idea for the store grew from a personal hobby: thrifting. Kroeze originally began thrifting as a way to spend time with his children. Today, a third of the shop is dedicated to a thrift section featuring items Kroeze has salvaged or refurbished, including the store\u2019s own furniture.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bring some stuff in here that kind of fits the mold and allows people to use less money buying things that they need around the house,\u201d Kroeze said. \u201cA lot of the stuff is destined for the dump, you know, if somebody doesn\u2019t buy it. It might as well be me\u201d.<\/p>\n

Kroeze is pragmatic about sustainability. He intentionally chose the name \u201cUse Less\u201d rather than \u201cZero Waste\u201d to avoid overwhelming customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think people get nervous about it, that they\u2019ve got to like make all these changes,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I try to keep the products so they look just like the ones that you already bought, just out of sustainable materials\u201d.<\/p>\n

He points to the bamboo spatula as a prime example of a simple swap. Unlike plastic versions, bamboo is sustainable, does not scratch pans, and will not melt into food. \u201cIt\u2019s not a big change,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, you can use the bottles you already have at home… if you make it too hard or too complicated, then it won\u2019t take off\u201d.<\/p>\n

Cost is another factor Kroeze considers when selecting inventory. He avoids products that are prohibitively expensive, even if they are eco-friendly. \u201cI don\u2019t think you should have to break the bank to change,\u201d Kroeze said. \u201cI want to get into more of the sustainable materials… but if I can find an upcycled product that competes with a store-bought product, I\u2019ll carry it\u201d.<\/p>\n

Beyond the physical storefront, Kroeze operates a Shopify store for online orders and limited local delivery. He also maintains a \u201cfree box\u201d of bottles for customers who want to use the refillery but forgot to bring their own containers.<\/p>\n

The store is located near other local landmarks, such as the Queensbury Hotel and the healthy food store on the corner. Currently, the Use Less Store is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

As the business grows, Kroeze remains focused on the incremental impact of individual choices. \u201cYou\u2019re not looking to change the world in a day, but small steps,\u201d Kroeze said. \u201cUse less. Not use zero plastic, use less plastic\u201d.<\/p>\n

For more information on The Use Less Store of Glens Falls, visit theuselessstoreofgf.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ann Donnelly When visitors walk into the building at 12 E. Washington St. in Glens Falls, the first thing they notice is the scent. For Kevin Kroeze, owner of the Use Less Store, that sensory experience is just the gateway to a business model designed to change how the community consumes everyday goods. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":38858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news"],"yoast_head":"\r\nUse Less Store Brings Refillery, Thrifting And Sustainability To Downtown Glens Falls - Glens Falls Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2026\/02\/use-less-store-brings-refillery-thrifting-and-sustainability-to-downtown-glens-falls\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Use Less Store Brings Refillery, Thrifting And Sustainability To Downtown Glens Falls - Glens Falls Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Ann Donnelly When visitors walk into the building at 12 E. 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