The Scouting America Rainbow Council has announced that it will be shuttering its Lockport service center and relocating to a smaller space due to diminished need for a physical meeting space.

In a letter addressed to its volunteers, families and supporters, the council said that “membership has declined to a point where maintaining the facility is no longer practical.”

“Eight years ago, the council moved its office and store to a more-accessible location in Lockport,” Scout Executive and CEO Ted Karns said. “At the time, the service center was an ideal fit for our needs. Yet, none of us could have anticipated the changes that were to come.”

Karns noted that the organization has been growing more reliant on virtual meetings, which has reduced the demand for a physical gathering space.

“After thorough evaluation, we have made the decision to sell the Lockport service center and move to a smaller, more affordable facility that better aligns with our current membership needs,” Karns said in the announcement. “The Scouting program has never been defined by buildings. It flourishes in the field through the dedication of our charter partners and adult leaders.”

The Rainbow Council serves youth and volunteers in Kankakee, Will and Grundy counties.

The Rainbow Council moved from Morris to the former Lockport police station at 921 S. State St. in 2017, a location that also has been complicated by the city of Lockport’s revitalization efforts downtown.

In his letter, Karns noted that “while the resurgence of downtown Lockport is excellent, parking has become an issue” for the current center.

As part of the office relocation, the Scout Shop also will have its size reduced “significantly.”

“The truth is, most people looking for camping gear and apparel rarely come to the service center for these items,” Karns said, adding that is due to the increase in online retailers, including the National Online Scout Shop.

The new, redesigned store will focus instead on exclusively selling Rainbow Council merchandise, advancement materials and select uniform items.

It has not been announced when the relocation will happen, as the council needs to find a buyer for the property; however, in preparation, the council will begin selling its current store inventory at a discount to local members.

The announcement noted that when the office reopens after Thanksgiving, all merchandise – excluding advancement items, OA products and special orders – will be marked down by 20%. The store also will operate with extended Saturday hours until it is permanently closed Dec. 15.

“We recognize that this change may cause some inconvenience, and we sincerely apologize for that,” Karns said. “However, by right-sizing the store and service center, we believe we are taking important steps to strengthen and sustain our local Scouting program.”