Value Village goes before Washington Supreme Court

Washington's case against Bellevue-based thrift store chain Value Village is now before the state's Supreme Court.

The state claims the thrift store ran misleading advertisements that made it appear to be a nonprofit. That's not true, according to Value Village attorney Jim Grant who spoke before the justices Tuesday.

"There is not a single ad, in this case, that the state has identified at issue, that has to do with advertising for a product and then sort of tacking on some sort of claim about charity," Grant said.

Grant said that the company partners with nonprofits, and their ads were intended to direct people to donate to those organizations. Shopping at a Value Village does not directly support nonprofits, which is now spelled out on the corporation's website.

The state is treating this as a consumer protection case. State lawyers read some of the advertisements before the court, which they argue were deceiving.

One stated: "shopping great deals and good works ... in one outfit."

A lower court already ruled against Value Village in 2019. That ruling, however, was appealed and ultimately overturned.

No word on when the state Supreme Court will make its decision.

Value Village is based in Bellevue and has stores throughout the United States and Canada.