America’s Thrift Stores CEO announces retirement, company names successor

America’s Thrift Stores has announced Ken Sobaski will retire from his role as chief executive officer (CEO) after nearly 12 years of service.

Sobaski will transition to the company’s board of directors, effective Aug. 18.

“It’s been the joy of my career to lead America’s Thrift Stores, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built. While I’m stepping back as CEO, I look forward to supporting Chris and continuing to champion our mission as a board member.”

Succeeding him as CEO will be Chris Homewood, a veteran leader with an extensive background in both the military and retail sectors.

Keep reading to learn more about Sobaski’s career at the company + the path forward for America’s Thrift Stores.

‘People-first culture’

Under Sobaski’s leadership, the Birmingham-based America’s Thrift Stores has become one of the Southeast’s top thrift retailers, expanding from 17 locations to 33.

That growth helped revenue spike from $50 million to a projected $105 million in 2025. Plus, America’s Thrift Stores has reported positive same store sales in 29 of the last 34 quarters.

The company credits Sobaski for building a high-performing team, personally recruiting 21 of the company’s top 25 leaders.

“Ken has been more than a leader—he’s been a driving force behind our mission, our growth, and the culture he’s built with his exceptional leadership team.”

Paul Davis, chairman of the board

Beyond business success, Sobaski points to three distinct areas he is most proud of during his time with the company, citing the overall goal of giving back.

The company now contributes nearly $3 million to its charity partners annually, creates approximately 300 jobs each year and is expect to divert over 50 million pounds of clothing from landfills in 2025.

“We make an impact just by being ourselves. We’ve been able to do that by growing this business tremendously which has made it easier for us to give back even more. So it has been a fun 11-plus years.”

Ken Sobaski

Sobaski won’t be leaving the company entirely though. While he is retiring from his CEO position, he will move to the board + he’s already been involved with the transition process.

But he did admit leaving hasn’t been easy. Since the announcement, Sobaski has taken some time to visit some of the stores to speak with employees at every level.

“I’ve made a point to build a people-first culture so I’ve spent a lot of time in the field and with our employees. A lot of them know me well. So there are some that may be sad I’m leaving but given I’m nearly 70 years old, they’re also happy for me.”

Ken Sobaski

While he may miss some of his responsibilities, Sobaski said he already has plenty of plans for retirement. From singing in his church choir to learning Tai Chi and taking pickleball lessons, he made sure he will keep himself busy.

As with any change, people may be a little weary and wondering what comes next but Sobaski seems sure of his decision for himself. And what it means for the future of the company, thanks to the confidence he has in his successor.

Chris Homewood

Chris Homewood, a former major in the U.S. Marine Corps, brings a wealth of experience from leadership roles at Target, Ross Dress for Less, and Dirt Cheap.

Known for fostering mission-driven, people-centered cultures, the company believes Homewood’s values align seamlessly with those of America’s Thrift.

“What drew me here was the heart of this organization, its purpose and its promise. My wife and I can’t wait to get to Birmingham and continue building on the incredible foundation Ken and his leadership team have established.”

Chris Homewood

Sobaski helped leadership in the search for his replacement and spoke highly of Homewood’s background. Although Homewood does not have experience in thrifting, Sobaski believes having the rest of the leadership team in place will help smooth the transition.

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