The board of the directors for the Martha’s Vineyard Boys’ and Girls’ Club abruptly closed the popular Second Hand Store on North Summer street in Edgartown yesterday, first firing the store’s two full-time employees and its entire staff of volunteers.

Peter Lambos, executive director for the boys’ and girls’ club, said the board of directors held a special meeting on Sunday and made the decision to fire manager Darlene Kelly and assistant manager Penny Townes, who are co-managers and a well-known presence in the store.

Ms. Lambos confirmed that Joseph Fortes, president of the board of directors, and board member Kelly Hess visited the store on Monday morning and fired Ms. Kelly and her staff. Mr. Lambos said the store will remain closed for the time being while the board finds a new manager and new volunteers.

He estimated that the store will remain closed for approximately two weeks at the most.

Mr. Lambos could not provide details about the firing of Ms. Kelly and Ms. Townes. He said only the board had decided on a shift in direction and felt eliminating the entire staff was the best move. He said there had been internal problems at the store.

“This was not something that we foresaw, and it is not something we did without a lot of consideration; this decision came out of ongoing evaluations and [the board] decided to go in a different direction,” Mr. Lambos said.

He added: “What it comes down to is a resistance on behalf of the staff to allow the oversight of the boards of directors. There was just wasn’t a meshing of ideas . . . there were two distinct camps within the organization; the board felt it was important to take steps to preserve the integrity of the organization.”

Reached by telephone yesterday, Ms. Kelly confirmed that she had been fired and said it came as a complete surprise.

“They came into the store while we were open and fired me right in front of my staff and the customers. It was handled very poorly . . . it was very unprofessional. I have given my life to that store for years, and so has Penny [Townes], and that’s how they repay us? I’m just in shock,” she said.

Frank Folts, owner of Sun Dog clothing on Main street in Edgartown, said yesterday he was caught off guard by the news. Mr. Folts said he had heard the club board planned to make changes to the Second Hand Store and make it more of a high-end boutique.

He said Ms. Kelly and Ms. Townes contacted him last week and asked him to write a letter of support for the store and management to the board of directors, which he readily did.

“Please leave the golden goose alone,” he wrote in his letter. “Accept the heaps of appreciation for those who have loyally worked there and try never to forget that the thrift store is not impressive, but instead is welcoming and fun.”

Mr. Lambos said there are no plans to turn the store into a boutique. He said prices did recently increase 50 cents for most items, but that was because of an increase in fuel costs and a rise in rent. He said when the shop reopens in the coming weeks the prices and inventory will be the same.

“I keep hearing that word boutique, and I keep hearing these rumors we are going to change the entire store, but that is simply not the case. When we reopen we will be the same. What happened [yesterday] was part of an ongoing process . . . it was not something the board wanted to do, but it was something they felt needed to be done,” he said.

Several business owners yesterday lamented the loss of Ms. Kelly and Ms. Townes, who in their minds were the backbone and the heart of the Second Hand Store.

“As far as I am concerned, Penny and Darlene and all the lovely ladies who work there were the store,” said Rebekah Blue, owner of the Midnight Mermaid Gallery. “They created this loving and nurturing environment that the year-round community came to rely on . . . and that can’t be replaced.”