Habitat will open discount store

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, while not yet open, is accepting donations.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

STRUTHERS — ReStore, a discount home improvement and building supply store operated by Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County, is expected to open here in four to six weeks.

Renovations are going on now at the 11,200-square-foot facility at 480 Youngstown-Poland Road, formerly the site of the McIntee Dodge-Chrysler dealership, and next door to the Goodwill Industries store.

The building, purchased by Habitat for $320,000, will cost an estimated $150,000 to renovate, said Stephen Hanzely, interim executive director.

It will be the only ReStore in the five-county area of Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties in Ohio and Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania. The nearest Habitat ReStores are in Canton and Akron, Hanzely said.

Though the ReStore is not yet open, it is accepting donations, all of which can be tax-deductible, between 9 a.m. and noon on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, said store manager, Linda R. Hartwig.

When it opens, store hours, to begin with, will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, she said.

ReStore is a discount home improvement and building supply store operated by Habitat to support its mission to eliminate poverty housing by building new homes for families that would otherwise not be able to afford a new home.

Also, by reusing, recycling and reselling functional building materials, tools, furniture and appliances that are in good condition, ReStore diverts thousands of tons of usable materials from local landfills, Hanzely said.

Major retailers, building suppliers and contractors contribute surplus building materials and other donated items, such as discontinued product, overstocks, custom orders and closeout inventory.

Also, individuals donate used building materials and items left over from home renovations and estate sales. Pickup is available by contacting ReStore at (330) 755-2232, Hartwig said.

Customers will be able to get affordable items for home improvement, rehabilitation and repair at deeply discounted prices. Newer items are priced at 50 percent of standard retail, and all other merchandise is deeply discounted as well, Hartwig said.

As part of its purpose to keep materials out of landfills and put them into use, ReStart in Struthers is providing space for re:CREATE, a Youngstown State University program funded by a grant from the Mahoning County Commissioners Reuse and Recycling Division, the Green Team. Re:CREATE is an environmental reuse program that connects people with unwanted but usable items to others who need them. It is a free service open to anyone, including industries, companies, educators, nonprofit groups and individuals, according to its Web site.

Also, the Habitat ReStore will be a recycling drop-off center for the Green Team.

Hanzely said that Habitat is already worried about running out of space at the ReStore before it even opens. But, he said, that is why the site was so attractive to the organization. It is two to three acres and there is plenty of room for expansion, he said.

In the meantime, Habitat was to dedicate its 25th house at 10 a.m. today at 1147 Berwick Ave. in Youngstown, at which the keys to the new home were to be presented to Jessica Candelaria and her family. Also on hand for the dedication were to be Habitat volunteers that helped build the home, and groups such as the Youngstown Metropolitan Housing Authority’s Youth Build, Women Build and other volunteers and donors.

alcorn@vindy.com