Habitat for Humanity Red Deer is packing up and relocating to a bigger, more visible location in Gasoline Alley later this month.
The charity’s ReStore, and soon its administration offices, is moving to 100-409 Lantern Street, in the same strip mall as Wolverine Guns & Tackle, which is across the street from Galaxy Cinemas.
“We’re going to be going from about 14,000 square feet currently to about 21,000 square feet,” said CEO Karen Vavrek.
“We’re looking forward to expanding our merchandise offerings and we invite everybody to just come out and visit us at our new store and come and shop.”
ReStore has been tucked away in the same commercial location on 78A Street in north Red Deer since it opened in 2001 and is now closed for the move.
The public is invited to come out for the soft re-opening on March 30. The week of April 24 will be grand opening week, with store promotions and activities on April 30.
Vavrek said more space means ReStore will be able to accept larger quantities and different types of donations not possible before, like larger doors and windows left over from commercial projects, and more building materials for homeowners doing renovations.
Related:
Habitat for Humanity completes two duplexes in Blackfalds
Vavrek said as a discount, retail operation, it will be great to be in a much more visible location.
“That’s always helpful for us to be able to reach more shoppers and more donors.”
She said Habitat has been considering a move for over a year, went through an extensive feasibility study, and looked at different possible locations.
During the pandemic, ReStore was closed on Monday. But starting March 30, ReStore will resume its regular hours, Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
She said at times during the pandemic there were quite a lot more customers coming through the store since people were spending more time at home, and some were looking for more affordable household items and building materials.
“Especially now with inflation and how that impacts budgets, we’re seeing a lot more people choose ReStore as an option for coming to shop for those kinds of goods.
“When you’re doing your spring cleaning, think of ReStore as a place donate your gently used items.”
Related:
Habitat for Humanity Red Deer to give keys to new homeowners
Money raised through ReStore funds local Habitat for Humanity affordable housing projects. Habitat completed its 42nd home in 2021 in Blackfalds where two duplexes were built.
The ground-breaking for phase two in Blackfalds, which will include another two duplexes to house four families, happens April 12.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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