Habitat ReStore
“For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on people’s love and concern for each other.”
The thrill of thrifting and the warmth of connection are palpable when you enter a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It is a sacred place where community and commerce converge.
Habitat ReStores are discount home goods and home improvement stores managed and operated by Habitat for Humanity affiliates across the country. The ReStores sell gently-used and wholesale home goods – furniture, cabinets, tools, lighting, and more. Every item has a story, and every purchase supports a greater cause. All the proceeds from sales at the ReStores support Habitat for Humanity, helping build and repair homes in the community.
The first Habitat ReStore opened in Austin, Texas in 1992. The first ReStore in Denver opened its doors in 2004. Today, there are more than 1,000 ReStores benefitting Habitat for Humanity in six countries. There are four Habitat ReStores located across Metro Denver in Arvada, Aurora, Denver, and Littleton.
When you walk into a ReStore, you are greeted with an ever-evolving, inviting maze of thrifted and liquidated items. Tools, couches, photo frames, paint—every item beckons customers to refresh or reimagine their living spaces, sparking creativity and inspiration for home improvement projects. The benefits to the community are many. When donors drop off their gently-used goods they no longer need, the stores help extend the lives of items that might otherwise be thrown away. Last year alone, the four Metro Denver ReStores diverted 4,750 tons of material from landfills and recycled over 33,000 pounds of metal.
Because the ReStores rely on donations, the stores rely on relationships. The ReStores have become community gathering places, where donating, volunteering, browsing, or buying, all contribute to the common good. Customers can purchase items at affordable prices, making home improvement accessible to all. Donors find satisfaction in knowing their items are given a second life. Staff and volunteers connect with each other and with customers throughout the day, building relationships that strengthen our community fabric.
The lack of affordable housing is a complex and urgent issue facing Metro Denver communities. Incomes have not kept pace with median home prices, meaning families spend more of their paychecks on housing. Because of low home supply, high building costs, and urgent demand, homeownership is increasingly inaccessible to many. The ReStores contribute to a solution. Every dollar spent at a ReStore tangibly benefits affordable homes in the community, making a real difference in the lives of families who face housing uncertainty.
Habitat for Humanity ReStores are more than just stores; they are places where neighbors gather, share stories, and support a common cause. Whether you are a shopper looking for a bargain, a donor wanting to make a difference, or a volunteer eager to give back, the ReStores open their doors to all, believing that every person and purchase helps build a better community. A Habitat ReStore is a sacred place.
Laura Willetto is the Director of Communications for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, a role that combines her love of storytelling with her passion for community-building. She and her family live in a bungalow in Southwest Denver that has been the subject of numerous creative home improvement projects.
