Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Habitat for Humanity's ReStore

One of my favorite places to go on a friday or saturday is the Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. The store, located at 454 N. Pearl Street in Albany, is only open to the public on fridays and saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm. But it’s worth blocking the time to make the trip - you will find dozens of cabinet sets, sinks, boxes of tiles, rolls of carpets, new paint, doors, windows, appliances, wallpaper remover, vintage wallpaper (my favorite!), pieces of decorative furniture and odds and ends. Yesterday, there was a gorgeous oak mantle for $90, a wood burning fireplace insert and one of those tubs that has a door (I didn’t catch prices on those!). They had a gorgeous slab of granite countertop with a sink cutout for $150. A very impressive wooden pillar for $100. Rolls of vintage 1940s-1970s wallpaper for $15-$30 each. There was even a stainless brand new wall oven for $200. I could go on and on …. it really is a candy store for DIY-lovin’ grownups.

Their rules are simple - no returns, no exchanges, and everything is sold as is. You buy it - it’s yours - unless you want to redonate it.

The ReStore gets most of their donations from builders who can donate unneeded materials (used or new) to reduce their waste costs, give customers a tax break, help the environment and the community. There is no cost to builders and the ReStore will even come pick everything up in one of their moving vans. All donations must be in an acceptable form.

And the money that they make goes to a great cause - for the fiscal year ending in June 2007, the store earned the local division of Habitat $75,698 (from their Annual Report). That money goes a long way towards their $1,169,459 expense budget.

Visit the Capital District Habitat for Humanity’s web site here. From the site:

Our mission is to ensure that everyone in our community has a decent, affordable home. That mission is made possible through partnerships and the generosity of our volunteers, sponsors, and donors and our Habitat Homeowners. Habitat for Humanity operates as a construction company; we build houses, as a bank; we offer 0% interest loans to Habitat qualified families to own their home; and, as a social service agency; serving in partnership our families over the term of the mortgage.

Directions to the Capital District Habitat for Humanity ReStore…

From Downtown Albany: Go north on Broadway. Turn left onto Van Woerst St. Van Woerst St. becomes No. Pearl St./NY-32. From Troy: Take I-787 South. Take exit 4A toward Colonie St./Columbia St. Turn right onto No. Ferry St. Turn right onto Broadway. Turn slight left onto Loudonville Rd. Turn sight right onto No. Pearl St./NY-32. From Delmar: Take I-787 No. Take exit 4. Keep right at fork in ramp (.2 miles), keep right at next fork in ramp (.2 miles), keep right at next fork in ramp (.1 miles), keep left at next fork in ramp (.3 miles). Turn right onto Broadway. Turn left onto Van Woert St. Van Woert St. becomes No. Pearl St./NY-32. The ReStore is located behind the offices at 454 No. Pearl St.