Habitat ReStore is your home improvement headquarters, with green heart 

Style and budget are two defining factors when it comes to home improvement.  Happily the Habitat for Humanity ReStores in Newfoundland and Labrador add a great big dose of heart for people and the planet to the mix.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Habitat ReStores - physical store on Kenmount Road in St. John’s and an online store in Corner Brook - are social enterprises that offer great deals on things you need for home projects whether it’s to repair, renovate, or add a pop of personality.  Think everything from windows and doors and moulding to good used furniture.  All that and more in a used furniture store. And used building supply store.

Inside Scoop Livestream

On a recent edition of Inside Scoop, Kim Todd speaks with Jon Rossiter, manager of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore live on Kenmount Road in St. John's.

Video: Watch Jon Rossiter ReStore and Kim Todd talk about how the Restore helps our communities and landfills

ReStore your home, a family’s life and the planet

People buy at the ReStores to get the physical goods, but the social enterprise aspect of the ReStore is something that makes people feel good.

Jon Rossiter is Manager of Habitat NL ReStores.  He says, “We live in changing and challenging times, and people like knowing that they are helping others and the environment while meeting their needs. Spending at the ReStore helps makes home-ownership affordable for families - that’s a huge deal. And also buying from the ReStore is a greener choice because good things are re-used and stay out of the landfill.  It works!”

Bright showroom, changing inventory at the Habitat ReStore St. John’s

Jon loves walking the ReStore showroom.  

Staff and volunteers are kept busy at the St. John’s store.  The showroom is bright, well-presented, and constantly changing inventory.  

Jon says, “Because our inventory comes from personal and corporate donations, it’s an ever-changing selection. There could be a 1960s vintage chair on display right next to a factory-new square bathroom sink.  You just never know what you’ll find. We have regulars from town and from people who are coming in who make a point of stopping by to check out what’s on the floor today.  Contractors love us - they get unique touches here, and we help them manage the re-saleable goods when they’re removing kitchens. ” 

Jon adds, “Along with the variety, another great thing about the ReStore,” says Jon, “is at the checkout. ReStore meets the needs of people at any phase of the home improvement cycle at a fair price.”

ReStore’s changing inventory of new and used building and renovating materials

The inventory includes two main categories - building materials and home decor. 

Building and renovating materials come to the ReStore from household renovations and from factory returns.

• doors and windows - old, new, standard and unique sizes
• cabinets - kitchen renovations are among the most popular, so the inventory comes and goes quickly
• flooring - tile, laminate, rugs and more for big jobs or accent areas
• bathroom fixtures - sink, toilet, tubs, shower stalls
• lighting - vintage and new
• paint

Find furniture and appliances at the ReStore 

• Chesterfields, couches, sectionals chairs - all refreshed for re-sale
• Kitchen and dining tables and chairs
• Fridges, stoves, washers, dryers
• Home decor
• Outdoor furniture and home improvement equipment

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ReStore inventory is affordable because it’s (usually) donated by individuals, business, or by corporate partners.  The stuff is stylish because it’s never the same as everything else on the market.  The heart comes in because the ReStore is a social enterprise that uses revenue to help families build and buy homes of their own, where they can live in a safe, stable space.  It’s all good.

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stories of the ReStores, St. John’s and Corner Brook

Before its current location, NL had run ReStores at a couple of locations in earlier years, including an 8-year run on Logy Bay Road. 

In 2019, the ReStore moved to Kenmount Road, across from Kelsey Drive. With more space to house the many donations, it remains a lively and cheerful spot with volunteers, staff, and customers bringing in, preparing for sale, and checking out. A team of ReStore volunteers – usually repping in the right t-shirts - complement the staff, and there are all kinds of ways to help, from preparing goods for sale to stocking the floor, being on the cash.

visit ReStore online, Corner Brook

The West Coast location is Jon’s work.  Recognzing the opportunity and brand in the area - Habitat has built homes in Corner Brook,, ReStore was looking to gain presence on teh West Coast.  The pandemic showed them the way.

Jon says, “In the summer of 2022, just as we were easing out of the Covid world, Habitat NL took their learnings from pandemic operations to start an online store on the west coast.  It’s a great place to be - there’s lots going on and the environmental awareness is high, so people are very keen to keep good things out of the landfill.”

donation side of the ReStore 

You know that stuff in the basement or garage that is good, but you don’t use and you don’t want to throw it away?  

What about a solution to overstock product?   

These things could find their forever home through the ReStore.

The ReStore accepts all the things that it sells for donation - new and used furniture, appliances, building materials, housewares and – yes - even the kitchen sink. Check here for the reference list.

got donations in St. John’s metro?  Free pickup 

In St. John’s, goods in good condition and functioning order can be dropped at the store from 9:30 - 5:30 Tuesday to Saturday, or you can book online or call the store to arrange a pick-up. 

ways to ReStore on the West Coast

Items donated or purchased through the online platform are dropped off or picked up at the ReStore Centre by appointment - call 709-770-1900 or email restorecb@habitatnl.ca to confirm details. 

ReStore is breaking ground and building green

The ReStore is a ground-breaker – figuratively and literally. 

As one of the first social enterprises – it’s a retail store that accepts donations of new and used goods, sells them to the general public, and uses the profit to support affordable homeownership through Habitat for Humanity – it led the way in the trend of using business to address social problems. 

Literally, it breaks ground for homes that change people’s lives.

What’s next for ReStores in NL?  Jon says, “We’re all about building successful ReStores to support our Habitat for Humanity builds, so we’ll keep on keeping on. But it’s so good to know that the work of ReStores bring value to peoples lives in an of themselves.  That ranges from people having comfortable, affordable home improvement options, and tonnes of good goods diverted from landfills on the Avalon and on the West Coast.  It’s all good.

Goods in good condition and functioning order can be dropped at the St. John's store from 9:30 - 5:30 Tuesday to Saturday, or you can book online or call the store to arrange a pick-up. The ReStore crew will come by in the houses in and around St. John’s to pick it up.

donate or shop – there’s something at the ReStore for everyone!

Want the fastest and easiest way to book your FREE ReStore donation pickup yet. Get started here!