Habitat ReStore Coming to Yorktown This Spring
Habitat for Humanity Peninsula and Greater Williamsburg will open a third Habitat ReStore in Yorktown in spring 2023.
The local affiliate of the international nonprofit operates the two most successful ReStores in the Commonwealth in Newport News and Williamsburg. Habitat CEO Janet V. Green anticipates similar success for the third local ReStore, which will be located at 4824 George Washington Memorial Highway, next door to Langley Federal Credit Union.
“We believe we have found the perfect location for customers to shop that also has a convenient drive-thru drop-off for donations,” Green said. “We know there are a lot of generous people who would like to donate items as well as shop for good deals along the busy Route 17 corridor in Yorktown.”
Habitat ReStores sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials and more to the public at a fraction of the retail price, usually 30-90% off. All proceeds go toward Habitat’s mission of building homes, communities and hope in the local community.
“We have set the goal of building at least one more house each year with ReStore proceeds, but obviously we would like to do even more than that,” Green said. It costs $125,000 to construct one Habitat house. The homes are sold to families who have qualified to purchase them through the Habitat first-time Homebuyer Program.
“The benefits of home ownership stretch beyond just providing strength, stability and independence for each family,” Green said. “There’s a ripple effect to the entire community.”
The Yorktown ReStore is nearly 13,000 square feet, while the Williamsburg ReStore at 1303 Jamestown Road is the largest in Virginia at 40,000 square feet. The Newport News ReStore at 371 Chatham Drive is 23,000 square feet. The Williamsburg and Newport News ReStores rank in the top 25 among 900 ReStores nationally.
“We might be smaller, but we intend to make a big impact,” said Gary McFadden, who will manage the new store. “Hello, Yorktown!”
McFadden, a Marine who began working at the Newport News ReStore nearly six years ago, is passionate about the ReStore’s mission. “I love waking up every morning with a purpose of serving not just my family but the families we partner with to build homes,” he said. “I also enjoy helping families who are ReStore customers locate the one item they weren’t expecting to find.”
The Yorktown ReStore is seeking volunteers to help with renovation prior to the grand opening. Community members and local youth ages 16 or older interested in volunteering can contact McFadden at gary@habitatpgw.org.
Habitat for Humanity has a history in Yorktown, as the nonprofit previously operated a ReStore drop-off donation center there, which closed in 2017.
“The Yorktown area was so great in the community as a donation center that it made a lot of sense to try to find a retail space there,” said Steve Russell, Director of the Williamsburg ReStore. “People would come in looking to shop there. Now we have a place for them to do that.”
Like the other ReStores, the Yorktown ReStore will offer donation drop-offs and free donation pickup, expected to begin soon.
