Article Photos

PARKERSBURG - Bargains in home furnishings and building supplies were in abundance Saturday at the opening of the new and larger Wood County Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Greg Halterman, manager of the store, said the old store at 615 Elder St. in south Parkersburg closed one week ago and on Saturday the new store opened at 1448 Seventh St.

"We outgrew our other location," he said. "We had 1,800 square feet over there and we have 7,000 square feet here. We have more than tripled our space."

Lisa Tanner, ReStore coordinator, said the store is nonprofit and the staff consists of two paid employees and volunteers. Tanner is a volunteer with VISTA-Americorps.

Habitat clients who volunteer at the store may apply their store hours to the sweat equity for their houses. Halterman said there are three to four regular volunteers at the store and more are needed and welcome.

Halterman said the new store has room to display items other than building supplies. When a customer enters the store the first thing they will see is a selection of sofas, chairs, lamps, dining room suits, bedroom suits and lamps, television sets and even a piano and electric organs.

In the back room with building supplies, the store has used washing machines and refrigerators along with electric and gas ranges. There is also kitchen and bathroom sinks and paint.

In building supplies Halterman said the store has a selection of new and used materials.

"We have new and used windows and doors, a large supply of composite decking, used kitchen cabinets, just about anything you could ask for," he said. "We don't accept clothing and dishware."

Halterman said everything in the store was obtained through donation.

"Everything you see here were donations from individuals, businesses and other organizations," he said.

Halterman said the money from sales at the ReStore goes to support Habitat's mission of building homes.

"We take what we get in," he said. "If it's new we sell for about half of what it would sell for in retail and if used we reduce the price on it and we sell it at reduced prices."

Halterman said business was brisk during the first day.

"We sold a pool table and a fooseball table," he said.

The old store saw 60 to 70 customers a week.

"Today, our first day, we've had 300 to 400 and they lined up at 7:30 a.m.," he said. "We have sold a lot of what we had set up for the first day."