ReStore Opens Its Doors in Martin City
By Kathy Feist
Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Martin City is stocked and ready for its week long grand opening September 29 to October 5 at its new mega facility located at 13531 Wyandotte. A ribbon cutting sponsored by the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce will cap the event on Friday, October 5, at 10 a.m.
The 45,000 square foot facility will be Habitat for Humanity’s largest ReStore in Kansas City if not the country. “This ReStore will be in the top 10 ReStores in the country,” said Mackenzie Palmer, spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity International in Atlanta, GA. “What an exciting time for Kansas City Habitat for Humanity.”
Pat Turner, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City echoes that response. “This is an exciting opportunity for Habitat and the community as we broaden our footprint in Martin City with our ReStore,” she said.
Paint, nails, doors, tile, furniture, appliances, lighting and plumbing fixtures and just about every imaginable building material have been donated for resale. “Look at this! It’s all good quality stuff,” says David Krumbholz, Vice President of ReStore in Kansas City. Krumbholz has been overseeing the project since its inception.
ReStore is a non profit home improvement store and donation center that sells new and gently used furniture, appliances, and building materials to the public. “We are usually 50 to 60 percent lower than places like Home Depot,” says Krumbholz.
Its size is comparable to a Home Depot or Lowe’s. The former NewCo Manufacturing building has been cleaned, polished and painted. New openings have been cut out of cinder block walls. A classroom to teach skilled labor is being built. Brush and tree overgrowth have been removed. The parking lots have been repaved. And the south side of the building is being leveled for sales of outdoor materials.
“We have been looking forward to the opening of this larger ReStore, as it will allow us to make not only an impact on solid waste diversion, but a greater impact on Habitat’s mission of providing much needed affordable housing for our community,” said Turner. “The support of our corporate donors and volunteers has been overwhelming during this process, and a good reminder of the kind of caring community we live in.”
All money raised through the sale of items at ReStore go toward Habitat for Humanity’s mission to build and repair homes for qualifying families. Last year, Habitat for Humanity was able to build 15 new homes and repair 54 homes. Thanks to donated items given to ReStore 13,500 tons were saved from the landfill.