Habitat Director Day: ReStore needs community help
He says the ReStore has had its struggles in its new space at 95 Three Rivers Drive.
A little over a year after the Habitat for Humanity ReStore relocated to 95 Three Rivers Drive from Central Plaza, the executive director of the nonprofit’s local chapter says business is not doing as well as it was at the previous site.
“We’re not thriving there,” Bruce Day said of the store’s new location in a non-retail space across from Rome High. “We are struggling.”
Prior to relocating the ReStore, which opened up its new location Jan. 14, 2017, Day said the nonprofit organization had been given two months to find a new spot and move out of 10 Central Plaza, which is now occupied by Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet.
Day said they were unable to find a place in a retail area for the right price, so they settled on the non-retail space.
“There are a lot of things that we like about it,” he said.
Loading docks have made drop-off more convenient, including the unloading of their own trucks after picking items up from people’s homes.
However, Day said there is less space in the new facility, but there is more room to process donations.
One of the main issues facing the ReStore, which is a revenue stream for the organization’s work in providing affordable housing to families, is the lack of awareness people have of the relocation, Day said, adding that some have even thought it closed permanently. An advertising blitz is set to get underway to get the word out, but that won’t be cheap, he added.
“I think they can find us again,” Day said of customers. “The ReStore is an important stream of income for Habitat for
Humanity … and we need the community’s help to make the ReStore successful.”
Circulating items out on the sales floor quickly
and bringing more new items out more frequently is an adjustment that has to be made to the smaller space, Day said.
“We’ve gotta keep the donations up,” to do this, he said.
Day said if there are items people can’t drop off themselves, ReStore workers can come and pick them up. Those with items for pickup can call 706-378-5957 to arrange a time for workers to come out.
The ReStore is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.