Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity’s Ogden ReStore has increased its capacity and is now offering a warehouse full of building materials.
The store, 7330 Market St., last week hosted a launch party for the new space, which formerly housed donations before they were moved into ReStore’s 16,000-square-foot showroom. The new Building Supply Warehouse is directly behind the showroom. A structure connecting both buildings will be built in the future.
Plans for converting the 10,000-square-foot storage building were already in the works before Hurricane Florence struck in September, but the resulting hurricane damage in the area increased the need to create a source of affordable materials that local homeowners could use in repairing their property, said Brent Byers, director of Cape Fear Habitat’s ReStores. ReStore crews sped up the renovation process in response.
The new warehouse is stocked with everything from drywall and lumber to flooring, paint, hardware and doors. Some materials are donated; others, ReStore has been able to purchase at a discount.
“We have the wonderful problem of having a really generous community,” said Jackie Bates, ReStore operations manager, adding that Habitat’s partnerships with area vendors enable the organization to take advantage of buying opportunities.
ReStore is very careful about what building materials it accepts and what materials it purchases, to ensure that the quality is good, Bates said. Donated materials are usually priced at 50 to 75 percent below what customers would pay at commercial building supply stores. Supplies that ReStore purchases are sold at least 25 percent off retail price.
Proceeds from sales at Cape Fear Habitat’s ReStores benefit the nonprofit organization, Byers said. “The goal is to cover [Cape Fear Habitat’s] administrative expenses so that [monetary] donations can all go to Habitat building projects,” he added.
In addition to the Ogden location, there are Cape Fear Habitat ReStore locations at 1208 S. Third St. in Wilmington and at 115 W. Fremont St. in Burgaw.
