Nov 5, 2013

The Roanoke Valley Habitat for Humanity’s new outlet store packed in the crowd Saturday as it welcomed the community to its new location.

The ReStore, 1152 Highway 48, features all sorts of items, from Christmas decorations to household items to actual pieces of homes, such as doors and cabinets, for purchase. Money raised goes toward funding the organization’s home-building projects.

The facility, formerly an auto repair establishment, came as a blessing to the organization.

“Opening today is the result of months of work,” said Jim Lander, Habitat Board of Directors president. “This is nothing like the old store.”

ReStore Manager Sherman Merchant welcomed more than 100 people Saturday morning, and said he was pleased everyone had come.

“We were hoping for at least 100 people and I know we have more than that,” Merchant said. “I guess the word got out.”

The crowd lined up outside the store attracted the attention of Andre Snow, who hadn’t heard anything about the opening ahead of time, to investigate what was going on.

“I was getting something to drink across the street and saw the line,” Snow said. “I’m glad I came. They’ve got things here you can’t find anywhere else.”

The Roanoke Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore is open from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays and from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.