DuPage Habitat opens Addison home improvement resale shop

Think of it as a mash-up of your favorite big-box home improvement store and a Goodwill resale shop.

That's the way manager Jim Fessler describes the new DuPage Habitat for Humanity ReStore that will open Saturday in Addison.

ReStore accepts donated new and gently-used household and construction materials from the public, retailers, manufacturers, distributors and contractors. The items are sold at greatly reduced prices with proceeds benefiting the nonprofit DuPage Habitat.

Inventory typically includes appliances, cabinets, countertops, doors, electrical supplies, plumbing, lumber, hardware, tools, lighting and wooden furniture.

Fessler said the poor economy and popularity of home improvement shows make a shop like the ReStore an ideal business.

“Homeowners are looking to get things at a discount and they are willing to put in the labor,” Fessler said. “They watch HGTV and get design ideas, and our store offers a balance of new and used items. There's always going to a market for a value-conscious shopper.”

The grand opening of the Addison ReStore will begin with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. It is the fifth ReStore in Illinois, with other sites in Elgin, Chicago Heights, Gurnee and Aurora. A sixth store is slated for Joliet.

On Saturday, Century Tiles will present mosaic tile demonstrations at 11:30 a.m.

While sale proceeds benefit DuPage Habitat, which has housed more than 50 families in the county since 1995, organizers say there's another benefit. The store also helps shoppers be a bit more green by diverting anywhere from 30 tons to 220 tons of waste from landfills each year.

The ReStore is at 869 S. Rohlwing Road. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Donations are accepted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

ReStore donations can be dropped off at the Addison location by appointment only. DuPage Habitat for Humanity offers a pickup service for large donations; Call Jim Fessler at (630) 510-3737 to set up an appointment. For details, visit dupagehabitat.org.