ReUseIt Center to close

A local resource for homeowners on a budget will close its doors this month.

The owners of the ReUseIt Center in Batavia, which took home materials donations from builders, contractors and residents to sell at lower prices, plans to close at the end of the month -- or sooner if they sell out of their stock.

"We were breaking even, and even if we did make some money, it went toward marketing," said Cathy Barnard, president of the not-for-profit Mid-Valley Neighborhood Improvement Association, which ran the center.

The aim of the center when it opened two years ago was to provide money for the group's emergency home repair fund for low-income residents in the Tri-Cities.

And by selling surplus new or gently used cabinets, windows, doors, carpet, flooring and other home items at discounted prices, the center kept more than 231 tons of material out of landfills.

"We're really sad about closing," Barnard said. "We are very grateful to the community for supporting us."

But the amount of staff time spent on the project coupled with not making a profit led Mid-Valley to decide to close the center.

The store had many volunteers helping out, and some of them have expressed an interest in keeping the store going, Barnard said.

The center now has its entire stock at 50 percent off, and plans to increase that to 75 percent off next weekend.

It is located at the rear entrance of 1530 Hubbard Ave., in Batavia. Its hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

The emergency repair program will continue, and residents can call the association at (630) 584-1996.