Habitat for Humanity’s newly opened ReStore in downtown Santa Barbara sure doesn’t feel like a secondhand outlet.
High ceilings, good natural light, and clear signage make the space feel closer to your conventional home-furnishings retailer. Donated tables, couches, and chairs (all in remarkably good shape) are carefully arranged; artwork is prominently displayed; and the back room is filled (but still organized) with tools, appliances, fixtures, and construction materials.
It’s a far cry from the former warehouse-style ReStore in Goleta that appealed to determined pickers and was forced to close during the pandemic. But its purpose remains the same: All proceeds from the new State Street location are funneled toward Habitat for Humanity’s mission to produce, preserve, and protect affordable housing here in southern Santa Barbara County.
Most items are priced 50 percent below their estimated retail value, with some discounted even further if they linger on the sales floor. That rarely happens, however. “Stuff goes quick,” said Susan Renehan, Habitat Santa Barbara’s director of philanthropy and external affairs.