When Bergen County shoppers are looking for a retail outlet that stocks a variety of merchandise, chances are the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Westwood might go unnoticed. But that would be a big mistake as this huge home goods and materials center qualifies as a mecca for customers hunting for reasonably-priced new or gently used high-quality products. Another reason to shop here is that all items sold help to create a major revenue stream that funds Habitat for Humanity’s core mission: to build and rehabilitate affordable homes for low-income families in the community.
Situated off Old Hook Road—one of the borough’s main arteries—the ReStore opened at this location in 2017. The site occupies roughly 10,000 square feet of floor space creating excited consumer churn daily—except Sunday and Monday—from browsers seeking affordable appliances, furniture, home décor, vintage pieces and collectibles, among other wares.
On any given day, shoppers can usually find more bargains than they ever imagined. “We get really unique items that people aren’t going to find at a traditional thrift store,” Jimmy Motsay, director of the ReStore, said. “When people walk into a thrift store, they usually think they’re going to see just dishes, cups and plates, and, yes, we have that, but we also have things like brand new air purifiers, brand new sunglasses, brand new rugs. We have a lot of new products and unusual deals that you're not going to find at other places. I think that's really what drives a lot of the customer traffic here.”
Customers embraced the deliberately dynamic and constantly changing inventory at the ReStore. Its stock is replenished with, among other items, new product purchases the ReStore resells. “Usually, they’re small goods: paint, paint supplies and maybe home textiles,” Motsay said. “We have cutting boards for sale, jewelry and sunglasses; smaller goods help bolster our inventory.”
Manufacturer closeouts add to the mix, as well as donations from individuals and homeowners. “If there's a line that closed out from a manufacturer, a liquidator will offer it to us at a very discounted price,” Motsay explained. “We'll also go to homes to pick up large items, such as sofas, appliances, windows and doors. In addition, we get different items from corporate donors, such as heaters from a company. All of these things help to round out our inventory effectively making us a full-line retail store.”
Motsay added that this can also include sundries, such as the packing tape once donated to the ReStore by a cardboard goods distributor.
More than 900 Habitat ReStores are operated by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. “Every single one of them has their own unique product mix,” Motsay, whose roots are in retail clothing, said. “In that business, each day was kind of the same; every year you got in the same stuff at the same time of year, so you knew what to expect. Here, you never know what you're going to receive. Every day there’s a new treasure coming into the store.”
Katrice Thomas, the ReStore’s executive director in Bergen County, stressed the value of the outlet as a key profit producer for Habitat for Humanity. “The ReStore is absolutely central to our strategy, and it’s one of the things that makes Habitat unique,” Thomas said. “But it’s not just a funding source; it’s a community hub.
Proceeds from the ReStore directly support our homebuilding and repair programs and also invite people into the mission in a very tangible way. You don’t need to be a donor or a volunteer to participate. You can shop, donate materials, or stop by and learn more. In addition, from a sustainability perspective, ReStores are incredibly important: they reduce waste, keep materials out of landfills, and turn donated goods into housing solutions.”
Achieving these goals requires getting the word out and making people aware of the ReStore and how it supports the community. “Not everyone knows that the ReStore is here,” Motsay said. “Like any retail operation, the ReStore is a labor intensive process that requires a lot of people to be involved, which means we really need a ton of volunteers.”
The ReStore is always looking for people interested in volunteering who can perform light duty tasks, such as cleaning, organizing and processing items for sale and manning the cash register. “We also need volunteers who can move furniture, so we can use all types of helpers,” Motsay said.
Getting involved with volunteering at the ReStore is as easy as visiting its website, bergenrestore.org. “Just click the volunteer button to sign up and start the process,” Motsay said.
Almost 90 percent of the ReStore’s volunteer workforce is comprised of individuals ranging from high schoolers to retirees with vastly different levels of experience across a variety of industries. Here, you’ll find workers with backgrounds in banking, construction, e-commerce, law enforcement, legal services, the military, and many other fields. All felt called to serve.
“We want people to feel connected to the work, whether that’s through volunteering, shopping or donating to the ReStore, attending an event, or supporting a specific project,” Thomas said. “Fundraising isn’t just about dollars for us; it’s about building long-term relationships and shared ownership in the solutions we’re creating.”
Interestingly, research shows that volunteering is associated with improved health and well-being, longevity, a healthy lifestyle and reduced rates of depression and stress, according to an evidence brief about engaging in community service that was published in April 2022 by Habitat for Humanity.
Volunteers and staff who help to run the ReStore’s daily operations, as well as the individuals who shop there and offer donations, all stand to receive these intangible benefits. A more measurable advantage, however, is seeing that their contributions are helping to build a world where everyone is able to secure a safe, affordable home to live in.
“Right now, we are building one home in Oradell,” Motsay said. “That’s a project we helped to fund here at the ReStore.”
To learn more about the ReStore, volunteer, or make a donation, visit bergenrestore.org, call 201-500-5009, or follow them on Instagram @restorebergen or their Facebook page Bergen ReStore.
“Here, you never know what you're going to receive. Every day there’s a new treasure coming into the store.” -Jimmy Motsay
“Right now, we are building one home in Oradell, that’s a project we helped to fund here at the ReStore.” -Jimmy Motsay