Habitat for Humanity opens new building supply store in SLO County: ‘A place for everyone’

Paso Robles has a new source for home appliances, furniture, building materials and more.

Habitat for Humanity celebrated the grand opening of its newest ReStore location in San Luis Obispo County on Saturday.

Located at 844 Ninth St. in Paso Robles, the nonprofit home improvement store and donation center sells new and gently used tools, equipment, home accessories and other items to the public at discount prices.

Revenue from ReStore sales helps fund “new construction, home preservation and neighborhood revitalization projects,” Habitat for Humanity said on its website.

“As items are donated and resold, we help divert useable materials from the landfill while providing lower-cost options for local homeowners to pursue home renovation projects of their own,” the nonprofit organization said.

Habitat for Humanity helps Central Coast communities

In SLO County, Habitat for Humanity helps families build and purchase new homes and works restore the homes of seniors living below the poverty line. The nonprofit’s Playhouse Build program, which constructs play structures for local families.

According to Nick Rasmussen, CEO of SLO County Habitat for Humanity, SLO County has a spirit of giving.

“The thing about SLO County — no matter if you’re in South County or North County — is everyone has a desire to give back to the community in some way, shape or form,” Rasmussen said. “We want to make sure that we are creating opportunities that are fun, safe and worthwhile, and contribute to our mission.”

For instance, he said, every ReStore has a volunteer program.

Volunteers help run the stores, working at the registers or doing woodworking, plumbing, stocking and merchandising, according to Ramussen.

“There’s just a place for everybody,” he said.

ReStore returns to North County

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, there were two ReStore shops in SLO County — located in San Luis Obispo and Templeton.

However as both leases were expiring, Habitat for Humanity made the decision to close down both stores.

A new ReStore location was established at 2097 Broad St. in San Luis Obispo, but North County residents were left without a similar store.

According to Ramussen, many customers who frequented the now-shuttered Templeton location were loyal customers at the SLO shop. However, they wanted their own North County location, he said.

Habitat for Humanity began looking for a new spot in the region for a ReStore shop.

After the nonprofit found a suitable building in Paso Robles, construction began earlier this summer ahead of Saturday’s grand opening.

“People are generous in North County,” Ramussen said.

More information about ReStore

ReStore is open at 844 Ninth St. in Paso Robles from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, call 805-434-0486, email restorepaso@habitatslo.org or visit hfhsloco.org/restores.