Puzzle (and sci-fi) nerds unite: Staunton's ReStore adds a lending library modeled after Doctor Who's TARDIS

STAUNTON — There's a new addition to the already eclectic ReStore on Greenville Avenue. The store sells low cost furniture, appliances and other household items with profits helping fund Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro Habitat for Humanity projects.

As of Friday, there is a TARDIS in the store. For those who aren't fans of the science fiction television series "Doctor Who," a TARDIS is combination time machine and spacecraft that is modeled after the large blue police boxes that used to be located throughout the United Kingdom.

In the case of the ReStore, the TARDIS won't transport anyone in time or space (or at least not yet as the store's Facebook page says they haven't worked out the bugs for the time traveling part), but it will allow you to donate or pick up a jigsaw puzzle. A sign on the box describes it as a puzzle exchange that is free to the public. People can give or take puzzles (as well as books). But it does come with a warning.

"Make sure they have all the pieces (or we'll find you)," the sign says.

The box was built specifically for the ReStore by Habitat staff member Bill Coffey. At first he was skeptical of the project — more precisely he told SAW Habitat Executive Director Lance Barton that it was a terrible idea and wanted nothing to do with it.

Barton convinced him and Coffey came around.

"By the time he finished it he was completely pleased and into it," Barton said.

The ReStore posted a photo of the TARDIS on its Facebook page Thursday evening, generating more than 100 comments and 35,000 views, Barton said.

"There's several of us nerds out there who like to exchange puzzles," Barton said. "I just thought it would be neat if we could have a puzzle exchange instead of just another lending library."

Barton includes himself in that category of nerds. Actually two categories — he loves the science fiction part because he's a "Doctor Who" fan and he also considers himself a big puzzle nerd. He found the plans for the TARDIS online and thought it would make a great marketing tool, something to get more people in the store.

"We like being a part of the community," Barton said. "And offering some unique things, the crazy murals on the outside of the building and things like that. And people really like it. It kind of adds to the experience of coming into the ReStore."

There was, perhaps, another motive behind this idea. During the early days of the pandemic, when trapped in his house, Barton came to love jigsaw puzzles. In his house there are probably 75 puzzles and Barton's wife would like them gone. Eventually he will move those from his house to the ReStore.

As of Monday, Barton estimated there were 30 puzzles in the TARDIS with more to come very soon. About 20 people have offered to buy the TARDIS. That's not happening, he said.

In a perfect world, people will take a puzzle and leave a puzzle, but Barton knows nothing is perfect. The reality is some people may just take a puzzle, but others will probably leave several without taking any. It will all even out.

As more people are hopefully drawn into the store with the puzzle lending library, Barton said the store's location on Greenville Avenue — a fire destroyed the previous location in September 2020 and they relocated in the summer of 2021 to 818 Greenville Ave. — has already helped boost business with more floor space and parking.

So much so that the first Habitat house built with profits from the ReStore was just completed in Staunton.

"It's an amazing accomplishment for the ReStore staff," Barton said. "It's amazing how many people come into our store and have no idea we use that money to build houses."

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— Patrick Hite is a reporter for The News Leader. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Staunton's ReStore adds a lending library modeled after Doctor Who's TARDIS