A new home improvement store is opening in Brookings next week, but this one is a little different than the others already in town.

The Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore will open Wednesday, July 11, General Manager David Clark said.

It is located on the northwest edge of town at 917 W. Highway 14 Bypass.

While construction materials can be found in a number of other stores in the area, the ReStore is different in how all the merchandise gets to the business, and how much those items cost.

Clark said ReStores are retail outlets where quality used and surplus building materials are sold at a fraction of normal prices.

Proceeds from the store will help fund the construction of more Habitat for Humanity houses in and around the community. ReStores in other larger cities have helped fund 10 or more Habitat homes per year.

Materials sold by ReStores are usually donated from building supply stores, contractors, demolition crews or individuals who want to get rid of extra supplies and show their support for Habitat.

Word has already spread about the local ReStore, and both donations and positive feedback are pouring in, Clark said. While the store space is a work in progress, things are coming together quickly.

Merchandise already at the Brookings business includes used appliances, lighting fixtures, furniture, aluminum siding and much more.

"Anyone can donate, private or corporate. … We offer free pickup within the Brookings area, because a lot of times people can donate something, but they have no way of hauling it."

Donated items are always inspected and cleaned before they are sold, but because the business is selling mostly used items, no refunds are accepted.

Besides taking donations from anyone who is interested, the store is also opening to any and all shoppers. Because of the low prices, the business is a good resource for low-income families, he added.

Clark said in addition to raising funds, ReStores help the environment by channeling good, useable materials that may have otherwise been thrown out.

Besides the general manager, the shop will have one other fulltime paid employee. Penny Hauffe will act as director of operations.

Volunteers are needed to run the cash register, stock shelves and to prepare donated items for sale. "There’s a lot of different areas for people to be involved," Clark added.

ReStores are open in several locations throughout the Midwest, including Sioux Falls, and Clark said they’ve all been successful. The stores throughout the region even share materials if one shop gets a large donation of one item and needs to get rid of something.

The Brookings ReStore will be open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about the ReStore, or to learn how to make a donation, call 697-5900.