The new ReStore opened on Monday, and they did about $800 in business that day. A grand opening is planned for Nov. 11.

In the interim, the ReStore had been operating out of its temporary location at 2118 Werth Road in Alpena. That location has been closed since Oct. 8 as they transitioned over to the new building, said Ted Fines, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan.

“So, we lost a lot of revenue, but we needed the time to set everything up, move everything in,” Fines said.

The store had been in the 400 W. Chisholm St. location since 2005, until a fire consumed it on Nov. 3, 2019. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical.

Fines is pictured outside the new office entrance.

Fines said the new store has a lot more space than the temporary location, and that it is much more convenient to have the offices located in the same building.

“We were in First Presbyterian Church since 1989,” Fines said of the Habitat offices. He has been the executive director for over five years.

The new ReStore building features nearly 12,000 square feet of space.

“The ReStore itself is about 8,500 square feet, about 1,500 square feet for the offices, and then” the remaining space is dedicated to “our construction and intake area,” Fines said. “This is where we take everything in, and clean it and sanitize it, and build our ramps here and anything else related to construction.”

The temporary store on Werth Road only had about 5,200 square feet of space. The Chisholm Street store had about 15,000 square feet of space, but the new location is much more open space, with high ceilings, new bathrooms, and a huge backroom space for receiving donations and building wheelchair ramps and other projects for Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repairs program.

Above, Habitat for Humanity ReStore Manager Les Ellerhorst leans on the counter at the new ReStore in front of a sign that says, “Seeking to put God’s love into action Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build Northeast Michigan homes, communities, and hope.”

“This really expands our opportunities,” Fines said of the open space.

The new ReStore renovations cost nearly $200,000, including an upgraded fire alarm system tied into their $50,000 fire protection system, which includes sprinklers. The fire protection upgrades were required by the township, Fines added.

“We have put in darn close to $200,000 into this building, but it’s going to be here for a lot longer than I’m going to be around,” Fines said. “It’s been a good investment so far, and we are looking for grants that we’ve applied for — Besser Foundation and First Federal Legacy Foundation, things like that.”

The new ReStore is across from St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, in the location of the former indoor flea market.

Habitat ReStore Manager Les Ellerhorst said he’s glad to be back in business.

High-quality remanufactured paint is for sale at the store, as well as many other new or reconditioned hardware items.

“We had a fantastic first three hours we were open yesterday,” he said.

He said the store being open again is great for both Habitat and the community.

“I love it,” said Colleen Helsom, assistant store manager. “I think it will be so much more customer-friendly.”

A new lighted sign is being fabricated by Omega Electric & Sign Company, Inc., Fines said, and should be out front soon.

Donations of good-condition used furniture and appliances are now being accepted at the new store.

“We have to be pretty particular about what we take,” Fines said.

The ReStore is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan at 989-354-5555.

Fines recalled watching the old building burning down, and saying, “I will have a new store open in two years.”

And, here we are.

Reach Darby Hinkley at dhinkley@thealpenanews.com, or at 989-358-5691.