Something Else Saturday - 7 Reasons to Shop Your Local Restore

Lately I've had to break the news to my favorite thrift store that there's someone else. That's right, my new obsession is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Oh-eM-Gosh. They have new items for sale at cheaper prices. They have used and/or vintage items for sale at even cheaper prices.


You might have read my recent blog post about the Gears of War 3 entertainment stand we created from a $10 cabinet we bought at the ReStore. This past Thursday I visited the one in Lancaster, PA (over 2 hours away from my home) to check out a vintage diner booth to see if it would be a good fit for the rest of the living room.

If you are a fan of the ReStore, then consider this your virtual fist bump. And if you've not yet visited, then here are seven reasons why you should.

1. There is something new every time you go in. I love all the restores in my area for different reasons. For instance, the one in Frederick, Maryland has great prices on tile and antique tools. However, the one in Winchester, Virginia has great prices on cabinets (as you can see by Thursday's blog post), wood trim, and best of all you can buy "Useless Junk $1 Per Handful". I can't leave the place without getting just a little junk drunk, to borrow a phrase from Mike at American Pickers.
2.  The staff is amazing. They're always friendly, always willing to help, and always interested in "What are you going to do with THAT?" We've never met a staff member who wasn't friendly.
3. Donating to the ReStore keeps things out of landfills, which means helping the environment. Who doesn't want to help the environment? Do you even know where your trash goes after you set it on the curb?
4. Proceeds benefit Habitat For Humanity, which helps provide people with better homes -- or just a home period, where they might not have been afforded that kind of opportunity before. Everyone deserves a chance. My personal motto is, if I can't give my time I'll certainly make a point to shop there!
5. Cheap prices! We've been hard pressed to find thrift stores or hardware stores (or really, any stores) that compare to the low, low, super-duper-low prices on items at the ReStore. I get to support my shopping habit while also supporting a worthy cause AND save money. It's a win-win from all points of view.
6. Find buried treasure. No, you will not be out on their lawn with a shovel following a set number of paces to an "X" that marks the spot where to dig. Their buried treasure is even more fun. Vintage porcelain doorknobs (sometimes with the other hardware such as a lock and key), typewriter keys, skeleton keys, mason jars, small pieces of marble tile, and just about anything you'd need to copy a project on Pinterest (see below) is out there waiting to be found by you!
7. If you like upcycle projects on Pinterest, you will find just about anything for any project at the ReStore. I saw this necklace:
   
   
   
   
   And made this copycat model from stuff I found at the ReStore and a bead I had lying around. (The paper wrapping the metal washer was cut from a free guide about paint selection that I found at Home Depot.) I kind of like mine better. What do you think?
   
   
   

Have you ever shopped the ReStore? Planning to visit one in your area? What are your favorite types of thrift stores and/or upcycle projects? Thanks for stopping by, and remember - I'd love to read all your comments!