Camden County’s Habitat for Humanity organization is opening their second ReStore location in Lawnside NJ, in the Shop-Rite shopping center. Specifically 10,000 sq ft of space which was previously Fashion Bug. They are targeting a product mix of new and gently used items in Home Furnishings, Home Decor and Housewares. The Oriental Palace restaurant will be ReStore’s next-door neighbor.
Habitat ReStores are “reuse” stores operated by local Habitat for Humanity Organizations, which accept donations and sell home improvement items to the public at a fraction of the retail price.
Parent organization Habitat for Humanity’s core mission is as a global non-profit housing organization working in all 50 states and 70 countries. They want to provide everyone a decent place to live. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn made the organization and its efforts to develop housing, a key part of their post-presidential life. They are both in their mid-90s and are still active with the organization!
So the ReStore’s home improvement theme fits perfectly into the core mission of Habitat For Humanity. Their first Camden County store is located in Pennsauken New Jersey. And while I haven’t visited their Pennsauken location, this reads to me as being similar to a thrift store, but focusing on home improvement and furnishing, and not clothing.
The ReStore website write seems to indicate that while Lawnside will be a decent sized store at 10,000 sq ft, the Pennsauken store is a larger store with additional product categories, and will “continue to offer the full compliment of Home Furnishings, Appliances, Home Decor, Building Materials, Lawn & Garden, Windows, Doors, Flooring, and MORE”.
The Lawnside location provides easy access to a large portion of Camden County, with its close proximity to Rt 295, and being on the White Horse Pike
A Equity Retail property brochure lists the store as opening in January 2021 (PDF), although the official Camden County Habitat ReStore site states the opening date is still being determined.
ReStore Lawnside
200 N White Horse Pike
Lawnside NJ 08045