Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity announced it will open a new location in Norman, replacing the facility at 1100 W. Main St. as its lease is set to end in May 2025.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that seeks to build affordable housing and help improve places to call home.
The ReStore is a nonprofit home improvement store selling donated new and used home goods, building materials, appliances, furniture and other household items. There are currently two Rose Rock ReStores in the state in Norman and Shawnee.
According to a blog post by former ReStore Vice President of Donor and Community Engagement Elle Shroyer, the store’s lease is projected to increase by 250% and the organization was “forced to seek alternative solutions.”
The facility was originally a grocery store, which Norman ReStore manager Jess Kelley said required them to adapt to the space.
“I think it's kind of a funny metaphor that we are going from renting a space into owning a space that we're able to customize and make our own,” Kelley said. “Like anybody in a rent house or an apartment, we have adapted into the space that we have and made the best of it.”
According to the blog post, owning the facility will allow the organization to better meet the community’s needs.
The new facility will include a client solution center with spaces for workshops, classes and a kitchen and gas hookups to test appliances, compared to the current facility, which allows for the testing of electric appliances only, and gas and water appliances must be purchased as-is.
“Besides how good it looks, how new it is, how clean it is, we can't really say, ‘Does it work?’ ‘Does it not work?’” Shroyer told OU Daily. “(The new facility) will allow us to be able to do those things.”
Shroyer told OU Daily the organization may discuss extending the lease or move to a temporary location during the new store’s construction.
“Everything's kind of up in the air right now,” Shroyer said. “We've got the piece of land over on the east side, and we've got designs and a projected goal (for) fundraising, but really it's all pending on fundraising right now.”
The organization hosted a ceremony on June 14 to announce the new facility, but Shroyer said they are hoping to break ground as soon as possible before the lease ends.
The new ReStore will be located on 901 Sonoma Park Dr. in Norman. A grand opening date is not yet set, but updates on the new ReStore can be found on the Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity website and social media.
This story was edited by Ana Barboza. Avery Avery copy edited this story.
