history
The West Tuality Habitat for Humanity affiliate began a very small ReStore in some donated warehouse space in 2008, per the efforts of a small band of volunteers that included Glenn Cooper, Tom Raabe, Ray Giansante, and Diane Wiley, who eventually became the store manager. The ReStore was able to purchase a used box truck, enabling pickup and delivery services.
The ReStore soon outgrew the small space that Henningsen’s Cold Storage had donated and began searching for more room. The Forest Grove ReStore moved into our current location on Hwy 8 in October of 2010. This 15,000 square foot building where the ReStore now operates was a Chevrolet dealership until the late 1990s. This current location provides much more exposure to the ReStore and the work of West Tuality Habitat than the original space, increasing sales and, therefore, raising more funds to build affordable housing and to undertake critical home repairs.
The Restore continued to improve its facilities, raising funds for a covered donation area, for heating and cooling in the warehouse shopping area, and for more accessible bathrooms.
In 2023, the ReStore further expanded, per the recycling and upgrading of a structure moved from the Habitat affiliate’s Countryman Estates house-building project. By adding additional covered sales space and extending the sales area with this repurposed building and other improvements, the Forest Grove ReStore added more than 6,000 square feet of additional sales space outside the main building. The building was deconstructed, then reconstructed, with the help of participants in Portland Youth Builders (PYB), a nonprofit that has helped thousands of young people change their lives through a combination of education, vocational training, counseling, career development, and long term support, as well as with the help of our core group of home-building volunteers. Finishing touches on the building and grounds were recently provided by volunteer groups from Portland Metro Association of Realtors Young Professional Network (PMAR YPN), Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors (PMAR), John L. Scott Young Professionals Network and Nexthome Realty Connection Orenco Station.
In 2024, the ReStore instituted its long-awaited customer points system. Customers are able to enroll at the cashier's desk and, for every dollar a customer spends at our ReStore, that customer receives a point. When the customer reaches 100 points, that customer gets 5% off their next purchase at our ReStore.
Also in 2024, the ReStore added a “Selfie Wall” to celebrate the ReStore’s connection to Habitat for Humanity: outlines of a diversity of people moving toward houses being built, a representation of the ReStore’s support for the work of West Tuality Habitat for Humanity in Western Washington County. Customers are encouraged to stop by the ReStore, stand "in" an image or in front of one of the house outlines, take a selfie and then send it to photos@westtualityhabitat.org so we can use it on our social media channels, or tag West Tuality Habitat or the Forest Grove ReStore when you share it on social media.
The ReStore continues to involve volunteers in its operations. Many of the volunteers have been with the ReStore for years. The ReStore also has space dedicated to information about West Tuality Habitat for Humanity, with forms available to apply for its housing related programs. Tickets for Habitat fundraising events are also available at the ReStore cashier.
The Forest Grove Habitat for Humanity ReStore continues as a very successful social enterprise that works to support West Tuality Habitat for Humanity in its work to promote affordable housing, undertake critical home repairs and promote housing equity in Western Washington County, including Forest Grove, Cornelius, Gales Creek, Gaston, Banks, Timber, and North Plains.