Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity opens ReStore in Waterbury
June 14, 2024 | By Sandy Yusen | Correspondent 
The ReStore carries gently used and some new home furnishings and smaller goods. Photo by Gordon Miller
An official ribbon-cutting marked the opening of Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity’s new ReStore home goods outlet on South Main Street in Waterbury.
Zachariah Watson, Central VT Habitat for Humanity executive director, speaks to the crowd. Photo by Gordon Miller
Community members from Waterbury and the Mad River Valley gathered on Friday, June 7, for the occasion. The Waterbury resale store is the nonprofit organization’s sixth in Central Vermont.
Zachariah Watson, executive director of Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity, thanked the various organizations and individuals who helped get the newest ReStore up and running including the group’s board, the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Revitalizing Waterbury, other area businesses, donors and volunteers.
Representatives of the Mad River Valley and Waterbury Rotary Clubs were in attendance having provided significant support to the project. The Mad River club contributed $25,500 and the Waterbury club added $5,000.
The store occupies a retail space beside Subway on South Main Street that’s been empty since 2017. “We are thrilled you have brought your business to the south end of Waterbury. We have had an empty space for way too long, this is an incredible business, and one that’s going to be used by the entire community,” commented Karen Nevin, executive director of Revitalizing Waterbury.
Watson emphasized that this and the other ReStores are part of Central VT Habitat for Humanity’s overall mission: “Primarily, this is a social enterprise to support our mission of building affordable housing for low-income Vermonters that are in need of better housing. And in a time of a housing crisis and giant increases in the costs of construction we need this more than anything.”
ReStore manager Harold Blake cuts the ribbon at the store opening on June 7. Zachariah Watson, Central VT Habitat for Humanity executive director to the right, looks on along with ReStore advisory committee members, Habitat board members, and Revitalizing Waterbury's Economic Development Director Owen Sette-Ducati (front, left of Blake). Photo by Gordon Miller
ReStore Manager Harold Blake cut the ribbon. Floor supervisor Fred Johnson hung an “open” flag near the door as people ventured in to begin perusing the selection of furniture, home goods, appliances, tools and more as a line quickly formed at the cashier’s counter.
The ReStore accepts donations of new and lightly used furniture, appliances, building and construction materials, and other household goods, and sells them to the public at reduced prices. The stores provide a source of funds for Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity, which has been building and renovating energy-efficient, affordable homes for low-income families in the region since 1989.
Store hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Store staff can pick up potentially large donations. More information: 802-522-8611 or info@centralvermonthabitat.org and online at centralvermonthabitat.org.
