Habitat For Humanity Re-Store

Went to check this place out after researching online for a new front door; whilst we did not find what we wanted, we were pleasantly surprised at how clean, organized and well stocked this place was, We did not purchase anything, but good place to know of…

They are just getting started and inventories are not developed yet, but it looks more organized and cleaner. Give it some time as better donations arrive for generous Austin construction companies

They don’t accept exchanges! While I can understand the policy behind this (people buying a can of paint, for instance, using half of it and then returning it), I think it’s unreasonable in many cases. We broke our toilet tank cover and bought one here, brought it home and discovered it was the wrong size, then they told us they wouldn’t take it back? Really?

The new ReStore is awesome! Organized and stocked with some really great deals on flooring, doors, cabinets, and all kinds of cool garden stuff. I didn’t realize that they take so many things in the donation area. I was so glad to be able to drop off dishes and clothes and kids toys, then know that they would be sold to generate funds towards Austin Habitat’s work creating affordable housing!

Thanks for the comments folks. We have been listening and learning in our new location! We now have hired a full time procurement officer who is constantly searching for donated product. For example: SXSW donated 3 18– wheeler truckloads of furniture and «stuff» from their shows, artwork, etc. those goodies were snapped up in about 2 days. The Seaholm project downtown donated tons of 5 gallon buckets of paint and it went quickly as well. We are getting furniture donations from remodels, and a lot more deconstruction items as well. We have also lowered prices where we can. In addition, we have stepped up our volunteer training in the ReStore and have been welcoming in more corporate groups to volunteer such as the HEB team that was in last week.
We invite you to return and give us another try. You won’t regret, I promise! #shopforacause.
Phyllis Snodgrass
CEO
Austin Habitat for Humanity

The good news — brand new big, clean building and organized stuff. Ample parking and safe neighborhood right off Hwy 290 and 1^st street. Still bargains to be found. Amazing prices on new and used doors, new and used windows, new floor tile, new paint, and new ceramic wall tile. Depending on donations nice old cast iron sinks, old toilets and bathtubs. Decent selection of used appliances like stoves and oven. Saw some cute retro RV stove tops and commercial grade ovens. They had some reclaimed light fixtures circa 70s, 80s and 90s.
The bad news — this place lacks the charm the warehouse on Comal had. It also lacks the rock bottom pricing and huge selection of reclaimed items. I will say they had some nice furniture, but as others mention it was priced super high.
All in all your money goes to a good cause. For salvaged items, I don’t know if people are snapping up donations as soon as they come in or if people don’t know they can donate here. They take drop offs and I believe will pick up as well. I will keep returning and hunting for bargains.

I was so excited to go and check this new location but left disappointed. Although the store is clean and organized the pricing is to say the least ridiculous. I saw a dinning table and wanted to purchase only to find it was $ 800.00!!! WHAT?! I’ll stick to Craigslist.

I finally had a chance to check out this ReStore and UGH – it is NOTHING like the funky resale ReStore over on the East side, on Comal I think it is? That one is a true ReStore – donated items, low prices, some finds, like a big airy warehouse. The new one on Ben White is LOUD LOUD LOUD with a radio BLASTING over a speaker in the middle of the place, it is more a retail store akin to Home Depot, AND the prices are NO DEAL at ALL! Too high, and even selling overpriced dinette sets! Home Depot is nicer with better prices. I won’t be back here; I’ll make the drive to Comal.

Do not volunteer here! Almost all of the volunteers are court appointed for community service. Therefore, the staff does not feel that they have to be helpful or even plain polite to the volunteers since they have no choice but to be there. I volunteered as a requirement for a college service learning class, and while there were a couple of nice people, the vast majority of the employees were rude and dismissive. I even asked one employee his name, he laughed at me, said his name, and walked away. Finally I was pointed in the direction of a large heap o’stuff and directed to «sort that», with no further instructions. I ended up spending the day putting plumbing looking things in one stack of bins and electrical looking stuff in another, with no idea what the criteria were for «sorting». I sure wasn’t going to ask.
So what if the volunteers are doing community service? They still deserve to be treated respectfully. I regret choosing Habitat for Humanity for my service learning requirement.

I was so looking forward to the new Habitat for Humanity Re-​store in my neighborhood. Having been a customer back in the days when they were over off near Airport and the more recent location near Comal, I thought surely, this new location would be even better than the previous ones.
While Re-​store maintains some of it’s former roots, the most notable change is the inclusion of a whole bunch of low-​endish home things that are still at the MSRP of those things. I had gone in the other day looking for «cheap» paint brushes but was met with ones that would have been the same price for the same quality at HoDe or Lowe’s. At the Comal location, I distinctly remember bags of cheapy brushes for less than $ 10 – you know when you just want to paint and don’t care if you reuse those brushes or not. Visit to Re-​store the other day and a pair of Stanley brushes is $ 11. So the only reason to actually shop here versus the big box store is if you want to pay the same price but have part of your money go to charity. Which is worthy but, at that point, I’ll just buy the quality level up item.
Thus the better deals are on the donated items but even then, as Emily H. points out, these could be the same price as the big box stores and be in very used condition. Seriously people, don’t use something to the point it has almost no utility to someone else then donate it, that doesn’t make you a hero, it makes you a jerk.
I did find some outdoor lights that might have worked to replace the outdoor lights I need to replace, but after having to clean them up and paint them and likely buy new wiring or a kit to make them work, I may as well buy something new that has a decent warranty/​return policy that I won’t have to spend hours getting it to work for my situation.
One thing that was surprising was the pianos they had for sale. Three the day I went, all less than $ 300 and two of them would have been worth the price despite looking very decrepit. If you have time to kill and want to see what’s out there, sure stop by here.
I think Restore is still pretty good for getting things like old cabinets that you want to re-​purpose but mostly everything else seems like a waste of time. And if you have something decent to donate, you should.

They have great priced furniture as well as household goods which is what they mainly sell. The staff is very nice.

Two stars for the quality of the items. Three stars for a good cause.
The picture frames, doors, well worn stoves, etc. were sometimes the same price as Home Depot but were in used condition.
There were fun deals on $ 3 shower curtains and super affordable electrical cords and shovels.
They had a great opening day with lots of treats provided, food trucks, band, and a bird-​house-​painting session for the families.

in comparison to the 5 – 6 other habitat re stores sites i have patronized this the least satisfying
from the pricing to the regular staff etc etc i think that outside vendors are allowed to
place their items for sale (higher priced than the big box stores) the new store is very clean
and shiny but the song remains the same it just does not seem like a community oriented budget conscious place compared to some of the other stores i“ve spent lots of cash
in the volunteers are great the regular staff not so much
pass on the AUSTIN store just not the same habitat for HUMANITY

The new store is large, well lit, new smelling, easy to find, has great signage and has plenty of parking. That’s the good news.
Inside is full of new-​but-​frayed-​packaging merchandise well arranged in a warehouse style (think Sam’s club). There are a few gently used items. But not much. A large slice of the very large store seems devoted to home furnishings… Picture frames and wall art and tables and furniture .
Pricing seems to be at or above Walmart or Home Depot pricing. Sometimes Goodwill pricing. There are no bargains here, hidden or otherwise unless you want some clocks or picture frames or ready to hang wall art that’s scuffed and ragged (but «new in package») for 20% off of Target’s price. Back when Target carried it.
If I wanted retail pricing I would go to a retail store and get current merchandise and a guaranteed selection. Here is only sadness.
I feel sad for Habitat for Humanity. They are a great and worthy organization that does a lot of good work. I just think some MBA type said «I know Retail!» And sterilized the place to appeal to a more affluent clientele that would never see the need to buy what is now offered.
Unless it was mercy buying. And then they would just donate instead.

While nothing can ever replace the creepy animatronic animal band of the original Chuck-​E-​Cheese — the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is an awesome addition to the neighborhood.
Much like their other stores, this location offers deeply discounted new and gently used home goods… basically a freecyled version of home depot.
As you might imagine, prices are pretty amazing, compared to what you’d pay for these items new — so while the selection is kind of hit or miss, you can find some really amazing stuff.
The furniture selection is pretty damned decent as well. Saw an entirely new dining room set for under 400, which is about 80% off what it would have been new.
There corporate offices are also here, along with a community center. Very glad to have this addition to the neighborhood.