A new Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore has officially opened its doors in Brooklyn Park, offering affordable home improvement items, including donated, new, and gently used home goods.
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This marks the third ReStore in the Twin Cities and the first in the northwest metro area. Beyond budget-friendly furniture and appliances, proceeds from ReStore sales help fund the construction of five new Habitat homes each year across the metro.
For Habitat staff, the goal is to inspire more people to get involved.
“Whether you’re shopping, donating, or volunteering, all proceeds go towards supporting local families,” said Robin Henrichsen, director of ReStores for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies J. Winston said the new ReStore aligns with the city’s goals of community inclusion and equitable economic growth. “Anything that can help close the affordability gap is incredibly important for us.
“We have a large African American and African heritage population here, so making it affordable for people to start out is critical,” Winston said. For him the ReStore represents an opportunity to bridge the gap between affordability and quality.
“Access to high quality but affordable furniture helps all communities. At some point, we want families to be able to buy brand-new furniture, but everyone needs that first step. This is a key part of that journey,” he said.
ReStores also help keep more than five million pounds of reusable materials out of landfills each year, giving new life to items that would otherwise be discarded.
“We know there is a need in the community for outlets where people can bring items they no longer need or want and purchase things at an affordable price,” said Henrichsen.
“When you donate or purchase a gently used item, you’re keeping something out of the waste stream and helping a family move into a safe, stable, and affordable home,”
Located just off Highways 169 and 610, the Brooklyn Park store was strategically placed to make donating and shopping easy for residents across the northwest suburbs. “We spent four years looking before deciding this area was the right fit,” Henrichsen added.
She emphasized that the store’s location reflects Habitat’s commitment to diversity and representation. “The community is very diverse, and we wanted to have a diverse and vibrant staff here in the store.”
She also stressed that the store isn’t just about affordability, but about connecting sustainability and homeownership in a continuous cycle of giving. “When you donate or purchase a gently used item, you’re keeping something out of the waste stream and helping a family move into a safe, stable, and affordable home,” Henrichsen said.
Inside the Brooklyn Park ReStore, staff like Manager Kelly Joelson see those connections come to life every day. Joelson has been with Habitat for Humanity for over three years.
“We’re taking in donations, putting items out onto the sales floor, helping customers, answering questions, and loading items into vehicles,” she said.
Sustainability is at the heart of the ReStore’s mission, Joelson emphasized.
“We not only take in donations from individuals and businesses that might otherwise go to landfills, but we’re also involved in several recycling programs, such as PaintCare. We recycle our light bulbs, and our dumpster company uses a recycling system. About 70% of what we throw away is recycled, and only about 30% ends up in a landfill.”
Mayor Winston added that the ReStore supports the city’s environmental initiatives.
“We’re part of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative. Through that, we’ve learned a lot about how to be good stewards of the environment. Having partners like this is incredibly important,” Winston said.
The efforts of Habitat’s staff are bolstered by volunteers and donors who help keep ReStore thriving. “It’s so amazing and heartwarming to see all the folks who really believe in Habitat’s mission and want to help in any way they can,” Henrichsen said.
As Brooklyn Park continues to grow, the new ReStore stands as a model for what’s possible when sustainability and community values come together.
The ReStore is located at 9300 Winnetka Ave. N., Ste. 200, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55445. For more information, visit tchabitat.org.
Lizzy Nyoike is a Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication student with interest in community stories, investigative and multimedia journalism
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