As 2nd Ave. Thrift Store leaves 1200 Welsh Road in the Montgomery Commons Shopping Center, a lease has been signed to bring a brand-new Habitat for Humanity ReStore to that location this fall
The rumors are true – While the 2nd Avenue Thrift Store in the Montgomery Commons Shopping Center will be closing its doors, Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties is thrilled to announce that we have officially signed a lease to bring a brand-new Habitat for Humanity ReStore to that very same location.
The 1200 Welsh Road location in Montgomery Township (GPS: North Wales) will complement our existing ReStore located at 533 Foundry Road, West Norriton, which will remain open and recently underwent an expansion.
“I know it is sad news,” said BJ Breish, vice president of Government Relations and Retail Operations for Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties. “As someone who has dedicated my entire career to community service through the incredible power of thrift, I truly get it. I love the thrill of the hunt, the unique finds, and the deeply sustainable spirit of thrifting just as much as you do—perhaps even more. It is precisely because of this shared passion that, even amidst the sadness, I am incredibly excited to share this truly wonderful news.”
This isn't just any new ReStore: It's going to be one of the largest of its kind in the entire country, designed to be a vibrant new pillar of our community – far more than just another thrift store.
We are almost doubling the size of the former 2nd Avenue store, expanding our footprint to include not one, but two storefronts. This will allow for a significantly broader selection of high-quality items, including clothing, building materials, furniture, household goods, books/media, electronics, appliances, and so much more.
We know there have been concerns about past ReStore experiences, but this new location marks a bold new direction under new leadership. Our incoming leader previously built one of the largest ReStore operations in the country and has joined our local team with a clear mission: to expand affordable homeownership and home repair opportunities right here in our community. Their personal passion for thrift and community service will guide us in creating a truly world-class thrifting experience.
“You are truly in for an extraordinary treat,” Breish said. “I joined this local team because I believe we can achieve amazing things right here, I always have. We are going to build something truly incredible together.”
Get ready for some big changes. Significant construction will soon be underway to transform the space. This includes knocking down walls to combine areas, upgrading lighting and ceiling grids, installing a dedicated and convenient drop-off and pickup area in the back, and completely replacing and upgrading the floor.
We'll share more details about our grand opening timing once construction is complete, but we anticipate a Fall 2025 opening.
In the meantime, we'll be actively hiring and looking for volunteer support to help us build this incredible new venture, and you can anticipate more information on these developments through our social media and website. Most importantly, the success of this ReStore will rely on your generous donations and support to stock our shelves.
“I am assembling an all-star team and am deeply committed to delivering a world-class thrifting experience for everyone who walks through our doors. This ReStore is personal; this is my home,” Breish said. “It’s time to take everything I've learned, every bit of love I have for thrift, and bring it home to create something truly exceptional for you.”
Get ready for a vibrant new chapter in thrifting and community support. We can't wait to welcome you. Stay tuned for grand opening details!
Habitat MontDelco ReStore relies on the generous donations of new and gently used household items, building supplies, and furniture to help Habitat create homeownership opportunities in your community. To arrange a pickup of a donation, visit https://www.Habitatmontdelco.org/ or call us at 610-631-3149.
In addition to residential donations, we also partner with corporations and can scale to meet any businesses need. All donations are tax deductible.
About Habitat for Humanity ReStores
Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell building materials, appliances, new and gently used furniture, and home accessories at a fraction of the retail price. In fiscal year 2024 alone, Habitat ReStores raised over $142 million to help support Habitat’s mission while also diverting reusable material from landfills. With more than 1,000 stores in eight countries, Habitat ReStores use their proceeds to help build or improve homes locally and around the world. To shop, donate, or volunteer, visit Habitat.org/restores.
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties (Habitat MontDelco) is driving its ReStore program forward with ambitious plans for growth. Under new leadership, Habitat MontDelco is launching a flagship anchor ReStore in the Montgomery Commons shopping center (Montgomery Township), overcoming past locational challenges and setting the stage for expansion. This store, projected to be among the largest nationally, is the first step in a five-year goal to establish at least six ReStore locations across Montgomery and Delaware Counties. Every purchase and donation at a Habitat MontDelco ReStore directly supports the organization's mission, with net proceeds funding affordable homeownership and critical home repair programs throughout the local community.
About Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties
Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties ("HFHMDC") has dedicated over 35 years to providing affordable homeownership opportunities and other supportive services for income-qualified households across Montgomery and Delaware Counties. Since our inception in 1989, we have provided 112 affordable mortgages and have served over 250 owner-occupied households through the provision of critical health, safety, and accessibility repairs, with a specific focus on veteran and older adult households. Looking ahead, our affiliate has been awarded nearly $10,000,000.00 over the next 3-6 years. While these funds are beneficial, they are limited to specific uses, predominantly for capital expenses in these areas, such as the building of new housing units and the repair and rehabilitation of existing ones.
In order to keep pace with the ever-outsized demand for affordable housing and related services, HFHMDC has made structural changes to key departments, such as scaling staff and offering competitive wage rates to create sustainable programming models. This has included doubling our Home Repair program staff, as well as planning to scale our Construction Department to continue to increase our output of affordable mortgage opportunities. In this economic climate, and especially resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the conversation on the need for comprehensive housing solutions is encouraging, and funding is being made available, largely by governmental entities. Over the next 1.5 years alone, through a $7.2M contract with Delaware County, HFHMDC is committed to serving nearly 200 households through our Home Repair program. Additionally, we intend to identify, acquire, rehabilitate, and sell (affordably) at least 20 housing units over the next 3 years. Both of these aims far outpace previous performance by HFHMDC and rise to the challenge of meeting the housing needs that exist across Montgomery and Delaware Counties.
