Habitat for Humanity opens its newest store in South Philly

Outfitted with high ceilings, circles of furniture, and stacks of appliances and construction material, Habitat for Humanity's newest store was already a bustling place moments after Friday's grand opening.

In the words of Corinne O'Connell, associate executive director of Habitat Philadelphia, the 17,000-square-foot store, housed in a nondescript, one-story building on Washington Avenue, is "Five Below meets Home Depot."

"We have everything but the clothes you wear and the mattress you sleep on," she said.

Its parking lot full, and with a line out the door into the street, the store, at 2318 Washington Ave. in South Philadelphia, celebrated its grand opening with fanfare shortly after 10 a.m.

City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger joined Habitat officials at a ribbon-cutting to tout the value of the store, whose proceeds support Habitat Philadelphia's home-building and repair work.

By that point, more than 120 people had lined up outside for a $10 coupon, a gift reserved for the day's first 100 shoppers.

Nikki Bagby of Germantown, who bought her home through Habitat in 2006, got in line at 8:30 a.m. to snag the No. 4 spot.

"I'm a shopping queen, but a frugal one," she said.

In spot No. 20 stood Michael Marinelli, 59, who brought newspapers and bags with him for the store to use as packing materials.

Marinelli used to be a regular of ReStore's old location on Jasper Street in Kensington, so he is familiar with how the store operates. It sells gently used donated items, and some new stuff, at low prices.

"It's one of the small community efforts that has big repercussions," he said.

When the front doors finally opened, visitors swarmed the aisles in search of a deal, and ReStore had plenty to offer.

A sign on one University of Pennsylvania donation - a round $12 chair reminiscent of the '70s - boasted that there were "Plenty More in Stock!"

And indeed there were, 265 in all, stacked in the basement overlooking rows of cabinets from Ikea, boxes, and still more chairs.

Perhaps the most noteworthy item on display was a large, dramatic portrait of Arnold Schwarzenegger, in black and white, stacked up against a wood shelving unit that was going for $50. (In this rendering, the bodybuilder turned California governor looked more athlete than lawmaker.)

"The Arnold," as O'Connell called it, had no price tag. ReStore is offering the piece for auction.

"I think it's going to go for more than $10," O'Connell said as she peeked at one bid slip. "We've had a lot of inquiries about the Arnold."

The store and its quirks are the product of months of preparation. Habitat even brought in an interior designer, Ellen Farber, a Habitat donor and Center City resident, who volunteered to organize the space.

Farber called decorating the space "telling a story," and stories are all in the details - the red clock positioned on the mantel before a black-and-white portrait of Madonna, the chairs configured like a student's small apartment. Her focus was making the right first impression to shoppers in hope that they will come back and donate to the store.

But for all its celebrity portraits and careful furniture displays, the space is unmistakably Habitat. Photographs of home construction sites and volunteers in hard hats sit on dressers and hang on walls alongside green price tags.

"We want people to know they're supporting Habitat," O'Connell said, gesturing toward the group's mission statement on a sign above the register. "It's hard to walk out the door and not realize we're not a run-of-the-mill thrift store."

215-854-2819@MadelineRConway