Oak Harbor is home to a new furniture store on Pioneer Way across from Wells Fargo Bank.
Instead of selling new furniture, the new store, called Our Habitat to Yours, is selling donated used furniture. Proceeds will benefit people who need housing in Island County.
The store is operated by Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical, non-profit organization that builds affordable homes for needy people.
The store quietly opened earlier this month, but the official ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday afternoon.
Approximately 30 people attended the event that included cake, a traditional ribbon snipping and a couple of songs by the locally famous Shifty Sailors.
Father Bob Rimes, a Jesuit priest from Mobile, Ala., gave a blessing during the grand opening. He was in town visiting his sister. It was fitting that he gave the blessing because his brother, Father Billy Rimes, was one of the founders for Habitat for Humanity of Island County.
Ron Tarrant, chair of the steering committee for Our Habitat to Yours, said the organization has been working on the project since April.
“We opened the store to sell quality used furniture,” Tarrant said.
He added that volunteers are very picky about the furniture Our Habitat to Yours accepts. Any donated furniture should have to be cleaned up only a bit before moving onto the showroom floor.
Our Habitat to Yours is similar to other stores run by the organization throughout the nation. The nearest similar store is operating in Port Townsend.
The store is staffed entirely by volunteers and is currently open three days a week.
“Furniture has been going out as soon as it comes in,” said Margot Wiess, an Oak Harbor resident who often volunteers Friday mornings.
Walking into the store located next to Oak Harbor Travel, one would notice several couches, chairs, several headboards and a bunk bed among the items that are ready to purchase.
Tarrant said the convenient location should help make the discount furniture store a successful operation.
“We think this location is easy to get to and is very visible,” Tarrant said.
Once Habitat for Humanity pays rent and utilities, the remainder will help pay costs associated with new houses, Tarrant said.
He added that the store has been well received by the community. Even though he didn’t have any sales figures available for the first couple weeks of business, he said Our Habitat to Yours has moved a lot of furniture through door.
Proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity chapters on North and South Whidbey Island.
The group tries to build two houses a year, one on each end of the island.
“If the store is successful, we’ll try to build more houses,” Tarrant said.
Volunteers recently completed a house for Betty Utt in the Red Wing development off Heller Road in Oak Harbor. Habitat for Humanity has several more lots it can build on in that area.
Tarrant said officials are trying to select a suitable family and it’s not certain when construction will begin. One thing for sure: Thanks to used furniture sales, the new house will be easier to fund than past ones.
