Flooding poured at least eight inches of water into the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Riviera Beach, destroying about 98% of the store's inventory beyond recovery. The thrift shop on North Military Trail is now temporarily closed to shoppers while crews work through cleanup, and organizers are asking the community for help restocking its shelves.
John Hrinda, Habitat for Humanity's vice president of retail, estimated that nearly all of the store's merchandise was ruined, according to WPEC. The station reports the ReStore sits on North Military Trail just south of Beeline Highway, and that Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County is now facing a massive cleanup after the flooding wiped out nearly all of its inventory.
Donations Resume Next Week
The Riviera Beach location will begin accepting donated items again at 9 a.m. on Monday, September 28, at 6831 N. Military Trail, per the station's report. Habitat for Humanity is requesting new or gently used furniture, appliances, home décor, clothing and other household items to help refill the shelves. Larger donated items can be scheduled for pickup, the report notes.
Financial donations are also being sought to help cover lost revenue and flood-related expenses tied to the damage, the same account states. Community members can support the Riviera Beach location through Habitat for Humanity's fundraising campaign, though specific details on how contributions will be processed were not spelled out in the station's report.
Why ReStore Proceeds Matter
ReStores are independently owned reuse stores run by local Habitat for Humanity organizations, according to Habitat for Humanity. These stores accept donations and sell a constantly changing inventory of merchandise to the public at a fraction of retail price, the organization notes, and the proceeds help fund the construction, rehabilitation and repair of affordable homes for local families.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County operates three other ReStore locations, in Jupiter, Greenacres and Delray Beach, which continue to sell donated furniture, appliances, home goods and building materials while the Riviera Beach store recovers. Those sales, like the ones normally generated in Riviera Beach, support the organization's home-building programs across the county.
For now, the flooded Riviera Beach store remains closed to shoppers as cleanup continues, with no reopening date yet announced for regular retail hours. The focus in the coming days is on rebuilding the donation pipeline that starts flowing again next Monday morning.
