MOSCOW — Palouse Habitat for Humanity set a monthly sales record in May by earning $20,000 through its Moscow retail store.

Executive Director Jennifer Wallace said the new and improved store should lead to even more record sales.

“I’ve got a goal for the store to bring in $270,000 this year, but I think they’re going to blow that out of the water if they keep this up,” she said.

Wallace joined city and community leaders Thursday in celebrating the grand opening of the remodeled store, called ReStore.

Palouse Habitat for Humanity has been working toward this day since 2019, when it added a furniture section to the store. Since then, there have been numerous upgrades including more space for inventory, Americans with Disability Act improvements, a new heating system, fire safety upgrades and new sidewalks.

The retail space more than doubled, from 3,600 square feet to just under 8,000, Wallace said. ReStore Manager Josh Paparazzo said that by reselling donated items, the store has saved 300,000 pounds of material from going into the landfill.

Palouse Habitat for Humanity has funded the $1.5 million project through grants, donations and a low-interest loan from Habitat for Humanity Washington State.

Wallace said the bigger retail space should bring in more dollars to fund the nonprofit’s main mission.

Palouse Habitat for Humanity announced earlier this year that it is now trying to build two affordable homes per year instead of just one. This year, the nonprofit will break ground on a new home in Moscow and one in Uniontown.

Wallace said it is crucial for ReStore to raise money, because the price of building materials has increased 40% since 2019. She said the Moscow home is going to cost $239,000 to build.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.