ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The biggest problem Paula Murphy has is that people pass her store thinking that it’s a warehouse for home restoration.

No, it’s not. At least not totally.

Murphy is the general manager of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and she wants people to know that her store along Highway 59 in Robertsdale has all kinds of stuff, from vehicles to fishing gear.

“The store takes in household goods, furniture, new and used construction material, and we are remodeling so we can accept more construction materials. We recycle metal and of course, aluminum. About the only thing we don’t take is clothes. People think we’re a warehouse, and not open to the public.”

Touring the store at 22460 Highway 59 North, Robertsdale, is an adventure. One enters through a classic thrift store with loaded with plates, china, fishing gear, some electronics, and other goodies. You never know what you are going to find here. Murphy says the store has one volunteer who checks to see if electronic items are working properly, and that all mechanical items are checked to make sure they are working properly.

Go through another door and you are into bigger items, such as the store’s collection of more than 450 doors of various styles and designs. If you are looking to build or remodel, chances are you can find just about everything, including the stove, toilet and kitchen sink, there. It’s worth a look.

There also a section of kids’ stuff, all decorated and painted up by a team of college students who came down last winter.

“Kids just go gaga over the fishing stuff,” said Brenda Lowther, the store’s organizational manager.

“We do hear a lot of ‘Mom, can I have this,’” said Lowther with a chuckle, adding that sometimes, prices are adjusted to suit a child’s budget.

The store also carries a wide assortment of furniture.

“All the local furniture stores are very good to us. We also have a number of people who redo their condos and give their stuff to us. We also have people who are spring cleaning or have leftovers from garage sales.”

Brenda added that members of the ReStore team sometimes comb and clean construction sites to obtain useful items.

“We have a deconstruction team that will go and clean up a construction site,” said Murphy. “We have gone into condos and taken out everything, the toilets, the counters, everything. We take it all and recycle.”

Murphy added that water-saving and handicapped toilets are in big demand at the store. There’s even an assortment of new, still-in-the-bag hardware.

“We have a lot of good donors and good contractors,” said Murphy. “They help us help more families. Lowes and Home Depot have been very good supporters.”

Prices are kept low, Murphy says, to encourage quick sales.

“I’d rather move it than let it sit,” said Murphy.

Murphy explained that profits from the store remain in Baldwin County and are used by the Baldwin County Habitat for Humanity chapter to help needy families earn a new home.

“A thousand dollars will put a roof on, or help buy appliances for a house,” said Murphy.

There is one thing the ReStore can always use, both Murphy and Lowther said — more volunteers. They are particularly looking for someone with the time and computer savvy to manage an eBay store so the store can find a wider audience for some of its more unusual or valuable items.

Speaking of unusual items, both women have seen a few “favorites” pass through the store.

“One of my favorites was a walk-in bathtub,” said Lowther. “We have had a pontoon boat, and a shed as well.”

“We had a motorcycle at one time,” recalled Murphy. “The most unusual item I've seen was some “kangaroo caddies,” some electric golf bag carriers. They were the oddest thing I’d ever seen.”

Both women said the store could use more materials and shoppers.

“We can always use more construction material,” said Murphy. “We could also use cars, motorcycles and boats. If people donate to us, they can take a tax credit. If the vehicle runs, we can sell it or if it does not, we can junk it.”

As for the store’s “average customer,” Lowther says they don’t have one.

“We have very wealthy people doing big projects,” said Lowther, “we have landlords looking to renovate a unit, and then we have people who can’t spend a lot and really need to save money.”

“The main thing we want people to know is that we are open to the public,” said Murphy. “We want people to come and see us.”

Murphy has been at the ReStore for about two years, after 20-plus yeas in the construction industry in Pensacola.

“My husband is ill and I thought I was going to be semiretired,” said Murphy. “I stayed home, and that lasted about six weeks.”

Murphy found the ReStore through Lowther, who began volunteering for Habitat for Humanity as a tutor, teaching families in the program about debt.

“What I like about this program is that it is a hand up, not a hand out,” said Lowther.