Employees react to sudden closure of Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The Decatur Area Habitat for Humanity said it is temporarily pausing operations to reorganize and strengthen its mission.

In a statement to WAND News, the organization's Board President said this was temporary and they plan to reopen in early 2026.

Employees at the Restore told WAND this morning that they received texts and emails from their operations manager last night telling them, as of the night of Nov. 20, the store was closing. Part of the text said, "The board did say that if they decide to reopen in the future, you are all welcome to reapply for your positions."

Employees were confused and frustrated by how suddenly the closure occurred.

"They just shut us down, but there's still a lot to be taken care of," said Lori Gagnon, who has worked at the Restore for five years. "People still purchased stuff yesterday, and now they are sitting around waiting for that. There's nobody at the store and they didn't even tell people that it's closed."

Gagnon and a few other employees were standing outside the Restore on Friday to inform people trying to collect their items that the store had closed. While they weren't being paid for this, they felt it was the right thing to do.

"[The board] should be saying something to the community about what's going on ... it's not fair to the community," Gagnon said. "People really rely on Habitat."

Michael Nave, another employee, said the Restore is a critical resource for people who are moving into a home for the first time or striking out on their end. He aims to keep prices lower than bigger retail stores to ensure the Restore is accessible to anyone in the community.

"Lower-income families don't have big money to go buy stuff, especially after buying a new home," Nave said. "I really enjoy the community coming in and asking me for parts or how to find something."

Staff were told they could go to the Restore at 2 p.m. on Friday to pick up their personal items. Volunteers and Board President Phil Romano were on site to escort staff in the building. WAND News attempted to ask Romano about the closure and re-opening plans. He only told us that the decision to close was made by the board, not the National Habitat for Humanity organization.

In their statement to WAND News, Habitat said this is not a permanent closure. They said they are making a strategic step to reorganize and strengthen the organization so they can continue to serve families for years to come.

They plan to reopen in early 2026.

During the pause, people are told to call the office line at 217-425-6446, and a member of the Board will return calls.

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