Santa Barbara resident Stephen Gordon, founder of Restoration Hardware, joined the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County in March.

Gordon is best known for founding Restoration Hardware and taking it from a small storefront in Eureka, California, to a worldwide retail brand.

“We are honored to welcome Stephen to the Board of Directors,” said Jessica Wishan de L’Arbre, Habitat Santa Barbara CEO. “He has demonstrated his passion, humility, and commitment to the mission through volunteering with the organization on a construction jobsite before joining the board.

“We are excited to have his significant business acumen and retail expertise onboard as we continue our search for another ReStore space.” 

“When I was growing up, if you worked hard, you could own a house,” said Gordon, who grew up in a small town in upstate New York.

“I have long been enamored with Habitat for Humanity’s mission, and I’m focused on helping to make homeownership a reality for others despite significant current challenges,” he said.

Gordon was trained as a psychologist but built his career as a retailer, founding Restoration Hardware and serving as the company’s chairman/CEO for some 20 years. During this time, he opened more than 100 stores, building catalog and manufacturing divisions, and taking the company public.

Seven years after the public offering Gordon resigned to become CEO of Sundance for the company’s founder Robert Redford, growing the business and profits during his five years at the helm.

After a stint in brand consulting, Gordon founded and ran Guideboat Co; the company was acquired in 2018, only five years post-commencement.

“Re-opening a ReStore would allow us to once again divert waste from local landfills and sell gently used building materials at a fraction of the retail price, with proceeds benefitting our mission,” said Jan Hubbell, board president.

“We are delighted to have Stephen’s leadership as we embark on this next chapter at Habitat Santa Barbara,” Hubbell said.

For more, visit www.sbhabitat.org.