Re-Retail Value: The Best Salvage Shops Across The Country Green Architect

Re-Retail Value: The Best Salvage Shops Across The Country
Green Architect

Second-hand. Hand-me-down. Left-over. Whatever you call it, it still means used. And who wants that? Well, we here at Re-Nest hold a special place in our hearts for the pre-owned and refurbished, because we know that reuse means less waste of natural resources and money. And while some things are clearly better new, salvaged building materials and furniture can be luxurious in a way that off-the-shelf products rarely are — that is, hand crafted, laboriously detailed, and well made.

So the next time you decide to treat yourself to something new, indulge in treating yourself to something used, instead. Go ahead; you're worth it.

Places to start window shopping:

The ReUse Center — Ann Arbor

The Loading Dock — Baltimore

Boston Building Materials Co-op — Boston

Resource — Boulder

ReBuilding Exchange — Chicago

Build It Green! — New York City

Construction Junction — Pittsburgh

The ReBuilding Center — Portland

Building REsources — San Francisco

Second Use — Seattle

Community Forklift — Washington DC

Don't see your city on the list? Try Habitat for Humanity's ReStore, with locations in hundreds of cities, including San Diego, Cleveland, Madison, Tallahassee, and New Orleans.

(Images: Construction Junction)

Comments (12)

<3 construction junction!

posted by caiti on January 27th 2010 at 3:11pm
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For San Fran and Bay Area Readers - try these places too.
Urban Ore - http://urbanore.ypguides.net/
SCRAP - http://www.scrap-sf.org/
The East Bay Depot - http://www.east-bay-depot.org/

And in Sacramento there is the Builder's Depot as well as a few great ReStores in the area.

Thanks for this great post - I hope others share gems from their areas.

posted by bagelpower on January 27th 2010 at 4:49pm
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Ruthie from Community Forklift here. Thanks for the shout-out!

I just want to add two more resources for folks across the country who are looking for salvage yards in their town...

1) The Building Materials Reuse Association is a trade group for the reuse industry. At http://bmra.org/listings/directory-map, they have a state-by-state listing of salvage stores (as well as companies that mill reclaimed wood, and deconstruction groups that take homes apart carefully rather than demolishing them). The listing cover the U.S. and Canada.

2) The Loading Dock in Baltimore is one of the oldest building material thrift stores in the country, and has given technical advice to help many of the newer stores get off the ground. They have a nationwide map of these stores at: http://loadingdock.org/about/NationalReuse/index.html

posted by RuthieatCommunityForklift on January 27th 2010 at 10:44pm
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once again nothing for Atlanta.

heres a couple-
(never been here and I'm not sure if its still open)
Atlanta Salvage Outlet
1034 Howell Mill Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
(404) 873-4416

Atlanta Habitat Restore
519 Memorial Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 525-2114

posted by moke076 on January 28th 2010 at 1:56pm
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Construction Junction is the best!

posted by dakotablue on January 28th 2010 at 2:08pm
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In Philly:

Philly AIDS Thrift - www.phillyaidsthrift.com
Uhuru Furniture - http://uhurufurniturephilly.blogspot.com/
Antiques and Architecture Exchange - http://www.architecturalantiques.com/
Provenance - http://www.phillyprovenance.com/

posted by creativeneurosis on January 28th 2010 at 2:44pm
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I've been searching for salvage yards in the Los Angeles area forever. All I've found are Habitat for Humanity Restores, but those are more geared toward used cabinets and fixtures. I'm looking for a place with more selection. Internet and phone book searches only yield auto salvage spots. Anyone have any ideas (besides Rose Bowl swap meet)? Thank you!

posted by LLinLA on January 28th 2010 at 3:41pm
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Also in the Bay Area - is Whole House Building Supply still there in East Palo Alto?

LLinLA - I feel you. I live in LA now and nothing compares to the salvage yards up north. I haven't found anything even close.

posted by no accounting for taste on January 28th 2010 at 4:03pm
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I just went to check out Second Use today and scored an adorable working stereo cabinet for a killer price! Thank you, AT!!! <3

posted by heatherdazy on January 28th 2010 at 6:57pm
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Two in Houston

The Guild Shop...wins every year for Best Thrift Shop

Atkins Architectural Antiques... Huge selection

posted by hippyvieja on January 29th 2010 at 12:28am
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Philly or Baltimore people on a day trip should check out Building Character in Lancaster, PA.

posted by jkopftwins on February 1st 2010 at 12:07pm
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Does anyone have any good salvage shop recommendations in Arizona? I just recently moved to the state and am looking for a salvage yard or shop out here to go to. Thanks!

posted by cowgirlelsa on February 11th 2010 at 2:10pm
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