As I think I have mentioned before, I started an all new Thread over on the Forum called: All the Best Stuff’s In St. Louis. The idea came from that fact that week after week, month after month, the Retro Renovation Recon Squadrons continue to spot all kinds of amazing stuff, and amazing stories, in St. Louis.
Consider this story, from weed30 aka Wendy — who discovered a time capsule lighting store in St. Louis and raided it, scoring dozens of wonderful vintage lighting fixtures at great prices. Read it and weep:
Wendy writes:
Pam,
My sister found the sale by accident – she’d gotten lost looking for someplace else, saw the hand written “Sale” sign outside and decided to have a look.
She called and said she was at a lighting store that was closing, and, “You might want to come over here – they have some 50’s looking lights.” I seriously hesitated – it was late afternoon and I had already run errands all day.
Plus it was a regular lighting store, not a vintage shop – it didn’t make sense that they’d have any really good treasure. Thankfully, one of the retro decorating gods whispered in my ear, “Get up and go! You should know by now that you never know what you’ll find.”
What I walked into was nothing short of astonishing, unbelievable, fabulous, knee weakening, and heart flipping.
The shop closed about 15 years ago, and they simply turned out the lights, (all of them 🙂 ), locked the doors, and left everything inside.
Although it only closed 15 years ago, there was nothing that appeared newer than the 70’s in there.
Some of the fixtures had been brought in for repair and never picked up – I found service tickets attached to several.
The rest…..I just don’t think the owner ever threw anything away.
There was a ton of dust on everything, but I’d worn my junking clothes so I could dig with abandon.
There was even more in the basement, but it had flooded several times, and sadly some great stuff was ruined.
I still managed to find some mint condition NOS Lightoliers, a NuTone fan and some glass bathroom shades amongst the corrosion.
SOOO much stuff, you would walk past the same spot and see something you’d not noticed before.
There was more I could have gotten, but I thought 35 (?) maybe 40? light fixtures were enough for right now. Above: Malibu Lights – for landscaping. They have posts and wiring. The blue box is the transformer. I thought these were from the 60’s, but I found the receipt in the box and it was dated 1971. Although dusty, they have never been used.
I spent about 5 hours over two days digging out treasure, and went back once more to try and find a replacement globe for one that broke on the trip home.
That’s when I found the NOS Hall Mack chrome switch plates! I am super excited about those – they are in perfect condition and gorgeous.
Most of that lighting was from the 50’s – 70’s.
The owner’s son sold the building, and had a sale.
Most were new, some were lights that had been brought in for repair and never picked up.
There was even more stuff in the basement – NOS outlet & switch covers, lights still in boxes, recessed square ceiling lights, etc. etc. etc.
Unfortunately a lot of the stuff down there was pitting from moisture. Looked like there was a flood at one time.
This was seriously one of the best times I’ve ever had – an unadvertised sale in a time capsule shop, where I could take my time and not feel like I was missing out on something great in the next room.
In two days I saw a total of 4 other people there, and they didn’t buy anything.
It also turns out I know the guy that was selling all of this fabulousness.
My dad owned a small office building that this guy had been renting in for years. I’d met him a couple times and just didn’t remember.
Another thing I wanted to share is that the people who bought the building are not tearing it down.
It looks kind of rough in the photo I sent, but it’s a solid little brick building with killer interior wood doors that have glass windows in them, and the bathroom has vitrolite tile.
I don’t know what the floor is made out of – terrazo aggregate maybe?
It goes without saying that if you ever come to St. Louis, I’d love to give you the royal retro tour.
I now have all of the much needed vintage fixtures for my house, and find myself trying to figure out places that could use a light so I can keep more of them 🙂
Thanks for your fabulous blog!
Wendy/weed30Pretty unbelievable score – lots o’ lighting!
Thank you for sharing, weed30. What is there to say, but: All the best stuff’s in St. Louis.
Larry says
Oh mercy..I’m in Evansville, Indiana which is about 3 hours east of St. Louis, a perfect day trip on a Saturday. I too have a lamp fetish and I can feel a road trip coming on but I do wish the shop hours were a bit more regular so I would know when to come over…..sigh
Jen says
Oh, Wendy, you lucky lady! My heart would have given out when I walked in there. Amazing! And glad to hear the prices were great…
I’m passing this on to my Hubby. He might be down in that area for business shortly, and I might have to send him there. Thanks for the tip, and CONGRATS on all of your wonderful finds!
Dot says
OMG!! that’s all I can say. I esp. love the fixture in the 3rd pic from bottom, it looks like it’s a retractable too. Thanls for sharing.
weed30 says
Dot, It is a retractable, and once my dazzled eyes focused, it was the first one to make my heart skip a beat. The little cross hatches are shiny gold, and the retractable cord is in great condition. It is going in my kitchen and will be adored forever.
Kersten says
WOW! I think I would have passed out upon entrance! My heart would have raced and I would’ve felt crazy! I can’t believe you were able to take your time and pick through! Awesome! GREAT fixtures!
A similar experience happened to me in a flooring store. An auction was going on and huge rolls of old linoleum (of ALL colors) were selling for $1 and $2. I bought a huge roll to put down in our basement, but when it was time to install it, we were told it was too dried out to use. There were sparkly remnants, and I bought a small red one for under our dining room table. Still wonder about the pink that I passed up… how much old linoleum can a gal really use? Sigh…
HAVE FUN WITH YOUR NEW FIXTURES!
weed30 says
I would love some old linoleum! How sad that what you got was too dry 🙁
I’m glad you were able to use a sparkly remnant though. A sparkly remnant of *anything* is always good to have 🙂
TappanTrailerTami says
Oh Wendy, that place is the BOMB!!!! The only thing better than a time capsule house is a time capsule shop where everything is for sale.
Vintage and antique lighting is a disease, I swear. They could have just locked me up in that place and I would have been really happy – surrounded by so many excellent lights!
I hope you enjoy your haul, and I guess ya better stock up on light bulbs!
Tami
52PostnBeam says
Very nice. If the vintage fluorescent tube lighting photo was taken on the floor of the floor building, then yes – that is some gorgeous vintage poured terrazzo. Thank goodness someone will preserve it. Those floors cost a mint to make today, the old aggregates mostly don’t exist, and if they’re cared for they last forever.
Lynn-O-Matic says
Oh, my goodness, I literally have dreams sometimes about finding a stash of treasures like this. Vintage lamps and light fixtures are the first thing I started to collect and are still my first love. It’s probably just as well I didn’t actually find a stash like this. I’m afraid my heart might have stopped. Congratulations, Wendy, and do let us know when you list the extras on eBay.
weed30 says
Lynn-O-Matic, (great name!) I also have dreams of finding treasure – I thought I was the only one! Although my dreams tend to be of cash and/or jewels. LOL.
I will post on the Great stuff spotted in STL forum when I list. Fair warning, it will be awhile – I am backed up on projects, I want to list them all at once, and also want to have them packed before I list. I’m thinking the earliest would be late May or June.
Josey says
How do I get there, and did you buy all of the good stuff, or did they have anything left? This makes me so sad that I didn’t know about it! (I live in St. Louis)
weed30 says
Josey,
It’s at 6853 Olive, 63130. East of Pennsylvania on the North side of the street.
I would say I got quite a bit of the good stuff, but depending on what you are looking for, there is still plenty. The price tags you see in some of the photos are not the asking prices, those are the original tags. The owner made me some great deals.
weed30 says
STILL SELLING – here is a link to various ads on CL. They will only be there on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm – 5 or 6pm.
http://stlouis.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=727+2852&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=
Idiosyncrasybydesign (Gwenn) says
I’ve been trying and trying to find a bent glass bar light for my bathroom… so jealous… and the wavy patterned fluorescent lamps?? crazy cool… and a nutone fan in there too… wowsers…