Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
Snaps to reader Jackie who alerted us to this estate sale in Tonawanda, New York. Oh my, this is the kind of sale that we all DREAM of. I am having palpitations. Palpitations, I tell you! Enjoy this fantastic video!
So, it’s now Sunday afternoon, did an RR readers make to this Estate Sale of a Lifetime?
Deb LuvMidCensays
Wow, I sit here sipping a martini in my period correct glass drooling the whole way through this video. It would taste so much better on that curvy sofa. My hubby is from Niagara Falls and that whole area is like a trip through memory lane. As we watched the video he kept pointing out the items that his aunts Josephine, Florence, and Gertrude had (I am not making up those names!). Thanks for sharing!!
pam kuebersays
Hi Deb LuvMidCen — sounds like you’re having a fun Saturday night!!!
Lynnesays
OMG!!! OMG!!! WHY CAN”T I BE THERE????? WHAAAAAA!!!!!! I WANT TO BUY EVERYTHING!!!! IT’S A MIDCENTURY MODERN FANTASY!!!! AND I LIVE IN ILLINOIS!!!! OH DRAT!!!! WHY CAN’T ANYTHING COOL HAPPEN AROUND HERE????? NOT FAIR!!! NOT FAIR!!!!
kate mckinnonsays
I also feel for these people; where did they GO? Wonderful things, but a sad kind of way to find them.
That sweepy curvy sectional sofa, man. Killer.
The Vintage Readersays
I lived in Buffalo for several years, and I’ve never scored at estate sales like I did there. Even the rip-off ones with the dealers who take their same ugly reproduction Victorian furniture to every sale aren’t too bad. But I’ve gotten stuff like wrapping paper from the 40s, still in the wrapper, for a quarter a package… a whole stack of bossa nova records for $5 (in the same room as a to-die-for rattan hide-a-bed from the 50s)… a working 1939 GE console radio for $35… actually, I’m looking around my family room right now and noting what came from Buffalo estate sales, and it’s pretty impressive.
I don’t know why the sales are so great there. I think it might be because the old people who don’t move to Florida or North Carolina when they retire stay in their houses forever. Western New Yorkers tend to be sensible and thrifty (maybe from living in a place where historically, even union jobs get ripped out from under you with two days’ notice), so they don’t throw stuff away, although they do *give* it away. The thrift stores there are AWESOME, too. Just today I was wishing I could go to the ReTAP in North Tonawanda.
Seriously, if you want a cheap, fun, mid-century-style vacation with some excellent thrifting (and FOOD! OMG, I miss the ethnic food!!), go to Niagara Falls and hit the thrift stores in the Buffalo area. Take in the architecture, and the history, and the amazing sunny 75-degree days in June. Sigh… now I might have to plan a visit myself. Too bad it can’t be in time for this estate sale. 🙂
toni says
I have a set of those ebony elephant book ends! My dad brought them home from India where he served in WWII.
Tamara Babbitt says
The house is for sale. Check out the blue tile bathroom!
http://www.114idlewood.com/
Joe says
So, it’s now Sunday afternoon, did an RR readers make to this Estate Sale of a Lifetime?
Deb LuvMidCen says
Wow, I sit here sipping a martini in my period correct glass drooling the whole way through this video. It would taste so much better on that curvy sofa. My hubby is from Niagara Falls and that whole area is like a trip through memory lane. As we watched the video he kept pointing out the items that his aunts Josephine, Florence, and Gertrude had (I am not making up those names!). Thanks for sharing!!
pam kueber says
Hi Deb LuvMidCen — sounds like you’re having a fun Saturday night!!!
Lynne says
OMG!!! OMG!!! WHY CAN”T I BE THERE????? WHAAAAAA!!!!!! I WANT TO BUY EVERYTHING!!!! IT’S A MIDCENTURY MODERN FANTASY!!!! AND I LIVE IN ILLINOIS!!!! OH DRAT!!!! WHY CAN’T ANYTHING COOL HAPPEN AROUND HERE????? NOT FAIR!!! NOT FAIR!!!!
kate mckinnon says
I also feel for these people; where did they GO? Wonderful things, but a sad kind of way to find them.
That sweepy curvy sectional sofa, man. Killer.
The Vintage Reader says
I lived in Buffalo for several years, and I’ve never scored at estate sales like I did there. Even the rip-off ones with the dealers who take their same ugly reproduction Victorian furniture to every sale aren’t too bad. But I’ve gotten stuff like wrapping paper from the 40s, still in the wrapper, for a quarter a package… a whole stack of bossa nova records for $5 (in the same room as a to-die-for rattan hide-a-bed from the 50s)… a working 1939 GE console radio for $35… actually, I’m looking around my family room right now and noting what came from Buffalo estate sales, and it’s pretty impressive.
I don’t know why the sales are so great there. I think it might be because the old people who don’t move to Florida or North Carolina when they retire stay in their houses forever. Western New Yorkers tend to be sensible and thrifty (maybe from living in a place where historically, even union jobs get ripped out from under you with two days’ notice), so they don’t throw stuff away, although they do *give* it away. The thrift stores there are AWESOME, too. Just today I was wishing I could go to the ReTAP in North Tonawanda.
Seriously, if you want a cheap, fun, mid-century-style vacation with some excellent thrifting (and FOOD! OMG, I miss the ethnic food!!), go to Niagara Falls and hit the thrift stores in the Buffalo area. Take in the architecture, and the history, and the amazing sunny 75-degree days in June. Sigh… now I might have to plan a visit myself. Too bad it can’t be in time for this estate sale. 🙂