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.
Gavin Hastings says
I miss the old days when stores had actual “stock” and selection. It is now impossible for a business to tie up so much $ in inventory. Sad, as everything in most independent stores is display-and the majority of the better items “Special Order”. Esp lighting fixtures.
I have found that when there is a delay of over 3 weeks to get a mass produced item, it is usually a cash flow problem for the store. They are using your deposit for the previous customers order. Get your money back and run.
Just another Pam says
Having an unhealthy fetish for mid-century lighting, lamps and chairs I think my heart would have stopped dead when I walked in there. The retro fairy apparently adores you, thank you for sharing! I’m going to go softly weep now ;o)
midmod ms says
I’m feeling a bit teary-eyed myself. What a great find.
TheStrongolis says
SO jealous!
deva says
love the pair of orange flush mount pendants!
Tut says
Holy crap, it’s hard to believe that somebody actually came up with some of those designs, much less manufactured and sold them. The metal tulip ones (or whatever flowers those are supposed to be) are hideous. Can you imagine trying to dust those?
The patterned fluorescent bulbs seem extremely rare. I’ve never seen anything like that before. Must be for fixtures where the bulb is exposed, although you’d only really see the pattern when it’s turned off. Love the Malibu lights with colored lenses.
The Atomic Mom says
Excellent finds! Thanks for sharing with the rest of us! 🙂
Cathleen says
yEs, I’d bet even the stuff that is damaged and needs work could be sold on-line! People are willing to pay to get vintage, even if it needs a little TLC. It would be a crime to have that stuff end up in a landfill if no one claims it!
Chelsea says
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ann-Marie Meyers says
It’s so nice when one of “us” gets this stuff before the Cool Kids comes to play and ruin in all by taking it and selling it on the bay for horribly jacked up prices.
Great find.
weed30 says
Ann-Marie: YES that thought went through my mind many times. I have been collecting 50/60’s for 20+ years, and it’s a crime where the prices have gone. I can’t believe what some items are listed for. I hope those sellers are happy, since their ridiculously priced things rarely sell…
I do plan to sell the ones I’m not keeping on ebay, but I’m starting them all at $5.00 with no reserve.
Bill in StL says
What store is this and is the sale still underway? I’m in St. Louis and in the process of purchasing lights for a 1960 ranch my wife and I just purchased. This looks like an ideal source for everything we need. Thanks for posting!
weed30 says
Bill, I posted the info and a link a little further down this string. Good luck!