I had to drive to Chicopee on Wednesday to get an insurance form stamped. I was not going to stop at the nearby Re-Store, because my Dear Husband would KILL ME if I rescued any more vintage and brought it into the house. But then you know what happened?
That darn expressway exit sign was all confusing and I got dumped RIGHT onto the street pointing toward the Re-Store.
It was just 5 minutes away. And I was going to have to Drive Right By. So I just had to stop.
You know? I just had to.
Well, and I’m glad I did. Because it was just a Re-store BONANZA.
First of all, I need to clarify that my local Re-Store — which is about 50 minutes east of where I live, so I can only go there when I’m out that way for some reason anyway — isn’t called Re-Store anymore.
There must have been some sort of issue, because now they are called CET Eco-Building Bargains. Sorry CET Eco-Building Bargains, but that doesn’t really roll off my tongue like ReStore Habitat for Humanity, so I am going to continue to call you by the name I have always known you by.
Such are the difficulties of rebranding. I actually have had jobs where there have been Brand Meetings. And Brand Managers. And Brand Research. Gawd, I went to two separate weeks of Brand mega-training when I worked Ford.
Start talking about the “Brand” in a corporate meeting, and people run screaming.
But, now that I have my own brand — Retro Renovation — to protect and nurture, I actually understand all the brand stuff a lot better.
Like, the color of those petals around the “i” in Retro Renovation were very scrupulously chosen. To bring my brand to life. *angels start singing*
Retro Renovation® is now Registered, too, didja know? I have a piece of paper and a $350 cancelled check from important United States of America officials to prove it.
Mess with my brand, and I mess with you.
Oh, so what was I talking about?
The ReStore in Springfield. It was a Re-Store Bonanza.
There was a local plumbing store that was moving and they had “cleaned out their back room” and sent everything to ReStore.
Those are the words we love to hear: Cleaned out the back room.
There were about 300 bathroom and kitchen faucets, NOS, I am not exaggerating. 300. Yes: 300.
There were bath tubs NOS.
There were sinks NOS.
There were not any toilets NOS, as far as I could see.
But, in the tent there were a gazillion NOS Nutone and Miami Carey bathroom lights.
There were CHURCH TOILET SEATS.
Piles and piles and piles of pastel colored toilet seats NOS.
Now mind you, a lot of this vintage bathroom stock looked like… 1980s, or even early 1990s.
But I have a big heart for anything “cleaned out of the back room” of a big ole plumbing supply company in Springfield, Mass.
Why is it that this is such a fantastic Re-Store and that every time I visit there is more more more wonderfulness to ogle and to imagine renovating 37 more houses with?
Well, the biggest volumes of vintage stuff are in cities that were prosperous and growing during the post-war era. Places that, also, were pretty well-populated already before the war started. They woulda had a jump start over places like California, for example, where everyone was new new new.
Around Springfield, there were military installations built for the war… lots of factories that pre-dated the war… and of course, Massachusetts had been well-populated already for like 200 years. Those Church toilet seats: Originally made in Massachusetts.
During WWII, there was plenty of work in and around Springfield. All the citizesn saved their money, because they couldn’t spend it easily during the war and because that USED TO BE the American Way.
After the War ended, they remained employed, as American industry returned its armament production to production of domestic goods. The BOOM was ON, and the population was already in Springfield (and similar cities) to take advantage of it.
Springfielders started building, renovating, remodeling and otherwise spending… and this continued through, when? The 80s? When the manufacturing base started to move south and overseas.
There is A LOT of mid century stuff — mid century modest, especially — in cities like Springfield. Where an already large middle class exploded even further in the immediate aftermath of WWII.
Just look at ALL THIS STUFF. There was So Much Stuff that there was enough to let sit — in unopened boxes — for a couple of decades! Every week, readers send me more of these stories:
- Emily and her West Virginia stash of tile: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/02/04/gold-min-of-new-old-stock-tile-and-accessories-from-the-1930s1940s-1950s-1960s-1970s/
- Jason and Nikki drive hours to Emilys (more photos and color): https://retrorenovation.com/2011/02/27/where-to-find-vintage-bathroom-tile-follow-jason-and-his-wife-on-their-epic-trip-to-the-west-virginia-stash/
- Russ and Paula buy a huge stash of lighting (and more) from an old lumber store to sell online: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/04/22/vintage-nos-exterior-lights-for-your-ranch-cape-colonial-or-mediterranean-home/
- Sort of along the same lines…and, “All the best stuff’s in St. Louis”: https://retrorenovation.com/2011/04/04/wendy-buys-3-vintage-lights-at-a-time-capsule-lighting-store-in-st-louis/
Keep sending me these stories, readers — I love them!
Can you believe how many photos I took?
I have more, but I am going to wind down and show these: OH MY GOSH, FANTASTIC avocado kitchen sinks that held some kind of wacky faucet. I am pretty sure I have a photo of this design on my site somewhere. If anyone can find the story, can you add the link in a Comment? Thank you!
The double bowl had a hold on it, or else I woulda had to buy it. Although I wonder, does it need a hudee? Where’s the hudee. Be sure to get your hudees. this was NEW OLD STOCK MINT. Can you believe it???
I only spent $20 — about $10 on little somethings to make collages with and another $10 on a NOS Miami-Carey exhaust fan. nanananana. I will put it on ebay to help pay server costs.
I am glad I took a wrong turn.
Sharon says
I just love those green kitchen sinks!! What type of faucet would fit on this unique design? I live in NC but have not yet visited the Charlotte store. How would you compare that one to this one in Springfield Mass? This was great thanks!!
Barbara says
Amazing, great treasures. We have a restore here but nothing like this 🙂
Jeanne says
Pam, I heart your brand. You do a great job with it!
I’ve yet to visit the Detroit Re-store. It’s in a not-too-great location, but I shall get there someday.
Elaine says
The REStore on Greenfield? It isn’t too bad there. We should make a date. I have a nice handyman who comes by every so often to buzz through my honey-do list, and he gets so excited about that store. Last time, He was casting hints big as bricks that we go over there and see what we could find. He babbled on about the colored bathroom sinks. They have new stuff over there too.
Melanie says
Sigh…… I just live in the wrong part of the country. Far from any store, much less one that holds such treasures as a corner bathroom sink, or pink sinks. So fun to look at the pictures though.
Jon Hunt says
Lookit those pink drop-in oval sinks with the hudee ring!! WANT!!!
pam kueber says
Jon, for your house, if you have the space in your bathroom, I’d go straight for the long marbleized countertop with undermount pink sinks for $40!
Jon Hunt says
Oh yeah, with the double sinks! Those are really bananas!!
I just noticed there’s one of these stores by me, in New Brighton, MN — I have so much stuff to do this weekend but I’m already planning an early-Saturday-morning voyage there to see if there’s anything awesome!! I see ours lists “cabinets / millwork” — maybe I can find some cabinet doors to match our cabinets!
Jason says
Ok, so I’m going to have to go to my restore – but I don’t hold out much hope. It’s in the city so it’s more row houses, even though I live outside the city, that is the closest. I’ll have to check the one downstate where I’m from, much more ranches from the 50s down there!
Pam – we love your brand and we will not mess with it! We will spread it to the masses…mu ah ahahahahha.
Jen says
Whoa. I grew up in central/western Mass. (hated those traffic-tying flea markets) and now live in CT. We’re about to buy a mid-century ranch. Clearly there is a trip to Springfield in my future.
pam kueber says
Congratulations on your new/vintage home, Jen. Yup: You’re not too far away! Bet there are some good Re-Stores in CT, too, though!
J.R. says
Jealous, the Re-Store here in Austin is rather a disappointment. Probably because the retro-vintage market here is so strong (read: overpriced) most vintage goes straight to dealers. What little makes it to the Re-Store is probably snapped up quickly by dealer’s “vultures” with back-room access… never to be seen on the floor by the general public.
I haven’t checked to see if Austin has re-branded yet. I too will stick with the Re-Store monicker regardless.
pam kueber says
J.R., I think my Re-Store rebranded because it’s different ownership… I think it’s an isolated instance.
75Heather says
We have the same problem here in Tulsa, so it’s difficult to score reasonably priced Mid-Mod goodness before the dealers swoop in. 🙁
pam kueber says
well drats, i guess i should become a dealer because i am a good swooper. except, i have no interest in become a dealer!
BlueJay says
We found a bunch of switchplate covers at the Re-Store in Austin. I heard that it was the first one in the country! We were in Austin a few weeks ago visiting family and when they asked us what we wanted to see, we told them we wanted to see the Re-Store. They think we’re weird, but oh well! 🙂
Kate H says
WOW. There are so many things that I like in your pictures! I love the thrones! (I guess they are really from a church or something). Not to mention the blue sinks and blue bathtub. Sigh.
BungalowBILL says
I was in the Springfield Sheraton on Wednesday but I left at 6 AM to go shopping at the Brimfiled flea markets. You were only a couple exits from that on the Pike at Palmer.The town is filled of 1000’s of dealers with junk, antiques, vintage and repurposed in big fields and tents. Miles of walking from show to show finding prizes. I got some great things including a 60’s 30″ wire garden planter in the form of a martini glass. Fun times. Next trip I have to go to that store formerly known as “Re”.
MCM is grand says
Yes, Brimfield is amazing. I remember (years ago, before cell phones), people walking the aisles, using walkie-talkies to discuss what they were seeing. Miles and miles of treasure. You can still find retro bargains, because in many parts of New England, MCM is still considered recent history, and so the prices are often more reasonable. Definitely worth the trip!