Update: World of Tile has now closed. See our story on the liquidation sale going on through about Nov. 15 here.
Remember that famous closing scene in the first Indiana Jones movie — the Arc of the Covenant has been found and saved from evil Nazi hands, and where does it end up? In the cavernous basement of a U.S. government storage facility salted away in a box among millions. Well, that’s the movie moment I recalled the minute I entered the Most Truly Amazing part of World of Tile yet: The basement warehouse storage area where all the priceless NOS tile booty is kept just waiting for us to liberate it. To conclude our Retro Renovation World of Tile Week, let me take you on a short tour…
Photos likely can’t begin to capture the awesomeness of this space. And I mean ‘awesome’ as in ‘magnificent and beyond belief.’ Chippy could not tell me for sure, but I’ll swag-estimate and say there was 15,000 s.f. of storage space, all jammed with tile. And in many places, it was 30′ high. Or more. And while we all know the U.S. Government has long forgotten where it stashed Indy’s priceless treasure, Chippy seems to know where every stinkin’ rotten piece of tile stocked at World of Tile since 1957 (when it opened) and especially since 1968 (when she started) is located.
I think this was the area where World of Tile stocked all its vintage pastel colored tile, especially for replacement tile requests. I recall Chippy telling me that they have at least 20 different shades of 1950s and 1960s pink bathroom tile.
So much tile. So little time.
Gary was my guide. In this aisle I spotted tile that I had not seen upstairs. The basement stockpiles also include multitudes of small lots of leftover boxes of tile. Perhaps enough to do a foyer or other small room? Or, maybe put the remnant pieces together into one great big crazy quilt floor design? I would, very very happily.
Oh, just some fantabulous Persian style 1970s floor tile. Kind of cavalierly propped there and there. I wanted to stop and go through every aisle, every shelf, every pile…
That was a sliver of the first big storage area. Now, a whole second, separate basement warehouse. Down more stairs. Deeper. Higher. If I don’t come out in a few days, send in the Coast Guard.
Down in Jerry’s Room, tile is piled …. what? … 30 feet high?
I am pretty sure these guys were amused and perplexed by my jaw-dropping fascination.
Not only does the basement warehouse contain thousands (tens of thousands? hundreds of thousands?) of pieces of vintage floor tile, but there also are areas like this that house other New Old Stock NOS like mid century modern table legs.
I think I need to doctor, then sell, this photo as a poster.
Vintage Romany Spartan tile. “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow.” Yup. Well, sort of.
Thanks for coming out to play with me all this week. Hope you enjoyed. 🙂
Jamie says
I just had a 15 minute conversation with Chippy. What a great lady! She expressed how overwhelmed she has been, but in a good way of course. She said that she has become somewhat of a celebrity through all of this. I contacted her because my wife and I are thinking of doing a redo of one of our bathrooms. I’m having a bit of trouble with it as the bath is original and in not that bad of shape. I’m not 100% in love with the tile though and that’s the only reason I am considering it. (That and of course because it’s what my wife wants!) It’s becoming a sort of “if Momma ain’t happy” type of thing in our household. It’s a bit of a quandry for me. Any thoughts from anyone on my situation?
pam kueber says
How long have you been in the house, Jamie?
Jamie says
It will be 3 years at the end of October.
Guy H. says
Wow… that pretty much shows that no one is going to wipe out their supply! Hopefully they get a surge in business from your site so they can be around for many, many years.
Annie B. says
The expression on your face says it all!
JKaye says
Pam, you look like you’re starring in the movie Lara Croft: Tile Raider.
pam kueber says
🙂
midmod ms says
Wow wow wow! I live on the west coast, don’t get back east very often, and this is making me very jealous indeed.
Mod Betty / Retro Roadmap says
What a find! Thanks for taking us on this journey, I swear my pulse raced with each picture, and the possibilities!!! Totally going to stop there soon!
Michele says
Pam-you’re a poet, now we all know it! I have such shopping envy! The midwest where I am is a vast wasteland compared to these great places you go–count your lucky stars!
brneyedgrl80 says
I wonder if there is a way to see all the different shades of pink bathroom wall tile that they have?
I still need to purchase some pink and gray wall tile for my bathroom renovation project and would love to see the different options I could possibly have.
I went to B&W Tile in Riverside (they were very nice and helpful) but they only had one shade of solid pink tile. If I could see more options that would be awesome.
pam kueber says
brneyed girl, see the post I did about “where to find” that includes the interview with Chippy. She says to send a sample to match….https://retrorenovation.com/2011/07/12/where-to-find-bathroom-replacement-tile-for-vintage-bathroom/
Jana (Berniecat) says
Tile, tile, piles of tile!
The older the tile, the more we smile!
Colors and patterns by the mile!
Bathroom, kitchen, hallway aisle,
Chippy helps renovate with great style.
Pam’s reports make it all worthwhile!
We love, love, love World of Tile!
pam kueber says
Jana adds poetry to the file
We love, love, love World of Tile!
Carri Carlson says
OMG!!!!!!!! I think I would have a nervous break down. It’s like Christmas times a million. I know where I’m going for my next trip.