World of Tile — liquidation sale — going out of business — closing — The End — or so it seems
pam kueber - Updated: August 18, 2021
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
This weekend, I received confirmation from a reader who’s been to the liquidation sale, twice: Yes, World of Tile — our beloved time capsule tile store — chock full of New Old Stock going back to the 1960s — seems to be in the midst of closing. Currently, there is a big closeout of all stock going on — 80% off, Marie says, and you can wander throughout the cavernous structure to hunt treasure in every nook and cranny. I do love me a time capsule liquidation sale — and this may be one unlike any other — but even so, please say it ain’t so. Alas. Lovely photo of World of Tile’s classic 1960s sign courtesy Tony Zarak on flickr and professionally here (link now gone).
Me, amazed in the basement in 2011…. the New York Times was with me on this, my first visit…
Marie wrote to me on Saturday:
Thanks to you, I discovered World of Tile in Springfield, New Jersey.
Sadly today, I discovered it was sold and in liquidation.
Marie took these photos at the liquidation sale on Sunday — she went back a second time over the weekend.
Yes. I went to the store today. It was so sad. Liquidator service is there. No one in charge really. [Marie had some info from the folks on site about what had occurred to lead to the liquidation sale, but I do not feel comfortable publishing this.]
Right now every room is open to the public to roam and select things and pay for it in cash. So, those wonderful black ceramic bathroom fixtures she used to sell for $30 are going for $5. Boxes of 50 tiles – $8/box. There is room upon room of tile and you just make a deal for it. Very good deals indeed, I’m sorry to say.
But for your readers, if they go (with a mask and a flashlight-it’s dusty), the gigantic caverns are theres to explore and find treasures! You can go upstairs, downstairs, basement and the rooms in the warehouse. Crazy!
Marie
In the cavernous basement. It’s like that federal warehouse at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark….
Thank you, Marie!
Update: I spoke with Marie this morning — she added that on-site liquidators told her that the sale is expected to continue for about two weeks.
I had received hints of this news from a few other readers, but could not confirm what was going on. As of early last week, at least, the phone number was disconnected. My emails were not returned. I then began trying to reach a friend nearby to see if she could drive over to see if I could get some sort of official information on the situation. While I was trying to find out something definitive, I didn’t want to jump the gun with a speculative story. But now, we have Marie’s on-site report. So here’s the story, as much as I know.
The “Mosaics Room”Chippy, when the New York Times visited with me.Nicky and Jason (Jason in this photo) were the ones to discover World of Tile and report their find to Retro Renovation, so’s we could share it with retroworld. Everlasting gobstopper thanks to you, Nicky and Jason!
World of Tile — the single most important discovery on Retro Renovation ever
Yikes, I have things going on today and tomorrow. But if I can confirm that doors are open on Wednesday… and if I can steel myself for the three-hour drive (each way, ugh), I might drive down to World of Tile with a camera and video camera and a big wad of cash for one last visit … and one final report.
Oh, how sad. 🙁 I do hope the family are all right!
Roberta Cerasisays
It has finally happened, the world of banal, vanilla boring granite, tumbled marble tile has taken over. And just like that….it’s over.
Sam Rsays
I had been dragging my feet on sending them a broken sample so I could hopefully acquire some matching blue tiles for my 1954 bathroom. Sad to hear about this. 🙁
Cynthiasays
Very sorry to hear of this. Too bad Chippy didn’t reach out for support by the Retro Renovation community before it came to this – maybe something could have been done. I hope it’s not due to family illness or something, which often causes small businesses to have to close down. But alas, the love of vintage tiles and accessories for bathrooms, kitchens and floor is not as widespread as we would wish. And a business must sell to stay open. Let’s hope a savvy jobber who understands the value of these items, at least picks them up (if only for cents on the dollar) with a plan to re-market them on e-bay, etsy, or even at a swap meet – anything other than a landfill, which would be a terrible waste and sacrilege! It’s distressing to hear that Pam’s emails and calls went unanswered; I hope Pam can find more verifiable details and reports back to us.
tinasays
I wonder if NY Times might be interested in knowing about the closing. Maybe they could write a story on it so others can get the last of the stock.
pam kuebersays
I let my contact there know!
Sherisays
Really too bad!! That is some store and I would love to see it before it closes……unfortunately it’s geographically unacceptable. I never thought there would be that much tile in one place!!
Elizabeth Walterssays
Heartbroken. I have to fly in to Newark for a NYC wedding on Dec 6 from Texas and was so excited to stop in at WOT for my 1965 pink and mint green bathrooms. But alas, they will be closed by then. Just heartbroken.
Chrissays
Someone needs to make sure the outside sign is saved and loved!
Robin, NVsays
It always makes me so sad when a long time business like this goes under. I had fantasies of finding more of my yellow speckled 4×6 tile at WOT some day. Alas, it’s not to be. I wonder if they’ll drop off any unsold merchandise to the local Restore when the liquidation sale is over.
pam kuebersays
I was just thinking that I would call the local Re-Store to let them know about this. Robin, when you say “drop off…. unsold merchandise” — that means TENS of TONS. I am not kidding. The place is ginormous.
Laurie Louisesays
I’ve been thinking along the same lines. It seems unlikely they’ll be able to liquidate the stock in a short time, and it has to go somewhere. Intrepid journalist that you are, could you find out where? Or maybe use your connections to try to steer it somewhere? Bungalow Bill does the higher-end stuff, but maybe he knows somebody? Or can’t resist a huge good deal? Maybe I’m grasping at straws here, but as a friend of mine likes to say, ” You don’t get what you don’t ask for. “
pam kuebersays
My friend went today – she reported back that the folks doing the liquidation have already given away a lot a lot — no more non-profits have room for any more, they said.
That’s very sad news, indeed. With retro and mid-c modern being so IN right now, it’s too bad that they couldn’t keep it going – or sell it to someone who could.
This weekend, I received confirmation from a reader who’s been to the liquidation sale, twice: Yes, World of Tile — our beloved time capsule tile store — chock full of New Old Stock going back to the 1960s — seems to be in the midst of closing. Currently, there is a big closeout of all stock going on — 80% off, Marie says, and you can wander throughout the cavernous structure to hunt treasure in every nook and cranny. I do love me a time capsule liquidation sale — and this may be one unlike any other — but even so, please say it ain’t so. Alas. Lovely photo of World of Tile’s classic 1960s sign courtesy Tony Zarak on flickr and professionally here (link now gone).
Right now every room is open to the public to roam and select things and pay for it in cash. So, those wonderful black ceramic bathroom fixtures she used to sell for $30 are going for $5. Boxes of 50 tiles – $8/box. There is room upon room of tile and you just make a deal for it. Very good deals indeed, I’m sorry to say.
Yikes, I have things going on today and tomorrow. But if I can confirm that doors are open on Wednesday… and if I can steel myself for the three-hour drive (each way, ugh), I might drive down to World of Tile with a camera and video camera and a big wad of cash for one last visit … and one final report.
Jen says
Oh, how sad. 🙁 I do hope the family are all right!
Roberta Cerasi says
It has finally happened, the world of banal, vanilla boring granite, tumbled marble tile has taken over. And just like that….it’s over.
Sam R says
I had been dragging my feet on sending them a broken sample so I could hopefully acquire some matching blue tiles for my 1954 bathroom. Sad to hear about this. 🙁
Cynthia says
Very sorry to hear of this. Too bad Chippy didn’t reach out for support by the Retro Renovation community before it came to this – maybe something could have been done. I hope it’s not due to family illness or something, which often causes small businesses to have to close down. But alas, the love of vintage tiles and accessories for bathrooms, kitchens and floor is not as widespread as we would wish. And a business must sell to stay open. Let’s hope a savvy jobber who understands the value of these items, at least picks them up (if only for cents on the dollar) with a plan to re-market them on e-bay, etsy, or even at a swap meet – anything other than a landfill, which would be a terrible waste and sacrilege! It’s distressing to hear that Pam’s emails and calls went unanswered; I hope Pam can find more verifiable details and reports back to us.
tina says
I wonder if NY Times might be interested in knowing about the closing. Maybe they could write a story on it so others can get the last of the stock.
pam kueber says
I let my contact there know!
Sheri says
Really too bad!! That is some store and I would love to see it before it closes……unfortunately it’s geographically unacceptable. I never thought there would be that much tile in one place!!
Elizabeth Walters says
Heartbroken. I have to fly in to Newark for a NYC wedding on Dec 6 from Texas and was so excited to stop in at WOT for my 1965 pink and mint green bathrooms. But alas, they will be closed by then. Just heartbroken.
Chris says
Someone needs to make sure the outside sign is saved and loved!
Robin, NV says
It always makes me so sad when a long time business like this goes under. I had fantasies of finding more of my yellow speckled 4×6 tile at WOT some day. Alas, it’s not to be. I wonder if they’ll drop off any unsold merchandise to the local Restore when the liquidation sale is over.
pam kueber says
I was just thinking that I would call the local Re-Store to let them know about this. Robin, when you say “drop off…. unsold merchandise” — that means TENS of TONS. I am not kidding. The place is ginormous.
Laurie Louise says
I’ve been thinking along the same lines. It seems unlikely they’ll be able to liquidate the stock in a short time, and it has to go somewhere. Intrepid journalist that you are, could you find out where? Or maybe use your connections to try to steer it somewhere? Bungalow Bill does the higher-end stuff, but maybe he knows somebody? Or can’t resist a huge good deal? Maybe I’m grasping at straws here, but as a friend of mine likes to say, ” You don’t get what you don’t ask for. “
pam kueber says
My friend went today – she reported back that the folks doing the liquidation have already given away a lot a lot — no more non-profits have room for any more, they said.
Sondra says
That’s very sad news, indeed. With retro and mid-c modern being so IN right now, it’s too bad that they couldn’t keep it going – or sell it to someone who could.