I went to World of Tile — the amazing time capsule tile store located in Springfield, New Jersey — yesterday. Here is the liquidation sale information I received directly from the owner of the company running everything:
World of Tile closing sale information:
- The liquidation sale will operate daily — yes, seven days a week — from 8 a.m. until whenever customers clear out, even as late as 9 p.m.
The last day of the sale will be Monday, Nov. 17. At least that’s the current known schedule.Update: I now have a report for a trusted source that Friday, Nov. 13, will be the last day. Update to followers of this thread: I just talked to the liquidators (time, 11 a.m. Thurs.). They said that Friday “may” be the last day. Dumpsters have been ordered, and tile will start going into dumpsters on Saturday. It’s not clear whether the place will remain open on Saturday or subsequent days.Update to followers of this thread: I just talked to the liquidators (time, 3 p.m. Friday). They will be open Saturday, but that “may” be the last day. Dumpsters have been ordered, and tile will start going into dumpsters on Saturday. MIDNIGHT SATURDAY update: Just got home from spending 10.5 hours at World of Tile. I closed the place down. They are going to be open Sunday, boxes of tile will be $3-$4, they say. Oh my word. The treasures. Still. SUNDAY MORNING 11-16 UPDATE: I am getting weary of calling every day to get info – they keep saying it’s the last day, then they keep extending. Here is the office phone for the liquidators, call for updates: 973-672-2777.CLOSED. KAPUT. It’s over.- The entire space is open to the public to hunt for treasures. There are no treasure maps. It’s a funhouse madhouse like you have never experienced, I am not kidding you.
- All sales are cash only.
- Bring extra to tip all the workers who help you!
- There is a sign on the front door saying that the original owners of the store are relocating to another spot. Clearly, they have taken some stock with them. It’s just difficult to know which stock, because there is so much still. I would not depend on any future for replacement tiles.
My shopping tips:
- The space is ginormous. Plan a lot of time to be there hunting.
- If you need tile for a big project, bring your list of requirements with you. Or else: Your head will be spinning and you may not be able to think. Drats, I bought a bunch of tile for my kitchen backsplash, but I forgot — I need some bullnose, too. I don’t even know if they have the bullnose for this tile. I may end up donating it to my local Re-Store. Drats, it’s gorgeous. Bring your list and “hunt to it.”
- Yesterday, I was paying $10 per box of tile. Everything else was priced when I brought it to the front. I thought prices were super reasonable.As other readers who’ve been there have said, it is very dusty. If this is a concern to you, bring gloves and mask. There are bathrooms. Bring your own TP, to be safe. If grody bathrooms bother you, plan on bio breaks, there are lots of restaurants nearby. There’s also a Goodwill close by on 22 – readers have previously indicated good stuff may be found there, if you want to make an even bigger epic of the day.
- The place also can be dark in spots. A flashlight helps. Reader Louis, who I met there yesterday, had a fancy flashlight that threw “true” light. Thank you, Louis, for your help yesterday! It was also great to meet Sue, my first tipster that something was up.
- You are mostly on your own in this endeavor, although Jerry, a longtime World of Tile staffer now working on the liquidator’s team, may be available some days to help locate stock coded on display boards in the upstairs rooms. This part goes slow, because Jerry is the only one who knows how to decode and is being pulled in all directions by customers on site.
- TIP JERRY if he helps you!
- There are also very helpful workers on hand to help you carry boxes of tile, if you buy a bunch and/or need help. TIP THESE WORKERS, too.
- Rent a truck with a payload if you are going to buy a lot of tile. This stuff gets heavy. You might bring your own staircart… Note, though, the basement is on levels.
- Wear one of those weight belts if you are concerned about stressing your back. I should have.
- The globe on the big sign, and the 3-D wire globe on the front of the building: Sold. I know, ‘cuz I tried to buy the wire globe.
- For more comments from readers who have been to the sale, see our Monday story and the comment thread.
What’s left inside World of Tile
- If you go through all the images in our previous stories, you will get some sense of what you may find.
- There is still tile galore in the basement. And when I say “basement,” I mean, like seven areas of basement. I was there for four hours+, scanning all areas for treasures, and I still think I missed a few rooms.
It took me nearly four hours to drive down, I was there four hours, then four hours home. Once I got on the Garden State, it was also Gotham traffic. I have not been this exhausted in a long time. I might go back next week. With a truck.
Update: What did I buy: Beautiful white 2″ x 2″ white tile for my kitchen backsplash. The stuff is stunning — Made in Japan — but a half hour into my trip back home, I realized I forgot about bullnose. I will call to see if Jerry can identify whether any exists, but I seriously doubt so. I also bought some pretty green tile to tile my living room fireplace (cover the brick) but I am not sure I will really do it. I will likely just hoard the tile. Ugh. Finally, I also found some vintage chrome recessed bathroom fixtures. I’ll do a follow up on those!
Nov. 13 — Update from the original World of Tile team and their plans:
- I heard from the original World of Tile team. They plan on opening in a new location — Keansburg, NJ — within a few months. Before they left, they took much of the vintage pastel colored field tile — with plans to reopen their replacement tile business.
- So, if you were planning on using them as a source, they may still have what you need. You will just need to wait. They promised to let me know when they are up and running again.
Alan says
Went to the World Of Tile this past Thurs. Went there looking for 4 1/4″ turquoise tiles and a few mint green bullnose tiles to replace a few in my upstairs bathroom. Finding anyone who can help you locate anything is very difficult. Most of the boxes are marked with code numbers not what color tile is inside. After about 2 hours I left very impressed with all the old stock they have there. I asked one lady a question as to where to find some mint green bullnose tile. She had no idea. She worked for the liquidators. Finding what you want can be difficult. Still I recommend going. This place is huge. Alan
Linda says
Alan, I was there on Sunday and got enough black bullnose to replace the mint green in my upstairs bathroom. I love the mint but it needed a punch which I’m doing with the black trim. That will leave me with about 50 mint green bullnose tile which you are welcome to have.
Please email me if you are interested…
Michael A says
I sent this store a floor tile match four weeks ago. I never heard back, and they disconnected their phone. I need help!! I have 6 inch pinkish floor tiles that need to be replaced. For anyone who would be willing to purchase tiles for me, I would be greatly in your debt. I can send you a money order, or paypal gift. I live in East Lansing, MI. I could send a sample to be matched, or I could take a picture and role the dice on it matching. I already started the renovation and have broken several tiles.
My e-mail is adamsmi8@yahoo.com
I would also gladly talk to you over the phone. Please e-mail. I need help!
Marlo says
Michael,
Did you get any takers. I have the same request & live in Ohio.
Kathy K. says
Poo-I wish I could go-I live in California and I would love to go thru that basement for my 1957 house.
Gracie says
Someone needs to save the sign!!!
Scott says
I was thinking that too!
Nancy says
We just purchased a 1935 Spanish Revival with the original oversize bath fixtures in green, forget the specific name. The tub is white with a green tile that is not a good match or compliment to the sink. I am SO jealous and have been watching updates.
Sad to say I am now in California, but used to live off 22 in PA. Hope to see some readers put these in older homes and to see more 1930s restoration posts.
SusanG says
You said in the story that they are moving….where to?
pam kueber says
Ummm, I forgot to take that photo…
Chad's Crooked House says
What if you shimmed your tile backer out from the surrounding wallboard to make the tiles look mud set and then used regular white quarter round tile? That’s slimmer and less obtrusive than the 4×4 or 2×6 bullnose and might blend in well enough if it’s the same color.
Chad's Crooked House says
Other options would be a line of grout covering the unfinished edges of the tile or a really slim piece of wood capping them off. If I remember correctly, the woodwork in the room is white already so that could kinda disappear. Or you could paint it to match the cabinets.
pam kueber says
I don’t have any moldings around the windows or doors in the kitchen. I used a j-molding that results in the drywall being like bullnose around the windows and doors. This was the way it was done in 1951 in the original kitchen and also in the bedrooms.
The edge of my tile is glazed. I could use it as is and still have a finished edge – however, it would not be rounded like bullnose.
For a truly finished look, I fear the only solution is are 2″ x 2″ bullnosed pieces that were designed to match – available somewhere in the bowels of World of Tile. I fear they don’t even exist because these tiles may have simply been buy-outs from another place.
pam kueber says
So here’s another update:
I got out my B&W Tile sample board (yes, Kate and I each got one). I think I prefer their “bone” in any case — and they have end caps and bullnose. I have a wreath-making party this Sunday, so I need to start moving, but next week, I will order samples and try and narrow to a decision.
Of course, this is just the beginning of this torture. I have been without tile backsplash for …. 8 years.
Lynne says
One other option to finish off the edge would be metal edging. Actually for flooring. We put a really snazzy small edge on a step. I would send a pic if I knew how! The back edge of the strip went under the tile, and then the skinny edge folded right over the raw edge of the tiles. I think it would work for wall tile just as well.
Diane in CO says
That’s kind of what schluter is…. It looks quite snazzy, IMHO.
Chad's Crooked House says
I love how cool details make everything complicated. On the bright side, you have minimal edges that will be exposed if you don’t get the bullnose.
thatmidcenturyfella says
Friendly tip: Goodwill will not always put items that are donated into the stores that they were donated to. Often they will divide the “treasures” up amongst local stores so all stores have a sampling. Don’t forget to make a day trip around your area to make sure you get what you need. (I didn’t know this until a family friend who works with Goodwill informed me! Many areas have large warehouses where these things can get sorted first and then shipped out.)
pam kueber says
Yes, Salvation Army, too.
Jay says
For years I took my donations to a large Goodwill center in a storefront that existed solely for donations that would be sorted and shipped to the area stores. Just last month they opened a retail outlet in a refurbished vacant CVS two blocks away from the old donation center.
Jordan says
Hey Pam!
I work in the marketing/merchandising department of a tile distributor and just wanted to show you this option instead of bullnose. We recommend it often to customers since it provides a nice edging, but I also love that it’s mid-century appropriate and simple! http://www.schluter.com/139.aspx You can buy it through a tile shop, Lowe’s, etc. Comes in lots of great finishes too! http://www.schluter.com/media/Finish-Color-JOLLY.pdf We will probably use it in our bathroom retro-vation instead of bullnose to top off subway tile.
pam kueber says
Thanks! I don’t know, though…. I fear it would bug me to see that line of differing color. If the white is the right color, that might work, though.
The Made in Japan tile I bought is so nicely made that the edges of the tile even have glaze. I could not use bullnose and still have a glazed edge… I might consider that…
Ugh. At least at $10 a box I am not out a lot of money. I knew I was even taking a chance I would be happy with “the white” once I had it home. I really was thinking “bone.” Shoot me. I am not one of those types who makes quick decisions.
Diane in CO says
Love Schluter! We just used it in our extensive (almost done) kitchen remodel in our 1935 home, on the outer vertical edge of the 3-sided backsplash for our “bar counter” side of the kitchen.
Ann Sacks 11.5″ x 5.5″ glass Devlin tiles, super gorgeous and glamorous, no bullnose available and the brushed nickel 1/2″ schluter gives the neatest little vertical line/edge. It also looks house-appropriate. Email me and I will be happy to send photos!
Joe Felice says
If you get creative, you can probably come up with different applications for Schluter. I was looking for something to cap off the bead board in my bathroom when I spied the Schluter, and it hit me. The pieces of paneling fir perfectly inside the “groove,”so that the edging butts right down onto the paneling. I got brushed nickel to match the bathroom fixtures, and it looks GREAT! And I got everything in one stop at the HD. (For the mid-century look, it does come in polished chrome.)
Jay says
You left out the most important part – what did you buy and what will you do with it. Sheesh! Rest up!!
pam kueber says
Haha, Okay, I updated what I bought at the end of the story above. I’ll show photos later.
Jay says
Grrrr!, green tile; I am green with envy! Kudos to everyone who dropped what they were doing and went a-runnin’ when the word went out.