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.
marlo fox says
PLEASE HELP!!
I am remodeling our bathroom and need to find about 3 square feet of tile and I saw it in one of the pics posted here….at the World of Tile. I live in Central Ohio so a road trip or flight to take a gamble on tile is just not possible. I have a picture of the tile I need and would be willing to pay someone who is going that way some $ to try to locate it and ship it to me.
Can anyone help? I would be very grateful! Have scoured the web and can’t find this tile anywhere.
Scott says
You kids close enough to be able to get to this place are so lucky!
And I just had to go search the web for images of “Conceal-a-Roll” which of course led me right back here to RR. 🙂 Just added something else to the list of things I “need” LOL.
Bob Connor says
You say that the building is to be replaced by a car dealer. One thing I think would be great – if the car dealer building used some of the tile at World of Tile. Not just in the rest rooms but other parts of the building too. It would be a lot more colorful than the beige and gray tiles commercial buildings seem to have now.
pam kueber says
Great idea!!!
Bob Connor says
Lets just hope that some architect, designer or someone who owns the dealer who can make that happen is reading this!
So Pam, how much is left there?
pam kueber says
There was a lot left when I was there.
Note my updated comment in the comment stream about the guys from NY metro who came in after me.
Ben says
I just got back after an entire day there. I bought enough tile for two full bathrooms for under $300. Great stuff, Italian, French… I had so much that it bottomed out the suspension on my Prius.
pam kueber says
YAY!
Linda Hansen says
Good for you-You are totally amazing and I share the name of your website with a good many people.
pam kueber says
Thank you!!
Melodi says
this is all fine and good if you live within driving distance….please get the name of the buyers who bought lots of tile so I can have a source to contact….I’m in Iowa.
Carrie says
I just was there at 4PM today. I think I’m still in shock. I went there thinking that the guys from Brooklyn bought everything but I was able to get Versailles tile in pink/grey and also a box of blue. I also managed to find a Conceal a roll toilet paper holder in its original box. There are many treasures to be found! I will probably go back again! I didn’t see any ming green tile but I wasn’t really looking for green.
pam kueber says
Wow, a conceal-a-roll in the original box! How did I miss that? Treasures in every corner!
Ben says
I saw you with your conceal-a-roll toilet paper holder! I was checking out when you were…
pam kueber says
“Though Shalt Not Covet They Neighbor’s Conceal-A-Roll”
Alan says
Matt: You should try Jasco Tile on Rt. 22 East. not far from World Of Tile. When I left World Of Tile I went down 22 W and made a U turn for Rt. 22 East. Jasco is on the center isle across from a Sunoco gas station. They have the 4 1/4″ glazed turquoise ceramic tiles I’m looking for. Actually because it’s on the center isle you can enter from Rt. 22 E or W. I noticed there is another tile store across from Jasco’s but didn’t check them out. Alan
Matt says
There goes my hope of finding ming green bathroom floor mosaic for one bathroom and blue for another. Is there anyplace else out there that might carry it in the right color and that hopscotch / Versailles pattern?
pam kueber says
Nope, I don’t know of any place to get this…
catherine says
Try Garden State tile Roselle or Roselle park nj Steve Fisher is the owner and has a vast knowledge. Or Greenwich tile in Greenwich ct [edited] I grew up in the tile business. I have known The World of Tile Family since I was born. They are wonderful people.
pam kueber says
Update from a friend on the scene this morning: Two fellows from Brooklyn bought thousands of dollars worth of tile overnight and are now in the process of hauling it out. They apparently bought a lot of the great stuff. So great to know that this is not going to the dumpster.
Thanks to New York Times Home & Garden section for tweeting our story yesterday — 57,000+ more got the tip!
karen says
Can someone track down the Brooklyn buyers? They may be a new resource.