Can you guess what was previously beyond this fence, where the rubble is now piled?
Yes, the World of Tile round showroom.
I don’t usually Debbie Downer on this website. But it is what it is.
Thanks to friend Jonathan O’Hea of American Bloomsbury Antiques — who I met at the big liquidation sale — for sending these photos. Yup, it is what it is.
See all our historical photos from World of Tile
.
Bob Connor says
Actually it might not take that long. Remember how it was rumored that the ET game was such an embarrassment to Atari that they had them buried in New Mexico? Then a filmmaker asked permission to unearth them and the rumor turned out to be true, with thousands of ET and other game cartridges? Same thing will probably happen at WOT in 30 years.
Cynthia says
Wow! Hard to tell but just looks like a concrete slab is left on the ground. What do they do with those big deep basements? I hope they are not just going to seal them beneath the earth with the remaining inventory left inside, forgotten in a few years, to be unearthed in 1,000 years, when the new structure above has become a ruin. Most likely a jobber bought up what was left, for a penny or two…or hauled it out free of charge. Boo Hoo.
MCM is Grand says
Pam – you had mentioned they told you they were planning to move to a smaller location? Did this ever happen?
pam kueber says
No word. Even if it does reopen, it will be a slim shadow of its former self. What was “left” for liquidation after the original WOT owners took out their stash was EPIC.
Shake-Boy says
Does anyone know if that awesome sign out front was saved?
Robin, NV says
So sad to see another googie building demolished. But keep in mind that there are people out there fighting the good fight to preserve our wonderful mid century buildings and spaces. The Society for Commercial Archeology for one (http://sca-roadside.org/) and numerous local groups who see the value in our atomic age history.
Stephanie says
🙁
Trying to think of something positive here…
At least we have the historical significance of WOT documented here on RetroRenovation and can come here anytime and look back at its wonderfulness. Thank you Pam and Kate for all you do.
pam kueber says
Thank you for the nice comment. You’re welcome!
Roundhouse Sarah says
????
Jay says
Oh! I forgot WOT was to be torn down to make way for an auto dealer. Aside from the loss of some great inventory, the atomic age building will be a memory. The highways are looking very boring as the architecture is all the same where ever you go. Hard to believe the vast storerooms that were contained below that one story building.
Chris says
🙁
AtomicHipster says
Hi Pam, very sad to see such a cool business and building destroyed. Let me guess, making room for another CVS or walmart?
John
pam kueber says
parking lot for cars for sale, i think