In its article, Furniture Today graciously featured the recent grand opening of our huge new flagship Midtown NYC store, 333 West 52nd Street on their website.
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The Friends and Faces of Olde Good Things
Just a few weeks ago we held our Grand Opening event for our newly relocated flagship store at 333 W. 52nd Street. Considering all things, with the present economic situation, the event brought a great turn-out, with many faces and friends of OGT.
Gregory Singer, founder and music director of the Manhattan Symphonie, provided musical entertainment during the 3-day event. He coupled with some friends to provide a variety of lighthearted tunes, from Americana to Italian Classics. We were delighted to have him.
Many people loved the lion and engaged in the Instagram promotion receiving 25% off just for posting a picture of themselves with the OGT Lion Mascot in front of our store.
Besides the lion Mascot, you couldn’t miss the OGT T-Rex who stands in the front welcoming all passers-by.
Many of our knowledgeable OGT salespeople are on board to help the customers with any and all questions. We also have trusty help from Flores, who has faithfully worked with us in the setup and installation of architectural pieces for many years. Flores offers a wealth of information to customers who have questions concerning the restoration and installation of many olde good things.
It seems that the neighborhood is delighted to have us. This is the first time we have been centrally located in Midtown Manhattan so we hope that many of our friends and previous customers will find us here. We are presently open for 7 days, with limited hours from 9 am to 5 pm. We are following the CDC guidelines and limiting the traffic with 6 ft. social distancing and sanitizing stations throughout the store.
The store is chock full of one of a kind, never seen before items. There’s something for everyone. We hope you will join us in continuing to celebrate this new location.
Come meet the many faces of Olde Good Things!
By the way, Gregory is known to make pop-in visits so you may see him here again and you can hear him play his magical violin. A note of interest, Gregory recently illustrated and published his first children’s book about a spaceman who helped children wash their hands. Great for these times! Take a look at this link to find out more.
Sneak Peek of New OGT Manhattan Flagship Store
As many of you may realize by now our location at 16th Street in Union Square has recently moved to a much larger central location at 333 W. 52nd Street. This store has a similar scale to our original Manhattan store at 24th Street with its sprawling first floor and lower level. It is being stocked with signature architectural items from legendary New York City buildings as well as many unique designs and home furnishings perfect for the home or office (and nowadays home office as well!).
Click the picture above to view the video
We will soon be “open” to the general public and are planning on a Grand Opening on October 2nd. We are planning a sneak peek week starting Friday, September 25th just before our Grand Opening. Just stop by or call for an appointment at 212-989-8814. Of course, this shopping experience will be conducted within CDC guidelines for the safety of both our customers as well as our staff. PPE will be required (face masks) and we’ll have plenty of sanitizing stations throughout the store. Capacity will be limited to ensure a safer and more pleasant shopping experience. Hours of operation will be posted, but for now, we are open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
The store is stocked with fresh picks as well as a great assortment of what we are notorious for, handmade mirrors and decorative furnishings as well as our line of tables both rustic and elegant. There is much “never seen before” merchandise so come and get first dibs! Our plan is to post these items online soon after our opening in the following weeks.
During these difficult times, it’s a comfort to know OGT is still a staple in New York City. Our commitment is to continue as long as we can find great finds, which doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Keep an eye out, buzz is not lacking at OGT. There are so many story-filled items reclaimed from years gone by. A few samples include: Copper framed mirrors made from windows of prominent skyscrapers such as the Flat Iron Building and 200 5th Ave (formerly the renowned Toy Manufacturers Building which now houses the famous Italian Market: Eataly). Also, marble mantels and original lighting from the Waldorf Astoria can be seen firsthand and so much more.
We look forward to seeing you at the new flagship location, as always expect an exciting experience shopping at one of the most interesting stores in New York City.
16th Street Store Closing – New Manhattan Flagship Opening
As many of you may realize by now, our eleven-year stay at Union Square has recently come to a close. We are sad and glad, sad because this location served us and our customers well but glad as we have made the move to a much larger, centrally located space with high ceilings and an even grander, vast showroom at 333 West 52nd Street. The preparation for this new location was of course slowed by the economic shutdown due to the onset of COVID-19.
We’re in the process of unboxing and setting up our wares from 16th Street as well as many new arrivals never seen by our New York City customers. We plan to have this location open by appointment in the weeks to come, so please keep in touch and look for our opening newsletter.
Also, if you are in the city and still want to shop with us in person, our other stores at 302 Bowery and 2420 Broadway are open with limited hours during the week as well as the entire weekend. Just call for an appointment.
302 Bowery
New York, NY 10012
212-498-9922
Shop this store online
2420 Broadway
New York, NY 10024
212-877-0845
Shop this store online
Of course, our web site is always open and our PA warehouses are also open by appointment. We appreciate your business and look forward to you shopping at Olde Good Things.
New York Bowery & Broadway Stores Re-Opening
UPDATE: Our Bowery and Broadway NYC stores will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays starting July 4. For Monday through Friday, please call or email for an appointment. The Los Angeles location is open for retail business.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our Scranton locations are open by appointment only. Please call or email for an appointment.
Now that phase 2 of New York City’s re-opening process is underway, we at Olde Good Things have been preparing our stores to make them safe for everyone involved. We are complying with CDC regulations, providing customers with a safe hopefully delightful shopping experience. We have even begun developing sustainable sales counter “sneeze guards” made from reclaimed windows. This is not only a decorative way to keep the store safer, but it is also great for the environment, as all the products we’re using are getting their second go around. As seen at our Bowery location, arched sash windows now form protective divides at the counter. And the good news is, we are marketing these to our friends in the business as well. Just inquire and we’ll let you know our present inventory of windows and other architectural elements which can be repurposed as well.
Although protective guards at sales counters are an indicator of the difficulty of the present times, these made from salvaged materials make any space look great and give a warmer, more friendly feel. Now you can shop safely at our NYC stores at 2420 Broadway and 302 Bowery. We will have reduced hours and occupancy, so if you prefer to make an appointment, call us at 212-989-8814 for scheduling. Our 16th St store is in the relocation process to our new much larger flagship location at 333 W. 52nd St. We’ll keep you posted for our grand opening! Since the stores are opened on a limited schedule, we ask you to call first so as not to be disappointed. We appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you again.
Lower East Side:
302 Bowery
between Houston and Bleeker
212-498-9922
Open Sat 6-27-20 and Sun 6-28-20, 11-5 pm by appointment
Weekday schedule coming
Upper West Side:
2420 Broadway
between W. 89th & 90th
Open at 6-27-20 and Sun 6-28-20, 11-5 pm by appointment
Weekday schedule coming
Olde Good Things Salvage from the Historic Waldorf Astoria New York City
The Waldorf Astoria was erected over an entire city block on Park Avenue, Manhattan, in 1931. It was the successor to the original on Fifth Avenue, which was demolished to make room for the Empire State Building.
The Park Avenue Waldorf Astoria was designed by New York architectural firm Schultze & Weaver, the architects who designed a line of Biltmore hotels and redesigned the Grand Ballroom of New York City’s Plaza Hotel. When the hotel opened, it was the largest and tallest hotel in the world at 625 feet and 47 stories. It hosted 1,416 guest rooms, each one unique, for a total of 2,200 rooms. Famous for its Art Deco luxury, this is the hotel that invented 24-hour room service in its early years. Herbert Hoover gave the opening speech from the White House on the radio in 1931.
Waldorf Astoria Drew the Elite & Famous
A 1946 conference held at the hotel hosted representatives of allied countries to discuss the future of eastern Europe after World War II. The April in Paris balls attracted figures like John F. Kennedy and Marlene Dietrich. Suite 2728 housed Marilyn Monroe when she hid away from Hollywood in 1955. In 1956, actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco convened at the hotel for their engagement party. Frank Sinatra lived on the 25th floor & later on the 33rd floor. Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip stayed at Waldorf Towers in 1976. The Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Simpson lived on the 42nd floor in Royal Suite 42R.
Other visitors who appreciated the luxury of the Waldorf Astoria were Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Dalai Lama, Dwight Eisenhower, Vince Lombardi, John Wayne, Katherine Hepburn, and every U.S. president after Herbert Hoover. The hotel served as the venue for the elite International Debutante Ball from 1954.
Before reconstruction began, the hotel’s most iconic spaces — the West Lounge known as “Peacock Alley”, the grand ballroom, and the lobby containing 13 murals and a floor mosaic by artist Louis Rigal — were granted landmark status by New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. The building itself was designated a city landmark in 1993.
Waldorf Astoria New York City Closes
The 86-year-old hotel, bought by China’s Ambang Insurance Group in 2014 for $1.95 billion, closed its doors on February 28, 2017. A major renovation project will turn 1,400 rooms into 375 luxury condos.
Olde Good Things began the project of salvaging the famous Waldorf Astoria New York City for renovations in 2017. The salvage included marble and wooden mantels from the Cole Porter Suite and doors from the Marilyn Monroe Suite, along with 2,000 light fixtures from the suites and hallways of the famous hotel. Other treasures rescued prior to refurbishment include chandeliers from the Starlight Room and other architectural elements from rooms steeped in history.
Investigate the amazing things we preserved from this NYC icon by visiting the Waldorf Astoria category online.
Top 10 Gifts from the Waldorf Astoria
NYC Flatiron Building Reclaimed Copper Clad Windows at Olde Good Things
Olde Good Things always has architectural treasures reclaimed from some of the most famous historic buildings, just waiting for the right person to find them. These copper-clad window frames from New York City’s Flatiron Building are part of our treasure trove of architectural history.
The 100-year-old windows have been reconditioned with completely sustainable materials into stunning decorative mirrors. The rich copper color of each piece provides a striking contrast to the mirror’s glossy sheen and will add a warm element to any style of interior or exterior project. These windows also provide the warmth and fascination of the rich history of the Flatiron Building.
History of the Flatiron Building
New York City’s legendary Flatiron Building was designed by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. Considered New York’s oldest skyscraper, the 22-story edifice was built to house offices for Chicago contracting firm George A. Fuller Company and was formally known as the “Fuller Building.” The building’s nickname came from the piece of land it was built on, commonly called the “flat iron.” The structure’s unique triangle shape was designed to hug the wedge-shaped property at the converging corners of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street in Manhattan.
When plans for the Flatiron Building were revealed, some were afraid the structure that arose straight up from street level to dwarf its neighbor buildings would not hold, particularly in this quarter of the city, famous for windy gusts. The finished structure was labeled a “monstrosity” by the New York Times and “a disgrace to our city, an outrage to our sense of the artistic, and a menace to life” by William Ordway Partridge, sculptor of “The Pieta” at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The classic Beaux-Arts structure arose around a steel skeleton. The narrow end measures only six feet across. The facade was covered in limestone and glazed terra cotta and melded French and Italian Renaissance flavors with other architectural trends prevalent on the cusp of the 20th century. Some distinctive architectural features of the Flatiron are columns, medallions, balustrades, friezes, and gargoyles perched along Floor 22.
The iconic structure has dominated the intersection since 1902 and claimed the imagination of many as a symbol of New York City. Well-known photographers Edward Steichen and Alfred Stieglitz, along with other famous and lesser-known photographers and artists, used the Flatiron Building as a subject.
After The Fuller Company left in 1925, inhabitants of the building included the Imperial Russian Consulate and the Murder Inc. crime syndicate.
From 1959 its occupants included St. Martin’s Press, whose parent, Macmillan Publishers, gradually took over the upper floors and made the Flatiron Building their home until last year. The Flatiron was designated a New York City landmark in 1966 and a National Historic Landmark in 1989. In fact, the Flatiron helped bring the neighborhood back to life due to its popularity.
Acquiring the Windows
The 22-story building was constructed of steel, limestone, and terra cotta. In the early 1900s, it was a common practice to utilize copper-clad wooden windows in order to protect buildings from outside elements. As these windows aged and became outdated, in 2005 the owners began replacing them with more updated and efficient windows. Looking at the windows after removal, one would not have thought much of them as they had layers and layers of paint from years of exterior maintenance. The window company which did the removal, unwilling to toss this iconic building’s windows in the landfill, called Olde Good Things to purchase and hopefully repurpose them. Sure enough, once acquired, our architecturologists stripped the layers of decades of paint from the frame of the windows, only to reveal the deep rosy luster of aged copper. The statement piece “Flatiron Mirror” came to be, purchased by many of our customers who wanted a little piece of this most famous New York landmark.
Flatiron Building Copper Window Mirror
Historical pieces of history from the Flatiron are awaiting new homes at Olde Good Things. Windows are available in two sizes, 44.5 in. H x 52 in. W x 3 in. D and 44.5 in. H x 54 in. W x 3 in. D. Each window is accompanied by the frame’s sticker of authenticity. The top windows are the only remaining windows left in stock, as shown below. There is a very limited quantity in stock, so time is of the essence if you wish to own one. OGT cladded copper windows are versatile as either windows or mirrors, and they have been used by our clients in offices, hotels, salons, and private residences to complement traditional design themes or add a flair of nostalgia and class to contemporary decor.
Customer Showcase Gallery
Click to view all the Copper Window Mirrors available online.
OGT Broadway NYC Gets a Facelift
Located in the heart of New York City’s upper west side, Olde Good Things Broadway storefront was once hidden with scaffolding, making this truly unique store hard to find. Now that the scaffolding has come down, we have given this amazing store an exterior facelift. On the inside, the ceiling is filled with antique and modern lighting from some of the most famous buildings in New York City. The furnishings are a mix of old and custom made. Olde Good Things is known for architectural salvage and using reclaimed material to create new custom furniture & furnishings such as farm tables, modern dining room tables, antique tin mirrors, and panels.
We took some footage of the new neon sign going up to share with you. It was a great day for the Olde Good Things to finally get its name in lights on Broadway.
Facelift Complete
As you can see, in addition to the neon sign, we also added a storewide canopy in our signature green color that adds an eye-catching appearance that’s hard to miss. So now the elephant, lion, and dinosaur can stay dry on rainy days.
Click here to view the inside of Olde Good Things Broadway
Click here to shop the inventory at Olde Good Things Broadway online.
5 Most Interesting Items at OGT Union Square
History of Union Square Park
On July 19, 1839, New York City’s Union Square Park opened to the public. Here’s a fun fact about this upcoming national holiday: on September 5, 1882, Union Square Park played a central role in the first Labor Day celebration, when a crowd of 10,000 labor workers paraded up Broadway and then past reviewing stands at Union Square. As the procession passed the stand, Robert Price of Lonaconing, Maryland said to Richard Griffiths, the General Worthy Foreman of the Knights of Labor, “This is Labor Day in earnest, Uncle Dick.” On June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed the legislation which made Labor Day a national holiday. In 1997 the U.S. Department of Interior designated Union Square Park as a National Historic Landmark because of its significance in American labor history. So if you’re looking for somewhere to go on September 2, you could always visit right where it all started.
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Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons – Union Park New York (East side) (NYPL b13476046-EM11347).jpg
In 1928-29, Union Square was nearly demolished to build the underground course for the subway. Since then, the Square has gone through many renovations. Since 1976, the Union Square Greenmarket has served fresh food and plants to the local community on the north side of the park.
Olde Good Things – Union Square
Around the corner from the Square on 16th St. in May of 2009, Olde Good Things – Union Square opened its doors. It features a main ground floor, mezzanine and a basement full of antique & architectural finds. When you walk in, you will notice its original mosaic tile floor at your feet and a ceiling covered with chandeliers above your head.
Throughout its 10 years in business, this location has housed Olde Good Thing’s most valuable, interesting finds. This location is now known for its abundance of antique hardware and very high end lighting. Our current store manager Jim D. has handpicked the Top 5 Most Interesting items that are currently in the store. These items can be viewed online, or if you’re in New York City, stop by for a look in person. Be sure to check out the gallery of newest items NOT online yet at the very bottom. If you have any questions regarding those items, call the store directly at 212-989-8814.
Top 5 Most Interesting Items
1. Theater Auditorium Seats from the Great Hall Cooper Union
The Great Hall of The Cooper Union has stood for more than a century as a bastion of free speech and a witness to the flow of American history and ideas. When the hall opened in 1858, more than a year in advance of the completion of the institution, it quickly became a mecca for all interested in serious discussions and debates of the vital issues of the day. View Online
2. Handmade Walnut & Black Steel Modern Shelf
Handmade shelving unit by the artisans at Olde Good Things. We built these shelves using sustainable wood materials and angle iron. View Online
3. Pair of Antique Iron Elevator Doors
4. Palace Hotel Lobby Crystal & Bronze Empire Style Chandelier
Originally from the Palace Hotel in NYC, this wonderful large gilt bronze and crystal beaded chandelier has been completely restored. View Online
5. 1870s Victorian Gilt Wood Figural Mirror with Matching Marble Top Table
New Inventory Not Online
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- Chesterfield Couch
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- Wooden Island
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- Greek Head
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- Large Armoire
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- Elevator Doors
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- Shoe Rack
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- French Mantel Mirror
References:
Top 10 Countdown: Most Valuable Salvaged Pieces at OGT
Through the years, Olde Good Things has acquired some of our most priceless artifacts from old buildings getting a face lift or being demolished. We hear from time to time that our salvaged inventory is priced on the higher side. The actual salvage act from our team is sometimes overlooked. Our demo team spends long hours and extreme manpower to preserve these items. It takes many unique skills to remove a giant marble mantel or stone frieze from the outside of the building while keeping it intact. It’s not all removing a door from the hinges.
We complied a list of the most valuable salvaged pieces we have online today. Please click into the listings to ask any questions or make an offers on a specific piece.
Let The Countdown Begin
10. Pair of 3 ft Salvaged Waldorf Conrad Suite Marble & Bronze Urns – $38,000 These are original to the Conrad Suite of the NYC Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
9. 10 ft Bronze Religious Sculpture of Moses Parting the Red Sea – $40,000 Salvaged from a North Bergen, New Jersey synagogue before its demolition.
8. White Red & Yellow Inlaid Marble Mantel from the US Ambassadors Suite of the Waldorf Astoria – $40,000 This mantel is original to Room 42A2 of the US Ambassadors Suite in the Waldorf Astoria hotel.
7. Massive 5 ft Gilt Bronze American Baroque Style Chandelier – $45,000 Huge 18 arm bronze chandelier featuring a crown of four cartouches, each bearing the New York City seal. Salvaged from a lobby of a New York City building.
6. Neoclassical Walnut Panel Room with Grand Carved Mantel – $45,000 Solid walnut panels from the negotiating room of the prominent Williamsburg Savings Bank in Brooklyn, New York.
5. 19th Century Louis XIV Style Gray Marble Mantel – $51,000 This is one of several additions from Danny Alessandro & Edwin Jackson mantel company.
4. Large Bronze Architectural Plaque from New York City – $70,000 From the National American Building, formerly located at 340 Madison Avenue, New York City.
3. 5 ft Silvered Bronze Ten Arm Georgian Caldwell Chandelier – $75,000 Manufactured by EF Caldwell, New York in 1895.
2. 13 ft Monumental Tennessee Marble Mantel – $76,500 Made of 150 pieces of Tennessee marble, this mantel is now reconstructed and on display in our Scranton warehouse.
1. 1964 Solid Cast Bronze 12 ft Mid Century Modern Room Divider – $250,000 This was retrieved from the lobby of the Public Safety Building in Syracuse, NY. Plans were drawn in 1959; construction started July 1962 and was completed in 1964 by King & King Architects.
