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Olde Good Things

Architectural and Altered Antiques

How to Shop for Antiques in New York City

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Before shopping for antiques in New York City, it’s important to do research. There are hundreds of antique shops in and around the city, and many of them have inventory that’s not always up to date or accurate.

*You can find information about specific antique dealers and their inventory on sites like eBay and Etsy. These sites have reviews from previous buyers, so you can get a sense of what kind of products you should expect to find at a particular location.

First timers

If you’re a first-time antique shopper, there are a few things you need to know.

First, shopping for antiques in New York City is a unique experience. It’s unlike any other city in the world, so don’t expect it to be like any other city in the world. And that’s a good thing! It means there are tons of great places to buy antiques and lots of different types of shoppers. There are also plenty of tricks in order to get the best deals on your favorite pieces.

If you’re looking for a place to start, here are some tips:

  • Check out some local museums or historical sites. They often have great vintage pieces and local artists’ work available for sale right on site. If you’re lucky, they might even have special events where you can meet with artists or designers and ask questions about their work!
  • Find out what’s happening in the city on any given day and go investigate! You never know when something amazing is going on—and if not, it’ll still give you an excuse to take a break from your search, so you don’t get overwhelmed by everything there is out there waiting for you (and then end up buying something you later regret!).

Do your homework

New York City is a hotbed for antiques, and it’s easy to get lost in the vast array of items for sale. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of tips to help you navigate your way through the city’s antique shops.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

2. Be prepared to pay

3. Know what you’re looking for

4. Shop around before making a purchase

5. Don’t forget about the flea markets!

But how do you know what’s worth buying? It’s easy: just follow this handy guide.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! If something looks like it was made in the late 1800s or early 1900s, but it has a modern finish on it, chances are good that someone just refinished it and didn’t actually have it restored by an expert.

2. Don’t fall in love with anything until after you’ve done your research! Sometimes people will try to pass off fake antiques as real ones because they think they’ll get more money if they can convince someone that the piece is older than it really is. You can avoid this by doing your research beforehand so that when someone tries to sell you something too good to be true (like a chair for $3000 that is actually worth $300).

Make a travel plan

A good place to start is with a Google search for “antiques New York City.” This will give you a list of all the antique shops currently operating in the city, as well as some reviews from past customers. You can also use Google Maps to find antique stores near where you’ll be staying while visiting the city.

Save these two locations New York City antique stores on your google maps.

Olde Good Things Antique Store – Broadway Upper West side

Olde Good Things – Midtown

Next divide the city by borough then by section name, example, Olde Good Thing Broadway is in Manhattan on the Upper West Side. The closer you can group the antique stores the more time you will save.

It’s Spring Time – its Restoration Time

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Spring has sprung, and what follows usually is the urge to spruce up our home or workplace.  If you are feeling this desire, then come on over to Olde Good Things for great design ideas and unique offerings.

52nd st location

In NYC, our Flagship location at 333 W. 52nd St (Theater District in Midtown – between 8th & 9th on W. 52nd St.) is open 7 days, 10 am – 5:30 pm weekdays and 11 am – 5:30 pm weekends.  This sprawling showroom has many unique finds especially from NYC and the vicinity.  Mantels from the Waldorf Astoria, furnishings from the Pierre Hotel, Mirrors made from windows from the Flat Iron Building.  (And much more!)

Though we still have reduced hours at our two other NYC locations, 302 Bowery and the Upper West Side store at 2420 Broadway (89th and Broadway), these stores do not disappoint.  They are fully open on the weekends, starting from Friday until Sunday, Friday 10 am – 5:30, and Saturday and Sunday 11 am – 5:30 pm.  Among the vast inventory, you will find original lighting and vast seating options for all kinds of uses.  Lots of great ideas to be had and the merchandise is always changing.

Our warehouses in Scranton, PA are open to the public by appointment.  Make a call to us and then take a weekend trip to the Poconos, and enjoy the Pennsylvania springtime weather.  Shop these locations for great architectural items as well as a visual of our processing shops where our line of “altered antiques” are manufactured.  This is the home of our famous tin framed mirrors and reclaimed wooden tables, besides our original hardware room which covers 2500 square feet.

If you are on the West Coast, our Los Angeles, CA location is open for 7 days, every day 9 am – 5:30 pm except Sunday 10 am – 5:30 pm.  This vast warehouse/store carries everything architectural imaginable.  A treasure trove for designers and end-users alike.

Of course, we’re open full time on our website don’t hesitate to shop there anytime.

Mention your receipt of this Newsletter and enjoy 10% off your purchase, now until 4/30/21.

OGT featured by the Associated Press

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Here you see our second post in the series Press Releases.  Olde Good Things would like to thank the Associated Press for featuring us in their article, “Salvage Salvage shops offer sustainable decor with a story“. This article features the interviews of two dealers and two editors in the architectural salvage industry. Read each of their point of view in the full article.

Read the full article

 

Visit our locations

Shop our Famous Building Artifacts online

 

 

OGT featured by AMNY

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16th st, Union Square Location

We appreciate AMNY for celebrating with us our 25th anniversary in business, in their article “Olde Good Things Celebrates 25 Years of Salvaging Rare Treasures“. The interview for this article took place at our 16th St. Union Square store that has since been moved to 333 W. 52nd St., Midtown. One of our most valued employees, Madeline Beauchamp gave details regarding our top salvaged jobs that has produced our rather unique inventory.

Read this full article

 

An Iconic Stained Glass Window from JFK International Airport

Olde Good Things Salvage from the Historic Waldorf Astoria New York City

The Friends and Faces of Olde Good Things

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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.

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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.

Visit Gregory’s website!

Take a sneak peek inside the store

Sneak Peek of New OGT Manhattan Flagship Store

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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

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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

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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

OGT Broadway NYC Gets a Facelift

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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.

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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.

Olde Good Things