Olde Good Things is one of the nation’s leading companies collecting architectural antiques and architectural salvage items, many from demolished or renovated New York City landmarks. The company has it all, from items from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to Victorian picture frames to early 18th century French marble mantels. Olde Good Things treasure hunts and upcycles from the most prestigious New York historic hotels, Broadway theaters and prominent commercial buildings and industrial warehouses to create a most unique retail experience for the consumer. Olde Good Things has locations in the Bowery, on the Upper West Side, and in Hell’s Kitchen, as well as one in Los Angeles and two Scranton warehouses.
Courtesy of Olde Good Things.
On September 30th, take a tour of Olde Good Things’ flagship store with Jim DiGiacoma, New York Store Manager. He’s been with Olde Good Things since its inception 25 years ago. Known as a “treasure hunter” and “architectologist,” he will shed light on some of New York’s most historical places and finds. See pieces from some of the salvage operations in which Olde Good Things was involved at places like the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the Flatiron Building, the Plaza Hotel and more. And discover how Olde Good Things is celebrating its 25th year anniversary this year. The event is free for Untapped New York Insiders (and get your first month free with code JOINUS).
Old Good Things began in New York during the height of the Chelsea Antique Market in the early 1990s. It then opened its first retail store on Atlantic Avenue on Antique Row in Brooklyn in 1994. According to the store, a typical day may feature an architect looking for antique French doors, a restaurant designer looking for industrial chicken wire glass and unusual factory doors, a decorator trying to find a set of lights for over a kitchen island, or millennials shopping for a unique item from the past. One notable recent purchase has been the limestone gargoyles from the perch of a Park Avenue building.
According to Olde Good Things, unlike demolition, architectural deconstruction requires finesse instead of shear force. Reusable items including tin ceilings, large mirrors and intricate cabinetry may lose much of their value if they are damaged during the salvage process. In 2008, the company successfully removed the treasured stained-glass windows from the old JFK Airport American Airlines Terminal 8, which were designed by renowned stained-glass artist Robert Sowers. It was the world’s largest stained-glass installation at 318 feet long by 28 feet tall, and a number of panels have been repurposed as room dividers in locations such as shoe retailer Christian Louboutin.
Courtesy of Olde Good Things.
Additionally, the distinctive original Waldorf Astoria Hotel Art Deco architecture needed to be removed and preserved while undergoing a two-year renovation. Olde Good Things removed the Winston Churchill wood paneled room and deconstructed 250 marble mantels and more than 2,000 lighting fixtures. To recover a particularly special marble mantel, workers cut fasteners in the wall, extricated the mantels, and stored them safely on site. Other treasures safely rescued included original marble and wooden mantels from the Cole Porter Suite, doors from the Marilyn Monroe Suite and huge chandeliers from the four-story Starlight Room.
Courtesy of Olde Good Things.
The Flatiron Building was another major project for the company as it began its multi-year removal of hundreds of its copper clad windows, which they repurposed into decorative mirrors. Olde Good Things has also worked on salvaging items from Grand Central, Pierpont Morgan Library, Cooper Union, Alice Tully Hall, Museum of Modern Art and the John Wanamaker estate, among other locations across the city. In addition to just salvaging, the company creates customized and durable farm tables. It has also provided props for shows such as Boardwalk Empire, Madame Secretary and Law & Order.
