(Hello again to Julie from Minneapolis. She is one of the bloggers trying out for a spot on the AT:Chicago editorial team. Her first post is here. Comments are welcome!)
Back when green was primarily a color, ReUse served a granola-slash-frugal clientele. Now eco is chic, thrift is vintage and Reuse is still cheap. In 25,000 semi-orderly square-feet and two suburban locations, this purveyor of reclaimed building materials and ephemera is large yet largely unknown. No more.
Block out 60 minutes and any intimidation for 19th century barn planks, or time-honeyed maple at $3.80SF. Spelunk Anthropologiesque hardware and forgotten desks. At the end of toilet rainbow, we found a $60 mid-century built-in - take that, Expedit bookshelf!
There's also new surplus and FSC wood aplenty. A kitchen's worth of sleek black slate tile was going for under $100.
Sign up for the arrivals email or see occasional pre-demo site photos. Practical, they bring bittersweet backstory to the fluorescent-and-concrete hunt. Note: all donations and the $40 pick-up are 100% deductible.
ReUse lacks the artful edit of hipster salvage boutiques. But its gritty pluck, endless wares, and non-profit, less-landfill mission makes finding even more gleeful.
Explore or call ahead for:
* rock-bottom FSC, surplus & reclaimed lumber (beechwood, cherry, cedar, & douglas fir)
* cabinetry
* windows & doors
* granite & solid counters
* appliances
* tile
* clawfoot tubs
* multi-era bath fixtures
* lighting
* mantels
* millwork/trim
* (somewhat) odd furniture: lamps, table bases, etc
More info: The ReUse Center
-Julie
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
yum. i want one! can you find me on in lalaland?
view CareBear's profile
Nice post!
view jooly's profile
great post and photos.
now i want this store in Baltimore.
view Enamorada's profile
This reminds me a place which used to be in Countryside and then moved, but I forgot to check where they were relocating to. And this was just, just, just pre-web. And I haven't been able to find them online.
Does anybody know where they are, if they still exist? I think they were named something like R3...
view dn's profile
Another reason I miss Mpls. I can't tell you the number of times I got things from them. Really an excellent place.
Great post!
S
view siobhan.'s profile
Habitat for Humanity runs something called the Re-Store where they sell surplus items and supplies from their projects. Its very cheap and there's everything from wood to appliances to lightbulbs.
view rvalexa's profile
Having lived in Minneapolis for quite awhile I really really miss this store! I wish you could give everyone a tour of the whole place! Forget the MOA... this is where the fun is at!
(Great post idea!)
view sarahrae's profile
This is the perfect place for my friend, Jen. Thanks for the heads up.
view Edith's profile
Love this post! Looks like a very cool place- great pictures.
view meljohns's profile
Can't wait to check this place out - thanks for the heads up!
view tlw's profile
Great find! I'm always looking for mid-century modern. I didn't know that this was available in Minneapolis. Thanks Julie for great info about this city. Keep up the good sleuthing.
view Pinotsandy's profile
Awesome find-I went there after your post this weekend and
walked away with two new treasures-Thanks for adding another great resource to my list!!
view k7's profile
Very unique! I'm a sucker for creative ideas on the cheap, especially when it comes to interior decorating. Thanks for the pictures too!
view GalUptown's profile
Considering I've been thinking about clawfoot bathtubs lately, this was a timely reminder about reuse center. Reuse center is awesome. When we first got our place, I bought enough reclaimed hardwood flooring there to re-floor our entire dining room.
view Lukazoid's profile
great discovery and entertaining post. thanks.
view om's profile
I love this place, but would recommend bringing a pick-up truck and wearing steel-toes shoes. Last time I was there, Fallon had just liquidated all of their office furnishings!
view Sparklebot's profile
Nice post! I love this place and visit often, more often to donate than to scavenge. Can you believe people park dumpsters outside their house and trash their old-growth birch cabinets? Keep spreadin' the news!
view najima's profile
My former roommate LOVES to peruse that place. Scored a retro classic stand-alone sink/cabinet during her kitchen remodeling. Nice write up!
view joie's profile
Great find! Phenomenal post! So timely too... I live in the area and am revamping my basement this summer on a very low budget... This will be a huge asset.
Thanks!
view LunaTic's profile
I've been there and scored a few good deals too. Now that we're finally *buying* a house, I'll be able to put the center to really good use!
view Molly Margarita's profile
Sweet! This place looks very cool. I'm excited to check it out!
view scoots118's profile
Kudos! Not only does this give me ideas of places to visit for salvage, it gives me ideas of what to re-use in my own home, or try and make a few bucks on myself. Look out craigslist...here I come.
view kaplueger's profile
Hooray for reUse! Thanks again for reminding me of a great local resource!
view ZoeA's profile
Have never been but now I want to go! I love salvage stores where you can find pieces with a history/story.
view Aynde33's profile
Friends had gottten some great bricks there that were from an old street that was demolished They used them to install a cute patio which now has history, style and purpose for something that might otherwise be discarded. Thanks for reminding me of all the great finds that are out there at places like this. Great post-thanks!
view sp808's profile
Great ideas -- thanks for the post.
view redshoes32's profile