This isn't just any sort of furniture we're talking about, either. These are incredible and unbelievable furniture deals! Okay, so there are a few small catches: you have to check back to these places often, you have to have a great imagination, and you definitely have to use a lot of elbow grease. Still interested? Learn more about these surprising places after the jump!
Habitat For Humanity Restore
310 Comal St Austin, TX 78702 512-478-2165
Along with gently used building supplies and all the planters you could ever wish for, the Restore sometimes has amazing furniture finds. Normally you'll have to wade through a bit of dust, but once you do you'll find sturdy and unique pieces that usually just need a little aesthetic work. Pictured: small side table: $5; sideboard/desk: $20
TOPS (3 Austin locations!)
1100 E 5th st., Austin, Tx 78702
512-472-1340;
500 Navasota St Austin, TX 78702
(512) 542-9030;
2307 Kramer, Austin, Tx 78758
512-833-7777
Mostly a recepticle for office furniture from defunct businesses, you'll also have to wade through a lot of dust and even more really bad office furniture. Again though, occasionally you can find that unique piece to be the perfect addition to your space! I've seen great tables, sideboards, chairs and even lamps here!
Travis County Surplus
6506 Bolm Road
Austin, Texas 78721-1990
(512) 463-1990
Perhaps one of my favorite unexpected places to shop for furniture, I've found some of my best retro and modern finds here. Not quite as packed as the TOPS store, this warehouse also features reclaimed furniture from old offices. Pictured: mint green metal desk in first photo: $24.99; office credenza in preview bar: $39.99; metal table in preview bar: $24.99; striped upholstered side chairs in preview bar: $19.99 each; side chairs with metal legs and wood armrests: $5 -$10 each; blue filing cabinet: $49.99.



White Enamel Flatwa...
Could someone do this same story for the Greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas?
There's a Habitat for Humanity Restore here in Louisville, KY as well. I think they're all over the country, actually.
Here's a link to the California stores...
http://www.habitat.org/cd/env/restore_detail.aspx?place=91
Check out www.suffolkrestore.com/home if you live in Long Island NY. It's in Ronkonkoma next door to Materials Resource Center. This is another great place for old office furniture but it's also great for art materials (odds and ends, paper etc. donated by local businesses)
Any ideas for Phoenix, as well??
Those places look great, I'd love to see a similar list for L.A.! (although I do see that there ate HFH ReStores here too, yay!)
Any ideas on where to get old office furniture (like, for instance, filing cabinets) in the DC area?
Sigh, well, now that the secret's out, you might as well add Cox Furniture to the list. ;)
It's on Research Blvd
http://www.coxofficefurniture.com/photogallery.nxg
it's like TOPS, but even messier, I've had some lucky finds there.
And thanks for the reminder about Travis County Surplus, someone at TOPS told me about it, but I had the wrong name, and couldn't figure it out on google.