It’s an old concept, often discarded in our society but thankfully gaining ground again.
The re-use of old cabinets, doors, flooring, plumbing and architectural pieces again instead of discarding them.

My Grandmother would have called it frugality. My Mother would have called it recycling. But now we call it “Re Use”. Any way you look at it, it’s good for our environment and our bottom line.

Though we have architectural salvage yards, a new one is here that is a non profit.
TRP… the Re Use People. They resell building salvage at astonishingly low prices. Old cabinets, sinks, wood floors, doors, screens, lighting, timber, built in appliances, stove tops, wood trim and molding and more.

Their mission Statement pretty much covers it…
“The ReUse People of America reduces the solid waste stream and changes the way the built environment is renewed by salvaging building materials and re-distributing them for Reuse.”

They only resell items that they have pulled out of a building while “deconstructing it”
The home owner gets a tax write off at the end of the year for their donation. TRP then sells it at savings of 50%-99% below its original retail value. Of course they keep in mind the condition the piece is in and how quickly the item will sell.

The new warehouse outlet in Pacoima is loaded with a ton of salvaged goods. Fast change over here and new weekly shipments brings the prices down to rock bottom.

A 1970’s kitchen counter cabinet with shelves and a large interior Lazy Susan was only $100. Yep it would need a little updating and finishing, but the savings are enormous. A built in oak book case wall unit was a mere $60. An astonishing built in custom wardrobe with drawers was in nice condition though it could use some updating with hardware was only $100. Another piece in this custom closet wardrobe built in grouping was a gentlemen’s pant wardrobe at 4’ x 6’ for $150. Personally I’d die for that kind of organization. At $150 I can afford it here. New, custom would run well up into the thousands. A tall or long 1970’s wooden built in, 2’ x 6’ wine rack was only $40 and a kitchen pantry upper cabinet from the 1950’s was just $80. porcelain sinks run $20-$25 each and a used apartment bathroom vanity cabinet w/out a sink was $50.

Doors were abundant here. Both interior and exterior doors, closet and bathroom from louver doors and shutter doors to solid hard wood and glass. A set up double exterior doors were nearly new and $35 each. A semi exterior glass and wood entry door was $80 and a back door from the 1940s with a glass window on top was just $60. Closet Shutter doors are $15 each.

A real delightful surprise awaited me in the outside yard, tongue and grove hardwood flooring planks. Both thinner, 2” and thicker 4” were here. All at $1.50 a square foot. These are original hard wood planks not the new kind that are pre-finished or laminated. But the real deal. Great for those of us that love authenticity and quality.

All sorts of exterior windows are here sold by the square foot depending upon age and condition. You’ll also find old housing timber in 1“ x 4”, 2” x 4” and 4” x 4”. Again, all sold by the square foot in lots.
Shipments here come in several times a week and there’s a fast turn over. I also got the feeling that the prices here were not set in stone as about half the yard is not priced. There are no returns, so bring accurate measurements, your contractor and be prepared to buy. There is no re-ordering.

A neat bargain niche for recycling, rebuilding and quality used goods at super low pricing..

Re Use Bazaar
11017 Sutter Ave.
Pacoima, CA 91331

Cash/ CC/ Cks
Hours Tues-Sat. 10am-5pm Sun.10am-4pm

Suzanne O'Connor