Habitat For Humanity Building Supplies

Gather App
Automatic Washer - The world's coolest Washing Machines, Dryers and Dishwashers

Help Support AutomaticWasher.org:

rp2813

rp2813

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
18,079
Location
Sannazay
Has anyone been to one of Habitat's "Re-Stores?" My sister has two not far from her in L.A. and advises they are super cheap and have some interesting inventory, including what appears to be an early 50's Hotpoint stove with deep well fryer and push button controls atop the backsplash. I'd attach pix of it but for some reason my PC doesn't like the files. I'll see if I can figure that out, as it's a very attractive range.

The nearest of these stores to me is in Oakland but I think it's worth the drive. As long as there isn't yet another jack-knifed big rig melting the freeway again as happened yesterday morning. They really don't call it the "Nasty Nimitz" for nothing.
 
Yeah Rich, San Leandro Blvd. Which I believe was jammed yesterday due the Nimitz being closed. We were almost going to drive up but changed our minds when we saw the traffic mess.
 
It was not fun trying to make it home from Richmond yesterday. I wound up taking the scenic route on the hills' ridgeline, most of the way. Took me twice as long as usual, but I did stop off to enjoy the view along the way.

Everything is supposed to be back to "normal" today.

You could avoid the Nimitz by taking 680 to 580, and then crossing over into Oakland from one of the 580 exits. Probably Golf Links. Would have to check a map to make sure.

I hesitate to pay the Restore a visit because I'm trying to shed appliances, not collect more, lol. But maybe if I can get rid of two appliances for every additional one, it could work.
 
Nice looking Hotpoi ;-)

I'm sure the 'n & t' were just knocked off at some poi** in it's lifetime of being cleaned.

And a clean range it is! That Thrift Cooker kettle looks great. There was an element attachment that you could plug into the three-slot outlet right above the cooker that would enable you to use it as a temp-controlled deep-fryer. There was an electric griddle that plugged into the outlet on the work-surface side of the range.

Very nice unit - are you thinking of bringing it home?
 
Are you thinking of bringing it home?

Oh, nooooooooo! 1) It's 350 miles from me, and 2) I prefer gas cooktops. And I'm currently in the process of shipping the '49 Westy stove from Mom's old kitchen out to Greg (oldhouseman) for his. And Greg, if you're reading this, we are all going to want pictures (before & after perhaps?) once the Westy is in place.

Rich, I'm pretty sure the Re-Store will take usable donated building materials along with appliances. Maybe you can at least drop something off if you decide to pick something up so you'll not be losing any ground with the shedding process. My sister didn't say whether there were any washers or dryers but if they take them, there could be some interesting ones to be had.
 
Actually I'm in need of some corrugated fiberglass panels. The "roof" over the carport is made from these, and it's got some holes in areas where holes are not optimal. Perhaps Restore has some of that. I've priced the stuff out at HD and Lowe's, but the prices for a complete redo - which it really needs - are a bit daunting.
 
rich

there's also a St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store @ the same site as HHRstore , as a matter of fact they seem to occupy one continuous building. I've only seen one cool vintage item
at that restore ; a mid/late fifties GE Built In Oven windowless, stainless finish. It isn't that good of a "restore"
compared to others I've checked out. Sharing the same parking lot entrance is another salvage place , and I can't recall the name of it. They have a few washers/dryers and usually quite a few dishwashers of the late 70's up to the mid 90's
age. I prefer it to the restore , but you know those places are very hit or miss at best. I take the Nimitz from Vallejo and get off at 98th and head back north on San Leandro Blvd.
Urban Ore will certainly take your stoves and other apppliances; they may even give you store credit if they think your items will sell, but they have definitely gotten into the "scrap" aspect of vintage, and less vintage appliances.
 
Sure Ralph

I'm going to try and get the kitchen painted before the Westy arrives. Cooler weather is starting to set in and the stove will be here in time for Thanksgiving!! I'll send some pictures of it in action. I finally got a few more sets of gas logs in place also so I can keep the dinning room hearth going also. I will send the straps back to you in the mail from the crate.

We have a HHR store not to far from Sparta that carries some great stuff but I have not seen any vintage appliances there. Actually I have seen more drip coffee makers and microwaves than large appliances. That shop was a real saving grace for supplies when I was getting the outside of the house put in shape.
 
I live at our local ReStore, well almost since I'm there just about everyday scouting out bargoons. You have to go early and go often to get the treasures. I've gotten vacuums, a Wurlitzer organ in primo condition. lamps, an air conditioner for my sister.. a primo Ariens lawnmower for $80 and a fabulous, yes super fabulous all wool real top quality Oriental carpet plus lots of other things I can't even remember now.
Today they had one of those Danby counter top dishwashers looking to be in excellent condition for $50.
Oh and I got my KitchenAid Superba smooth top convection stove there a couple of weeks ago. We had this similar stove back in Calgary (coil top) but it got left with the house when we sold and moved and I've wanted another like it for 2 years now and one finally showed up.

10-23-2008-18-27-44--petek.jpg
 
I should have known so many members here would already have heard of these operations.

Locally it sounds like an East Bay excursion is in order.
 
I visited the Oakland Restore after work today. The only washer I saw was a crushed 1st gen Neptune in the dumpster.

Inside the "store" there was a variety of 80's to 90's era ranges, dishwashers, ovens. Even a smattering of obviously well used garbage disposers. Absolutely nothing I would call a treasure. I was mildly interested in the insdustrial carpet squares in the retail shop, and in the $5/can surplus house paint (an empty can costs $5 at the local hardware store!) but again I didn't see anything I could live without.

Perhaps arriving in the morning would help but that's not gonna happen with me during the workweek.

Saw lots of lumber outside, and lots of kitchen/bath cabinets in the warehouse, along with kitchen/bath sinks, doors of a wide variety of styles and sizes, etc... But no corrugated fiberglass panels.

So it was interesting but I was glad I didn't make a long trip for the experience. However I gather the "stock" changes frequently depending on what is donated. A fair amount may have been donated by construction companies.

The prices on the ranges was not especially "good". I mean, they wanted $600 for a used Kitchenaid dual fuel range. I guess they cost a lot more new, but ... there are not returns or exchanges and if it doesn't work you're SOL.
 
Beautiful Range Pete!! Do you like the convection oven? Just wondering if to the right of the stove is that a cordless peppermill? Have been thinking about one of those.
Terry
 
Rich, thanks for the scouting expedition. I think I'll still check it out one of these days, especially if SVDP is there too.

I do agree that timing has a lot to do with what you find there. And I think items like the Hotpoint range are more typical of the store in the San Fernando Valley where a vast number 50's homes are located.
 
Petek,

Is Restore the name of the store? If so, never heard of them before. Is it like a warehouse outlet? Great looking range though. The oven on my stove (Kenmore) is convection also and I wouldn't do without anymore. I have the same pepper & salt mills. Love the fact that they are rechargeable.

Gary
 
Restore is the name of the store.

Ralph,

SVDP has an "Outlet Store" on the premises but it shut down about 4:50 pm so I didn't get to see what's in there. I've been to SVDP before so I know more or less what to expect, but perhaps the Outlet has somewhat better quality than the usual castoffs.

For some reason the thrift stores around here have always been rather slim pickings for vintage major appliances - at least that's what I've experienced. I've had more luck with Craigslist.
 
What I've noticed is that the only thrift store that has appliances at all anymore is Salvation Army, and they only display a few token stoves, fridges, washers or dryers. I know they have a weekly auction at the main store so I think a lot of the appliances they take in never make it to the floor.

We no longer have a SVDP store in town here. I liked them because they still had a junk/as-is section. Goodwill has become a complete waste of time and I've noticed they have scaled way back and indeed have nearly eliminated even small appliances. There's no longer any point in even stopping by a Goodwill anymore.

Another thing about SVDP. I called for a truck to come and get some large items that are still sitting in the garage that didn't go at the estate sale. The guy showed up last Friday at the end of the day, alone, and with a full truck. He said he'd reschedule for today. Apparently he called this AM and left a message on a cell phone we didn't hear ringing. His English was broken but as best we could determine, he advised he wasn't coming by and to call and reschedule. So much for SVDP. I'll call another charity that has their act together.

I agree that Craigslist has become the place to cruise. The free section can produce interesting items sometimes.
 
They're probably listed in the phone book under both ReStore and/or Habitat for Humanity ReStore, or in the yellow pages under thrift shops.

Terry, yes it's a convection oven. I like it especially for baking bread etc because you can bake multi loaves on two or three racks at a time. It also speeds up the baking time a little but not really noticeable except for bigger items like a roast turkey etc.. The other reason I wanted this one in particular like my old one is that it has a temperature probe, something that's missing in nearly all the newer ranges and I found that worked exceptionally well for roasts etc. Not that we cook that many roasts anymore but when I have to I want that probe LOL

And that's a Star Frit rechargable pepper mill.. it works really well though it's a little fussy to load. Everyone who's tried it wants one There are other makes I'm sure are just as good.

Gary.. the Danby dw was still there today.. it's one without a window.. I'm doing my darndest not to buy it.. you don't know how crowded it is down here in my basement. I have to set limits somewhere and you're not helping LOL
 
Thanks for the information Pete, I too like the idea of the probe and was really surprised that on my new GE that it came with this feature. Still haven't used it but one of these days I have to give it a try.
 

Latest posts

Sponsored
UnlistMe
Back
Top