Just what it says. We were tipped off to Olde Good Things by a few readers who recommended it for its salvaged hardwood flooring and the fact that they have "everything." We were cautioned, however, that it is expensive and "by supporting them, you're supporting the Church of Bible Understanding (COBU)."
In addition to their three stores, NY Mag points out that "the owners booth is a regular at the 26th Street flea market."
Olde Good Things reclaims architectural pieces of buildings, including:
original hardware and doorknobs, period mantels, entry doors, decorative iron, antique and contemporary lighting, bronze and brass castings, structural columns, corbels, terra cotta and building stones, garden ornaments, stained and leaded glass windows, transoms, wooden moldings...
I have two oak dressers from them and an amazing old tiger oak glass front bookcase. I was able to bargain a bit on the pricing. I got the pieces at the Park Slope flea marketing.
Their prices in Manhattan seem be higher than in Brooklyn.
Regarding the COBU comment I made previously, the most comprehensive article is here (check page 8 for the info about Olde Good Things)
www.phillymag.com/Archives/1999June/cult_1.html
But I do recognize this is 5 years out of date and may not be totally accurate. I do know that the Olde Good Things website used to have a page on it about their missionary orphanages, but now it's nowhere to be found.
The site does have a link to a page describing their religious, er, philosophy...
www.oldegoodthings.com/trucksales.htm
(Scroll to the bottom and click on the "big red U" explantion link.)
I once drove to their warehouse in Scranton, where everything is much cheaper. And it's 80,000 sq. ft. Worth the drive.
For a personal description of the physical and mental abuse one woman claims she experienced as a communal living member of COBU, visit
www.freedomofmind.com/resourcecenter/groups/c/churchbible/s-of-g.htm
More info on the cult that owns Olde Good Things:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_bible_understanding
MGR, do you do even a marginal search on these companies before you post them. Frankly I'm outraged that you would post this store. Just a little bit of research would have informed you about the practices of the organization that own this store. I would think that your community awareness would not only include the environment but also the weakest among us i.e. children. A bit more civic responsibility is called for here. Thanks to
These "anti-cult" organizations are baloney to put it mildly. They take the word of disgruntled ex-members and do no real research of their own. It's gross. These are good people and they DO really help the poor, and they DO have orphanages in Haiti. So don't believe everything you read!
view Margiefriend's profile
The store on Atlantic in Bklyn closed a couple years ago.
view Harley's profile
The Greenwich Ave. store has closed as well.
view ottan's profile
I got a good deal on a big set of dining chairs from them, and found their prices to be pretty reasonable. I can't comment on the religion, I know nothing about it, although it makes me feel a bit more squeamish about shopping there.
Since you posted a link to Horseman Antiques, I thought I'd mention I heard their Atlantic Ave. store is closing. Maybe it already has by now, I haven't been there since the spring.
view greer's profile