Wait… That Was at the ReStore?

If you think the ReStore is all couches, cabinets, and the occasional lamp, let us gently challenge that assumption.

Yes, we have the practical stuff. The paint, the tile, the doors, the furniture that quietly holds a room together. But every so often, something completely unexpected rolls through the donation doors. Something that makes you stop mid-aisle. Something that sparks a “wait… is that really here?” moment.

Here are just a few of the surprises that have shown up at our ReStore. We won’t promise you’ll see these exact items again. But we can promise this: the unexpected shows up more often than you think.

When History Wanders In

Victor VV-V1 Talking Machine

Introduced in the early 20th century, talking machines like this one brought recorded music into private homes for the first time. Operated by hand and built to amplify sound acoustically, it represents a moment when music shifted from live performance to something families could gather around and experience together.

Antique Spinning Wheel

Spinning wheels like this were common in homes from the 1600s through the 1800s, long before textile mills took over cloth production.

Antique Pump Organ

Popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pump organs were a mainstay in homes, churches, and community halls before electric organs and pianos became widespread. Powered by foot-operated bellows, they made music accessible to households that couldn’t afford larger instruments.

WWI Military Field Telegraph Set

During World War I, field telegraph sets were critical tools for communication, allowing messages to be transmitted across battlefields and between command posts. Portable and rugged by necessity, devices like this played a direct role in military coordination and decision-making.

Objects That Make You Do a Double-Take

Mid-Century Italian Porcelain Tigers

Rawr! Italian ceramic studios of the mid-20th century produced bold animal figures for the home. Tigers, associated with power and confidence, became striking statement pieces in postwar décor.

Perpetual Face Vase

Face vases have appeared in decorative arts since ancient times, when vessels were often shaped in human form. In the mid- to late-20th century, designers began experimenting with more abstract, multi-faced interpretations. This perpetual face vase shifts expression depending on where you stand.

Giant Animatronic Clown

You might come in for cabinet hardware and leave with a story about the moment you accidentally made eye contact with this clown. It happens.

 Daachi Hi Deluxe Vintage Pachinko Machine

Pachinko machines have been a staple of Japanese entertainment since the mid-20th century, blending elements of pinball and arcade gaming. Bright, mechanical, and highly decorative, they were designed to draw crowds.

Function and Flair

Vintage Garden Poodle

Garden statues have long been used as playful expressions of personal taste, and poodles surged in popularity during the mid-20th century, especially in American and European décor. Often associated with elegance and whimsy, poodle statues became symbols of suburban pride and personality.

Antique Hollywood Regency Brass Dial-Up Phone

Before smartphones, phones stayed put and sometimes made a statement. Hollywood Regency designs favored polished metals and dramatic flair, turning even a telephone into a decorative centerpiece.

Victorian Pickle Caster

In the Victorian era, even pickles were served with ceremony. Pickle casters were used to present preserved vegetables at the table, often made of ornate glass or silver plate.

We don’t have these items every day. That’s part of the magic.

The ReStore is constantly changing, shaped entirely by donations from the community. What’s here today might be gone tomorrow, and what arrives next could be anything from a commercial espresso machine to a century-old artifact.

If you want to catch the truly unexpected:

• Stop by the store regularly

• Follow us on social media for first looks at new arrivals

• Come curious, even if you’re just running in for hardware

Because at the ReStore, you’re never just shopping for what you need. You’re discovering what you didn’t know you were looking for.