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Categories: Antiques, Home Decor, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near West SideFri. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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I just had my wedding ceremony and reception here on Saturday night and I cannot tell you how awesome it was. Every person I talked to (over 200) told me that they just LOVED the venue and how different and interesting everything was.
We dealt with Sara from the beginning and she was so nice. She remembered us from the first meeting and every time we brought some other family member in over the next 9 months, she would say hi and call us by name. She offered so many great suggestions and always seemed genuinely excited to be helping us out.
The night of our wedding, Linda was the staff member on site and she was one of the nicest people I've ever met. A couple months before the wedding we had scheduled a walkthrough with our caterer on a day they weren't open. I assumed that caterer-lady had made an appointment with Sara but I should not have given her that much credit. Regardless no one was there and we were about to leave when lo and behold, Linda walked out and let us in and stayed 30 minutes after she was supposed to be going home to let us walk around.
That night she was very accommodating and so sweet. My drunk cousin fell up the stairs and put his hand through one of their window panes. The following day when we came back to get our stuff, she could not have been nicer and more understanding about handling the whole incident.
Overall, the place was amazing and I would never have had as great a time if it was anywhere else. I haven't spoken to every one of our vendors yet but we did have both a band and a DJ and both complimented us on how easy they were to work with. We had no problems with the staff on our timeline. We booked the space until midnight and when people were still lolly-gagging around upstairs gathering their things at 12:30am, Linda still had a smile on her face.
Thank you again so much!!
While Salvage One was a considerably more expensive venue than the other sites the Mister and I visited, we were immediately drawn to the unique beauty of the space.
Sara, their event coordinator, walked us through the facility and helped us to visualize the different manners in which we could utilize the large space. She was a great help, and very informative, especially since I was unable to talk due to a dental procedure just an hour earlier.
I'll update this periodically as we work with them over the next 10 months.
Salvage One at 1840 W Hubbard in Chicago is a non-traditional wedding venue with a significant twist, they don't like DJs.
I haven't agreed to do a wedding in over 4 years, something about the overzealous brides and hellish circumstances that surround the events of wedding just aren't my style. However, this was an exception for a good friend of mine that I work with, so I decided that I would help him out.
The night started great and employees at Salvage One were helpful and informative, I was allowed to use the back-gate and service elevator to bring my equipment up to the 2nd floor where the reception was to be held. There are no power outlets on the main stage, so they have to run an extension cord, but when I setup the extension cord was not plugged into anything. One of the staff members came upstairs to help me out and plugged me in. About 10 minutes into my set my power conditioner blew 2 fuses because they plugged me into a 15A circuit instead of 20A (the difference is explained here).
Besides having to keep a constant eye on my power consumption, the rest of the night went well until closing time. My contract was written until 12:00 Midnight, at about 11:50 a member of the staff came over and told me to cut the music. Puzzled, I told the staff member that I was contracted until Midnight and asked her why the venue wasn't contracted the same. She replied that the venue was only contracted till 11:30 and that we were already 20 minutes past the end time. I told her to double check with the bride & groom, and then I would stop the music. I wasn't going to just cut the music without having played their requested "last song". Without any further hesitation I see a man out of the corner of my eye conferring with the woman I just talked to, then he heads for the breaker box and cuts EVERYTHING!
Now, I don't have too much experience in amplifier repair, but I can fix the basic things, and I'm not sure what caused it, but when that breaker was flipped, it melted the fuses in my amp. I walked off the stage and went to confront the man at the breaker box and he was already in a heated argument with other patrons. Keep in mind that I approached him with the utmost respect and professionalism, and wanted to ask him why he didn't consult with his customers before cutting the power, and futhermore, consult with me before attempting to fry my equipment. I also wanted to ask him if this is the kind of hospitality he extended to all of the performers at his venue, but I couldn't get a word in between him telling me to "fuck off" and calling me an "asshole".
After seeing that I wasn't going to be able to have a productive, professional conversation with this guy, I went back to packing up my stuff. To be fair, I guess at the point in the night he really had no reason to care about anybody in the place. Why should he? Salvage One already had thier money. My advice to DJ's, Bands and other Wedding performers in the Chicago area is to stay far away from dealing with anyone at this place.
**UPDATE - 10/6/09**
I recieved a call from Sara @ Salvage One today asking to talk to me about one of her employees being "shoved" the night of the wedding. I attempted to tell her my side of the story and all she wanted to do was tell me I was wrong for second guessing her employee when asked to cut the music. I don't even think we got to the point that nobody was pushed or shoved, but wrong or not, her employee acted unprofessionally and out of line, especially if customer service is the cornerstone of your business. She proceeded to tell me that I was "blacklisted" and they weren't going to work with me in the future, but I don't think I have to tell you I don't have plans to return.
**UPDATE 10/7/2009**
Sara, in response, we could argue about what time the music was cut all day, it really boils down to the fact that in spite of your customer paying thousands of dollars to use your facility, your employee decided to use profanity to verbally assault another professional hired by your customer. There is a way to handle altercations and problems with professionalism and tact. If you properly trained your staff, he did a horrible job at exhibiting what he learned during traning. The same would hold true if I walked into the place and started shouting expletives at your staff...
There are a lot of one-of-a-kind wedding spaces that I never would have thought would even exist, until I got married, and until I was a bridesmaid or maid of honor. This has to be the Year of the Weddings for me because I got married and was a bridesmaid in FOUR weddings and a maid of honor in so far one more, and one coming up.
For this particular wedding venue, I went with my friend who was the bride to go look at a bunch of places over the span of two weekends. Since I had already gotten married and was the maid of honor, I helped her ask a few questions she probably wouldn't otherwise have asked. Sara who was either the owner and/or event manager here, was so helpful. Even though the prices seemed a lot higher here than many other venues, she thoroughly explained every detail imaginable, going beyond the list of questions.
Inside, Salvage One is an upscale antique store, with objects of amazingness you might only otherwise find in dreams, or movies. A similar venue is Architectural Artifacts, but we both loved Salvage One more. My friend and her husband were able to take the reins as they wanted and design the layout of the reception. They had a very cool lounge area by the bar, a huuuuge dance floor, a buffet/dining area, and a great head table. A lot of the decorating is already done, since Salvage One has countless architectural artifacts for use to add an origial and artistic flaire to the evening.
And the parade of wedding vendors continues. I'm getting married at Salvage One next year and am really excited about the space. Sara, the event coordinator, has been really easy to work with, and didn't even mind when we just wandered in to first look at the space. She even took the time to give us the lowdown even though she was super-busy that day. And I love the space - open, airy, and ever changing.
I'm sure I'll have an update after the wedding happens, but I'm really pleased with what I've experienced so far. If you're looking for an offbeat space in Chicago, Salvage One may be it!
Salvage one, as a place to shop of salvaged... stuff, is great. Simply put, they have several floors of everything. Highlights include furniture from many eras, home furnishings, reclaimed wood, statues, etc. The people working there were also really helpful, which is a plus in a place like this. Maybe it's not as "mysterious," or whatever, as it used to be, but it's spacious so you can look at loads of stuff without tripping over it. If you really like salvaged stuff, though, plan to spend some time there--there's a lot to see.
I think I am going to cry.
What happened to my beloved Salvage One that used to be on the south side and was level after level of treasures to be uncovered? This new, "fancy" version left me cold the other day as I hunted for a backplate and some doorknobs for a couple of my antique doors.
The old place was like a mystery. Each floor dedicated to literally piles of things. Toilets and clawfoot tubs on one floor with doors and stained glass windows on another. Oh sure- there was a small section in the front of the store where they had taken a few items, "cleaned them up" and quadrupled the price. But no old house owner ever bought from there as you could do that at a fraction of the price for yourself.
Now the whole store is like this. Clean, newish looking, and refurbished. I kept wondering if what I was looking for would be just behind the next door. But alas- it wasn't. And what's worse? I hear you can have your social function in this new space. I couldn't even imagine wearing anything but my "dungy-est" jeans at the old place. Now it's more like walking in a furniture store.
When you have an old house like I do- it always needs a little something- a door knob falls off, a kick plate goes missing, a wall sconce needs a partner. The old Salvage One could always be counted on to find those little things hidden in a corner, in a shoebox of miscellaneous parts.
As for this new place? Paying $100 for a set of glass doorknobs will make me think twice about replacing them when the set screw fails. Thank heaven I have my own little Salvage One going on in my work room as I have collected a series of "spare parts" from all the old houses I've lived in over the years.
I love that old things are re-purposed to live a new life again- sometimes in an entirely new incarnation. But I hate that I've lost yet another place to search and find that unique thing I was looking for from another generation. After all- sometimes the hunt is half the fun. I know it's half the price!
I cannot speak on making purchases at Salvage One, but I attended a wedding there last weekend and it was magical. From the moment I walked in the door, I knew it was going to be a special night. I just walked around for the first half hour, just looking at everything- lots of chandeliers, interesting furniture, bathtubs made into fountains..... So much to take in. This was an unconventional and artsy crowd, so this space was just divine. The outdoor area with the lighted gazebo created such an maxing backdrop for all of our photos and, the ceremony of course.
There were so many places to wander off to and explore and dance. Little nooks and crannies were everywhere. What a fantastic event space! Loved it!
How on earth have I never written a review?
Well, first off, I recently got married here. It was mind-blowing and wonderful and absolutely amazing. The compliments are still coming in on what a terrific venue we had for our wedding. We are not conventional people, and this space fit us perfectly. It was so special and magical, and we were the first outdoor wedding of the year! They started really amping up the events at Salvage One - it seems like there is always something going on!
We worked with Sara, who made life much easier as the event coordinator at Salvage One. She was wonderful, and had great ideas and really bent over backwards for us.
Also, what an awesome shopping destination. In my fantasy land of being independently wealthy, I would deck out my house with everything in this space.
I love Salvage One - it has a special place in my heart!
Personally, I liked the old location on the South Side better. I don't know, it seemed more "salvagey" (is that even a word?) than this location since it was in this cracked out building that had busted windows on the upper floors (and therefore was almost unbearably cold most of the time), creepy skewed staircases, and dimly lit rooms.
OK, so now it is very chic and fancy, why does it also seem empty? Is there less merchandise? Or is this new space that much bigger where things are spread out more?
Well, I did see a few things I would have liked to have bought, and the price range seemed to go from super-cheap to rather pricey, but they all seemed to be priced fairly for what it was.
A little sad to see it so "done" but for a good selection of salvaged goods, its the best in the city.
Such an extensive array! I could have spent hours here just taking it all in and checking it out.
This was my first visit to Salvage One, so I can't compare it to the former space, management etc as others have in previous reviews. I do agree that it's fun to have to dig a little for these hidden treasures. Unfortunately, (or for some people, fortunately) the layout doesn't require much unearthing. It's still exciting to find something you need, but not quite as exciting as when you have to dig for it, to uncover it yourself.
One thing that seemed a little odd to us was the check out. We brought our purchase up to the counter and the guy stated that it seemed to be incorrectly priced; but he would sell it to us for the price that it was marked. Maybe, he wanted us to feel like we were getting a deal on the item. But the truth be known, if it was mis-priced, then they have a real issue on their hands as they have loads of these items for the same sticker price.
Overall, it's a really great spot with lots to take in. We will definitely continue to check this place out for more treasures in the future.
Definitely worth a visit. Most stuff is probably out of your price range, but it will give you ideas, and you might find something random anyways.
Good place to look around, not fun to get to on Public Trans. We walked for what seemed like hours to get here - and saw some really neat stuff when we did. Even got an idea for our own house from something they had set up in here, so that was good too. Staff did not acknowledge us - but maybe we had "just looking" tattooed on our foreheads?
I attended a wedding, this past June, for a family member at Salvage One. I had never been to the venue. I quickly became a fan. It was one of the most unique and beautiful places that I have been to for a wedding. The facility was large and spacious, even for a reception of 200 - 250 guests.
My only wish is that my family member didn't find this facility first! I would highly recommend Salvage One for wedding or any other type of event.
Stopped by today to pick up some drawer pulls for a project and the door was open, so we went in. The women approached us like we just walked in on her in the shower, with a very shrill "can I help you?" and told us they were closed.
We were 10 minutes late and she couldn't even muster up a little politeness in delivering the news they were not as open as their door implied...sorry lady, we weren't the ones that left the door unlocked!
We won't be heading back.
The Crack House has me constantly on the hunt to find things it needs, so I'll be making a trek to Salvage One for some doors and things soon, but I'm a bit hesitant. Circa 1979, this would have been a hands down 5 star from me, but things change over time and Salvage One is not an exception.
I grew up in a 120+ year old Victorian Four Square that we restored from the ground up - I was the kid who had vats of chemical paint stripper sitting around the living room at all times and never got to sleep late on the weekends due to the ever changing work crews roaming throughout our house. What can I say? The house needed a LOT of work - it had been stripped of architectural details, painted, wallpapered, modified, and shag carpeted within an inch of it's life. It was like a beautiful little girl whose mother insisted on putting her in beauty pageants - everything good and lovely was buried under piles of crap and frills and we had to clean it up.
Back then, Salvage One was a godsend. We'd walk in, bargain for a stained glass window, pick up a box of door knobs, look for working weights for our windows, etc. and walk out with everything we needed for next to nothing. Sure, a lot of the stuff was probably stripped illegally out of abandoned houses, but every last item in that place was saved from a trip to the junk yard, given a second chance at life. It was an adventure, a treasure hunt if you will - we would gawk at piles of oak and mahogany paneling, giant iron gates, huge detailed urns - a trip to Salvage One was a family affair and one we all enjoyed.
Flash forward to the 90's when they moved from the original location - Salvage one went upscale and so did the prices. I went in with my father to look for a working lock set for a really cool old door panel/handle set that he'd found and we almost passed out from shock - the place felt more like a nice restaurant than a salvage joint and the prices had quadrupled. Even everyday items, such as skeleton keys, had shot up to ridiculous prices. My father did find the lock set he needed, but he paid through the teeth for it. Times change, items become more valuable/scare, prices will inevitably go up, but still ~ is it a salvage house or an art gallery? Hard to tell anymore. Even the staff give off more of an upscale auction house vibe instead of an old house lovers empathy sort of thing. Time marches on, I guess.
If you need that perfect built in, a great old door, vintage hardware, etc., head to Salvage One, but be aware that while beautiful things still exist here, low prices do not. Perhaps I'm just suffering from a bad case of nostalgia, but I miss that haphazard junkyard feeling, the adventure/discovery aspect, the triumph of finding just what you need at a fair price. I took a friend there last year for the first time and she had a bad case of sticker shock, but based on some of the other reviews, perhaps prices have gone down a bit since then. I'm sure I'll keep shopping there if I just have to find something because, prices be damned, they will have it, but it just doesn't seem the same anymore.
What an AMAZING space! Wanna get a feel for Chicago architectural history, go look at the salvaged bits and pieces of it they sell here...everything just oozes character and seems to have its own little story to tell.
At least 2 floors of open show-space (I didn't see any more than that), everything displayed here is well-spaced as though each thing gets its own little showcase. Unlike Jan's Antiques, it's clean and, while maybe a little overwhelming by the space, not so by volume and dusty piles.
I actually came here for a party they rented the space out for. The whole concept was the epitome of "urban chic". It was really cool to walk around with a cocktail and window shop all the stuff...the whole place is one big conversation piece.
When we move, I will be visiting again to find some unusual pieces for our own new space.
When a building gets demolished, anything of value in it will find its way here: church pews, bathtubs, doors, fixtures and so on. Unlike other salvage places, there is plenty of floor space here so the items are arranged gallery-like. They have a lot of doors but don't forget the tape measure.
Staff was pleasant and friendly, I was greeted prompty. I thought most items were priced very reasonably.
This place is really neat!
I have been to salvage one a many of times and the staff is always so friendly and helpful.
If you didn't know, they are about to start opening the space up for private parties! Weddings, Etc. (they have been doing it for a while but I think they may want to push that a bit more)
Brian is always so helpful and nice. I have always liked everyone there. I found a bench there today I almost walked out with . price was reasonable too.
Check it out if you are doing any type of vintage decor in your home. It's a great way to recycle!!!!!!!!!!
xoxo
I've been to Salvage One probably 6-8 times, enjoyed it every time, but never spent a dime.
This place is like my grandmother's attic crossed with a church basement crossed with an antique shop. They have gorgeous old stained glass, church pews, old metal office furniture, racks and racks of antique doors, buckets of brass fittings... everything. Some day i'd like to buy some stained glass, but we'll see.
If you're not a homeowner, or if you don't have access to a way to haul the stuff, you won't find much here. The furniture is all big and heavy.
Holy SMOKES! Scroll down to the ALL CAPS section below if you want to skip the narrative.
Ok, if you are like me, you go to these places and look at the cool stuff and think, "Some day when I am rich...." Anyway, that was always my experience with that other salvage warehouse on Ravenswood.
I want to make a mantel in my living room that will consist of two cabinets with glass doors, then affix a cross-piece to tie them together and give my wife a new place to put knick knacks and day of the dead figures. (But enough about me...)
So I go to the place on Ravenswood and say, "Hey, do you have any old cabinet doors that I can build new cabinets around?"
Surly asshole at counter says, "They don't exist."
"They don't exist? How exactly do you mean?"
"You won't find them."
"Uhm. Thanks."???
So glass cabinet doors do not exist? I look at myself. Aha, the answer: I do not look rich so he does not care.
Dejectedly, I go to Salvage One to look for what I need. Not only do I find cabinet doors to build cabinets around, I find actual vintage cabinets in pretty good shape. I find Brian on the floor and ask how much for the set, expecting to pay 1200.
He says, "350."
I say, "350???"
He says, "$350."
I say, "Wow, that's pretty reasonable."
He says, "WE ARE UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT AND LIKE TO THINK IF WE SELL THINGS AT REASONABLE PRICES PEOPLE WILL COME BACK."
I have my carpenter come by and look at them. One is in great shape, but the other needs about 250 bucks worth of work. We approach them to negotiate the price. We all part happily, me with two vintage cabinets to repair, paint, and use as the focal point of my living room.
Anyway, given the new managerial philosophy, you should all hurry down there. They have a warehouse full of very cool stuff, and apparently they are going to sell it all at reasonable prices. Make sure you check out the bathroom stuff on the third floor. Lots of pedestal sinks and claw-foot bathtubs in great shape.
I found the staff to be helpful and willing to negotiate. I will be back!
If you are interested in the mantel thing that I am having built, and wondering who in Chicaville can help with projects like that, see my review of Portage Park Handyman. Because he has worked on stuff for me before, he volunteered much of his day off to come look at the cabinets and brainstorm with me about how to build the mantel in a way that suits my rather complicated needs for the piece. (The mantel will go over my aquarium, so I must be able to lift it to get to the tank. It is further complicated by the fact that I cannot find a short aquarium stand, so we have to elevate the cabinets somehow while maintaining their aesthetic integrity.)
Anyway, go to Salvage One on Hubbard. You will be pleasantly surprised by the new managerial philosophy.
The presentation is not as nice as some of the other salvage stores in the city, but the staff is incredibly friendly and not off-putting at all.
I was searching for some basic tin or brass light bases for a restoration I was working on and they pointed me in the right direction without any hint of unnecessary snobbishness or attitude.
The prices are pretty good. You can outfit a condo or a few rooms with some interesting pieces for much less than some of the other places, but you will have to do some of the work to fix it yourself. This is much more like real salvage than antique shopping.
But I walked out having spent $60 on the bases I needed, some globes, and a chain and was happy. The client I brought with me to look around and hang out was also pleased with the place after seeing some other places we had been the same day.
Antique haute couture. My guess is 98% of the people that walk in here never buy a thing. After all, who has the space or money to buy a 30ft long, $10,000 bar?
BUT, it is a great place to spend the day exploring. The space is huge with 3 or 4 floors. The inventory includes fireplace mantels, giant columns, clawfoot tubs, card catalogs, fountains, telephone booths...you name it. I like to pretend I own a giant loft and have a place and use for some of these quirky pieces.
They rent out the space for events either inside or out in the garden. No idea how expensive it is, but if any of you ever throw a party there, please please invite me!
great products... difficult to work with the people... sometimes... maybe I'm wrong..?
This place is just fantastic. I went there for an event, and I was shocked at the sheer size and value in this otherwise secret building. Although the pieces look to be overpriced, the space is quite breathtaking.
So amazing! Three floors of cool salvage finds, dressers, tables, stained glass, wire gates, and so much more crazy stuff. The fourth floor is a design space where they are remaking older pieces into modern pieces that are artful and beautiful. It's a great stop if you are looking to furnish your home in unique pieces.
I could spend days here - there is a lot of neat architectural salvage here. It would be nice if it was better organized though especially if you're looking for something specific. Bring your own flashlight if you're looking for a door (there is an entire floor devoted to doors) - it gets a little dark up there
I've been shopping at Salvage One since 1996 .. when it was located at 16th and Sangamon. The Hubbard location is much nicer, the courtyard is a nice retreat in the summer. This is the place to go for vintage doors, doorknobs, hardware and such. If you are looking for a complete bar .. they have those also. Prices can be extremely high for one-of-a-kind items. Note: at the previous location Cher stopped by, in her white limo. That was quite a sight - entourage and all.
I have made severage purchases here - they seems to have good quality standards and the prices are somewhat negotiable as they are mostly 3rd party deals. I do find Salvage One to be pricey over all but the experience of non-stop discovery is one of the best in this town.
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