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Categories: Home & Garden, Arts & Crafts, Building Supplies [Edit]
900 Murray StMon-Sat. 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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Today was my first time in urban ore and it was like going to the world's largest, most wonderful junkyard. They have everything you could ever want and fairly decent prices. Bathtubss, electronics, books, music, dishes, doors, windows, games, and so many other things! I bought a backgammon set for $2 and a new edition of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook for $5. I wish I'd had more time to look around as there are so many weird things, but I'm glad I rarely go. I would spend way too much money on random crap if it was actually close to my house.
Yes, the furniture is expensive, but it has character. It's all slightly scratched, but those can be fixed easily enough. The joy of Urban Ore is to buy these random things and let your creativity run wild.
+1 star for the bathtub planters on the outside of the building. When I have my own house, I totally want to do that.
Also got some mismatched dining room chairs for $4 each. Good purchase.
The Goods:
- Giant selection of millions of assorted used whatnots. Fun stuff.
- Cheap prices....
- They have bike parts, too (+ lots of used bike tires).
- The place is basically like a Home Depot & a thrift store combined in a huge warehouse... but on steroids.
The Bads:
- Drafty inside & overall not so clean/well kempt.
- Hard to find employee help & if you do they're not guaranteed to be nice.
- Many items are not priced and you have to take them to the front counter to find out how much they are.
The Uglies:
- I like cats, and they have cats there which is cool (I haven't actually seen them there, but....)..... the thing is, the whole place has a cat litter box.
*OVERALL though, I'm a fan... :]
I love it when I find an excuse to go to Urban Ore. Today was one of those days. I needed to find a bit of granite and my always-thinking friend wondered (outloud) why I hadn't already checked out Urban Ore. "Oh yeah, of course they'll have it." And they did. And because all I needed was a tiny piece, the (cute!) clerk said I could take it.
I had to wander around and look at everything else. It's required. You never know when you'll find a great dining room table (i did), old doors to a built-in cabinet that can reused in many ways (I did), funky metal and wood serving platters (I did), brand new Ikea dining chairs (I did), bits of scrap metal to fix things (I did) and many many more things you may not have been looking for but you can find at good (and sometimes surprisingly great) prices.
They've been so good to me, I had to end my yelp hiatus and give them props.
Aside from the potent aroma of feline urine permeating the place, my first visit to Urban Ore was more than satisfying. With the late afternoon sun filtering through the high windows, the haunting melody of bizarre chanting music wafted with me as I wandered through the aisles. Books, bric-a-brac, old VHS copies of Eddie Murphy movies, furniture, and everything you could possibly imagine is here. It's like a surreal menagerie from your grandparent's garage and every yard sale you've ever been to.
Couldn't find what I was looking for today, but I am excited to go back and look again.
On a superficial side note, the people working there are paralyzingly good-looking. If you like the grizzled, knows how to build things look, which I do.
a real unique place to go when you need furnishings for your home. Some old some new but you might find yourself spending more than what youre expecting from essentially a junk yard/eco park. I did manage to find a cool granite slab about 6 sq feet at 5$/sqft and a few cinder blocks to make a coffee table.. so I cant complain.. can't say I will be coming back soon but overall if youre into construction or building or remodeling, you might find a lot of useful items here and save a couple bucks but not a whole lot... 3/5 judochops
I'm a fan. Check it out. At least once.
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They have a good selection of a great variety of things. "Things" because they have everything from desks, to bathtubs, to doorknobs, to doors, to art, to VHSs, to clothes, to etc. Also, most of the bigger stuff that they are selling is in pretty good condition.
I'd recommend coming here even if you aren't in the market to purchase anything because, if nothing else, it gives you good ideas for the future.
I always find all kinds of stuff I didn't even know I needed and sometimes I even find the stuff I was actually looking for. I've been especially lucky in finding stuff for my kitchen. If you've never been, you should definitely check it out. My only disappointment is they don't really have paper or fabric, but that's why I go to SCRAP in San Francisco when I need those things. Prices range from very cheap for small things, to sometimes a bit much for some of the office furniture. As a whole, though, I'd say they're very reasonable.
Went to the new location for the first time last weekend, I used to go to the old spot all the time. Still seems pretty much the same to me, the same castaways, those with tags ridiculously overpriced (However, I never had to hold my breath at the old spot, this place reeks of cat piss). You might find what you need, might not, I got lucky, er... well... old doorknob sets are plentiful. I did not pay the price on the tag either, go ahead and haggle, just maybe do it before you get to the register.
Picture a vast collection of curbside treasures piled high in a warehouse. Imagine rows upon rows of porcelain toilets, discarded doors, rusty garden supplies, breakables, damaged art, and abandoned furniture sorted into functionality. Think Goodwill rejects as far as the eye can see.
For some, this is the beauty of possibility, glorious fodder for a DIY/craft world with character. For others, it's a jumble of old, smelly castaways taking up space. I urge you to find out for yourselves. Cash goes far, so snag a map and start the hunt!
I came here in need of a dresser, but I found that many of them need more work than I care to do, considering the price tag. I can get similar furniture at Thrifttown for a lot cheaper. However, I do enjoy the wide selection of chairs, tables, doors, etc. If I ever wanted to remodel my house or make a table out of a door, this would most definitely my first stop. Anything I was remotely interested in had that damned green card shouting "SOLD!" at me. You have to act fast because all the good stuff is gone pretty quick. The prices are also either surprisingly cheap or expensive. I also love the "gallery" in there. Some of the stuff there is gorgeous! I just wish I could afford it.
The mention of cat pee by other people was something I really didn't notice, but the dust was getting my sinuses to act up a bit. However, it is expected to a junkyard right? Also around the picture frames were pieces of broken glass everywhere, but I don't think that's a normal occurrence.
I would only suggest this place for remodelers or people who care to take the time to find a diamond in the rough.
I really do love Urban Ore.
My husband and I have made several purchases there, and they have some awesome stuff.
I love just wandering around and looking at the stuff.
Which brings me to why only 3 stars.
The stench of cat pee pervading the premises.
I applaud the attempt to care for abandoned felines, but it really makes my eyes water some days!
If you're looking for a cheap source for building materials, this is it. I got a great little sink with hardware for less than a hundie, which would've cost five or more new.
The staff is great, helpful, etc.
You don't always find what you came for, but frequently leave with something.
My husband seems to remember Urban Ore being much better and carrying "useful junk" back in the day. That day was not this past week. I think Urban Ore is full of stuff that no one really wants. The furniture is all tacky (particle board, cheap stuff), and the clothes are just filthy. I honestly wanted to like this place, but I just couldn't get over the smell and the funkified feeling I experienced walking through this joint. True, there appeared to be lots of records and books, but beyond that, I just don't know...we were looking for cool furniture and there was nothign to be found at Urban Ore.
They did have lots of doors and old windows, though, so if we ever had to remodel, I'd definitely hit this joint since it'd be so wrong to go to Home Depot to find stuff for our 1930s house.
But for everything else...I thought it was a huge disappointment. It felt like a warehouse full of junk where someone had already picked through and bought all the good stuff!
Again, we when we were searching for things for our remodel project of bath/kitchen. The price tags for the products really seem high for what you are getting. So many things are simply junk that they are attempting to sell for the cost of brand new out of the box. How about bringing down the prices to an affordable cost.
this is the best thrift store around.
very limited clothing section.
awesome for EVERYTHING ELSE.
This yelp is long and before you read on, please don't send me a private message that yelp is not a blog. If you don't like my yelp style then move on. And... in your private, don't accuse me of being racist. I don't like people... not just any race, religion, size.... people in general.
Back to URBAN ORE:
I am guilty for not doing my part for the environment. Over usage of aqua net in the eighties. Throwing away a plastic bottle a couple of weeks ago. But I do hug a tree before chopping it down.
In the past years, learning to recycle even the little things. I've learned neat little tricks for my gardening hobby, my husband makes his own biodiesel. No, we don't fry enough to fill up his tank, but it's a neat hobby. It does look like a meth lab... but the unmistakable aroma of French fries is a dead give away.
The thought of this store makes me think of the song 'New Sensation', by INXS. I am obsessed with this store. The prices are incredible and the whole concept of the store just makes me all tingly inside.
My husband and I have done our share of restoring, remodeling, etc. I wish... oh, how I wish that I knew about Urban Ore back when we were at Home Depot spending on new pieces of crap doors, cabinets... especially on the almost 100 year old house we used to live in.
There is this one guy.... he let me have a sweet deal one cold evening last month for a project. When I say deal, I mean a 5 dollar deal.
Last weekend, my friend Debbie and I, looked for that cute guy. Initially we ended up with different fella. He was pretty much by the book. I had a trolley full of projects. He pulled out his tape measure and started adding up the dollar figure in his head. It wasn't a pretty sight. When I asked him why so much, he had this very authoritative tone...
Urban Ore NAZI: 'the prices for those items are by the inch, mam.'
me: 'Fuck you and your inches, DUDE and I hate being called mam,' I thought.
URBAN ORE NAZI: if you want the bargain items for that particular item (motions to the cracked toilets and busted window section) go over there'
ME: do you mind if I leave my trolley here? It is about 3 times my weight.
UON: sure. (I caught him rolling his eyes.)
Speed up to about 10 minutes of sifting through crap, Debbie and I finally gave in and decided to just purchase our trolley of goodies. But our trolley was gone.... gone, nowhere to be seen. We had spent 2 hours filling up that damn trolley. I looked around.... pissed. Ready to beat the Urban Ore Nazi to the ground. Debbie spotted our trolley about 20 feet away with a 20 pound concrete rock to hold it in place. Not only was it blocked... it was wedged in a very narrow aisle.
Struggling yet AGAIN to get the trolley back to the register, Urban Ore Nazi was no where to be seen. And like a light of heavenly sweetness glowing from the cash register, our favorite Urban Ore guy was standing there. He remembered us.... probably because we're so cute. And he didn't do the per inch bullshit thing. He eyeballed everything. And he was just a few bucks under the original total that almost had me in cardiac arrest.
I love the cute Urban Ore guy.... but not as much as I love Urban Ore.
Minus one star for the jerk.
I sew. I have been looking for a dress form my size for the longest time. Not long ago I was passing Urban Ore Ecopark in Berkeley and noticed dressforms and mannequins in the window. I decided to go there when I had a free moment. That moment came last Sunday. I was amazed at the amount of junk they had there!!! And, of course, I mean in a good sense. You know, what's someone's trash can be someone else's treasure, and all...
They have a huge warehouse of all-imaginable items, like furniture, housewares, doors, electronics (not sure how reliable they are), books, jewelry, even clothes. They also have a whole open lot of other re-usable materials, like window-frames, cast iron fencing and benches, planters, etc. Overwhelming. If you are really crafty and handy, this is the place for you. I used to watch HGTV. Well, they used such places all the time for really fun budget-friendly house projects.
Unfortunately, they did not have a dressform my size, all of them were too big. But I found other treasures. $1 records. You heard me. Yes, vinyl records, our parents used to listen to. I found Beethoven, Mozart, and Vivaldi there. On my next trip, I plan on finding something more modern, like Modern Talking or Adriano Celentano.
5 stars for concept! Thank you Urban Ore for encouraging community recycling.
4 stars for organization and service! With both an indoor and outdoor facility, one can get lost here for hours even with the help of the friendly staff. But considering all the stuff and the junk yard nature of Urban Ore, I'm impressed.
4 stars overall (rounded down from 4.5 average for the smell of cat-pee that penetrates the warehouse).
I have never actually purchased anything here - although I have browsed and known others who got some really good deals. But I am pleased to say that I made my first contribution and did not make or pay for a dump trip to the local landfill to dispose of some old household items.
For a year, I have had two toilets sitting in my garage but now they will hopefully be somebody else's treasure! Although after seeing the $125 price tag on a similar pink toilet, I suppose I could have tried Craiglist. But major point being I no longer have two toilets sitting in my garage (as well as a computer monitor and light fixtures).
Urban Ore's usefulness went downhill a few years ago as the owner/staff discovered CL and Ebay. It used to be possible (before they moved to the icebox on Ashby) to find functional goods at a reasonable price, negotiation allowed. But somebody figured out its possible to sell stuff on CL and Ebay. Now the good stuff is gone. Worse, a new 'policy' of no negotiation was nailed to the wall behind the register.
Its a money making business but they'll have to make do without MY money.
just go to GO. sooo much random stuff, and parts of this place are like a museum. i actually found a milk-glass lampshade i needed for $2 and saw a lot of awesome furniture (sadly not the metal bedframe we needed), and there is a cat sitting around in there, which wins my allegiance to any place.
don't go here if you're on a mission and in a hurry, necessarily--go because it is one of a kind!
I think of Urban Ore as two stores: the indoor one and the outdoor one. Both are fun, but the outdoor stuff is far more reasonably priced...whoever is doing the pricing on the indoor items is just a tad aggressive, and often ridiculously so. The indoor stuff is all pre-priced, while the outdoor employees price stuff on the spot when you bring it to their register. Definitely my preference. Maybe it's because they look like actual working dudes, as opposed to the vintaged-out scenesters at the indoor register? An exception: the tools and hardware stuff are inside, but it's a good department. The pricey stuff is of the antique/shabby chic/vintage variety, and things that pass (however vaguely) for such.
So yeah, the outdoor stuff is really where it's at. It's the ideal place to score used lumber, bricks, metal objects, and what-have-you for construction and landscaping projects. I recently adopted a large puppy, and found a big brand-name crate out there for $10--the same item retails new for over $100, so I was happy. Excellent place to pick and poke.
Well... this place is huge, which is both good and bad. There are some things that are WAY over-priced, but then you find those fixer-upper items that are amazing steals! So... when you go, make sure you have hours to kill!
this is the place to go when you want your whole house to look antique. you will find those hard-to-find items... and sometimes you might get lucky with the price.
don't go here looking for clothes. there are only about 20 items to choose from and they're in the selction that has old shoes and... urgh! that part of the wherehouse STINKS! like disguisting sweatty feet, old poop-crusted chonies and God know what else mixed in!
and girls... don't go there dressed up! You will get hit-on by some ugly old men!
Today was my first time visiting Urban Ore. I took my dad who is constantly building things, creating, using and reusing junk. This place is his Eden. They have so much stuff!! Not all of it appears useful upon first glance, but you just know that someone out there in the world (especially this particular part of the world) will put it to use.
I can see a need to go back frequently because things obviously come and go quickly. The people that worked there seemed friendly and I personally did not find it too hard to work my way through the store. Then again, I come from a long line of junk-connoisseurs.
I will certainly be back. I got myself a spice rack for just 3 dollars and a pirate troll for 2. The spice rack I'd actually been looking for, the troll was really just for kicks.
There was a time when Urban Ore was actually useful, but I think their last hurrah was the former Gilman St. location. Every time I go to their current location it seems to get bleaker and bleaker.
Used to be, you'd come across something and exclaim "Cool!" Now it's more like "Cool -- aw, it's busted!" or "Coo -- eeewww!"
The warehouse is now nothing more than piles of ratty, dirty, excessively pawed-over stuff in disarray. It's impossible to tell if anything electric or electronic works. The music section is useless. Many books are so outdated they should be thrown into recycling dumpsters rather than sit on these shelves. Contemporary soda bottles also have more value as recycling than collectibles. Prices vary wildly and tend towards the high side. All the good items bear "Property of Urban Ore" tags.
Today, a 45-minute browse revealed nothing of interest. My previous two visits, aside from making my friend sneeze from the dust, produced a pinback button and a glass mug from places of interest to me. A damn low rate of return for the effort.
You have to have a special sort of tolerance to shop at Urban Ore. When I was younger and my dad brought me here I hated going, I thought it was lame and smelled bad (which it does)...but I really appreciate it now. My husband and I spend hours in this place. They literally have everything.
I like looking at the kitchen stuff, tea sets, records and books. There isn't much clothing selection - go to Goodwill for that.
They are a little pricey on some things, which is disappointing, but overall it's not so bad. I got an amazing Santa Claus tree topper just before Christmas - his robe is velvet and with fur trim, beautiful details. He would have easily retailed for $50 and I got him for $3. That was probably my biggest score other than the awesome books I've picked up there.
Again, not the best clothing selection, but everything else is great!
Like many before me, I'm ambivalent about Urban Ore. I would rather find furniture at Uhuru, where the service is top notch (heck, Mark at Uhuru will call you if something you wanted even 6 months ago comes thru). But, I was pleasantly surprised today to find about 15 white milk glass pieces, all priced under $15. Sweet! Another good thing about Urban Ore are the books and frames. Plus, many of the Ghetto Gourmet tables came from Urban Ore (we screwed legs to closet doors to make 8-10 top tables). I do, however, find many things are overpriced and junky. If you're allergic to dust mites, you had better take your Zyrtec and a few Kleenexes on your visit.
Yes, my review rating didn't change, but they once again came to my rescue with an odd object that I was needing for a household project. AND, they gave me a discount on the listed price, just for asking.
Oh, and the cat pee. Yes, it still stinks, but I'm guessing the cat keeps away the rats, so I guess that's a good thing.
I've been saved a number of times by UOB and will always respect the power of the people. They are… Read more »
I've patroned it for a few years but haven't really found anything too terribly exciting in here. It could be that it's teeming with hauty-tauty socialites, hipsters, and failed art majors. So it's fairly combed over and anything that's useful or has kitsch value is out the door right away. Or it could just be that it's largely comprised of overpriced junk.
A set of 4 Arne Jacobsen chairs for $13 a piece? Whoever cant put up with the cat smell for these prices must be some snob from the peninsula.
Their loss...
I'm lovin it!
I almost never leave empty handed, but I grew up working in antiques and am usually picking throu every free bin I see.
So, ok... that might not sound glamorous but... I have a cuter house than you...
It' s a love-hate relationship.
I love the concept and even the things that I find. Someday I will figure out what to do with one of the awesome doors that they sell. I just love walking down the door aisles. It is the BEST place to re:cycle and donate all the pieces from your home remodel.
I hate the over-priced tags on some of the larger furniture items. When a piece is falling apart and in dire need of a major make-over, I really don't like seeing a $500 price-tag.
Its a huge warehouse - so don't expect anything pretty. Items often need a major cleaning, dusting and some TLC. Other times, you find a treasure.
Biggest, baddest warehouse full of stuff you'll ever find in the East Bay. Until I hear of another kind of warehouse that stocks random wares, this will be my prime destination.
This place is fun to rummage through, finding items you never thought you needed, or finding items you really need like cheap doors, toilets, bathtubs, stoves and etc. for your remodeling needs.
I have found boxes full of old slides and photographs for those DIY art moments, antique movie theater benches, and bins and bins of knick knacks.
Reuse, recycle and re-appropriate. Urban Ore I love thee.
This place appeals to my occasional need for a chaotic random aesthetic. I mean listen, as soon as I walked in the place I saw 2 or 3 different doors that I wanted to buy...I don't even need doors. I just wanted them. You cant even imagine what sort of crazy conceptual art pieces I wanted to make with half the stuff in there.
By the time I rolled around to the photography section (read: a few filing cabinets with old cameras, camera accessories, and photographs) my heart melted and I would have accepted an offer for marriage, you know, if you could marry a store. I even found four drawers of slides that I was tempted to construct a family album out of.
Slide One: Uncle Jack gets close and personal with a Chimpanzee.
Slide Two: Mom and Dad on their vacation in Greece.
Slide Three: Wiggles, my childhood cat, yawns at the camera.
Slide Four: ...well this went on for a good 20 minutes.
Needless to say I walked away single and without a photo album but pleasantly enough with a Kodak Instamatic 304 camera.
This place has the potential to be really cool. The first time I went a few weeks ago, I was so overwhelmed by the size and the amount of stuff that I had failed to notice two things. The first being that although Urban Ore looks has the feel of a giant yard sale, it is not priced that way.
And second and most importantly, it smells like cat piss and poo. I actually petted the culprit, a large black cat that runs around freely, before I went to look at some chairs, none of which I could buy because I was afraid the heavy scent of cat feces would follow my new furniture home.
But I wouldn't write this place off all together. There are some great finds to be had. Just bring some smelling salts or something with you when you go.
I have to say, I liked the old location better. The new one is freezing and smells like cat pee.
I've still gotten some good finds at the new location, but I always feel like I need a shower after I leave.
Urban Ore gets some stars for being fun to walk around and explore in. I have found some good, useful/cool stuff here--$17 for a big, framed lithograph, $1 cabinet hardware that matches old pieces that broke and needed replacing.
I also made the mistake of paying $125 for a dresser that I thought I could make like new. It refinished beautifully, but after much fussing, the drawers STILL don't work right. It is possible I should blame my lack of skills rather than urban ore.
Still, damn you, urban ore, for having things that look like hidden gems--and are priced like hidden gems--but are actually just junk.
Junk-O-Rama!!! YEEEAAAAHHHHH!!!!!
I personally call it "The SUPER Thrift Store!" But, that really understates it. Here's a sampling of items you can get there:
- A toilet
- A power drill
- A lighting fixture
- An accordian
- A jacket
- Chairs
- Vintage stereo cabinets (got my eye out for a Victrola)
Personally, one thing I think is REALLY neat about this place...is that a decent 20 dollar thrift store table stands right next to an amazing vintage table for 300 dollars. Both are totally worth their price. Take your pic.
Go to Urban Ore...if even just to see the spectacle.
Urban Ore is a great place. The knick-knack stuff is pretty cheap, and there are a lot of great finds but the home furnishings (unless you find the right employee) are severely over-priced. Maybe just plain old over-priced.
But still, worth checking out and a lot of fun.
Side note:
Smells like cat urine. There are most definitely extreme quantities of cat urine on the premises. I don't mind terribly because that means they feed the cats. And the cats have a good home.
When I first visited this "recyclers paradise" I was very excited..so much to gawk at and absorb, and that's not including the diverse group of customers that meander in and out.
The rustic exterior and interior beckon you to just stay a little longer...although the rewards may be nil. If you have an old home that needs replacement fixtures, hardware, doors, etc..and you want authenticity, this is just the ticket. AND...if you frequent it enough, this establishment will yield some really unique and well designed finds. I have on many trips peeked over into the "sold" area and salivated with jealousy.
Otherwise, on a typical day, you really have to hunt for your treasure, among over-priced furniture, abused mannequins and oh-so-over-this-job employees.
Very very disappointed. Thought this was going to be a fun exploration but no. When the glassware section smells like cat pee, it's not a good day. When everything in fact smells so bad you practically get nauseous, it's not a good day. I actually think this place may be a bit of a health hazard. And trust me I comb thrift stores, goodwill, flea markets, and antique shops in barns. I have been down this road of piled high junk many times. Urban Ore however I will not revisit. No way.
A giant warehouse full of discarded material, from doors to record players to fabric scraps.
Hmm...if I worked here I guess I'd be surly, too. The lady at the cash register put it best, "everyone's got some story on what they're doing with this stuff." She didn't buy my "educational use" explanation for a second.
So I wouldn't go here if you have any executive functioning disability - it's chaotic and themed but certainly not organized. Some stuff is dirt cheap, but anything with discernable use (besides taking stuff apart to see how it works) is over priced. If you end up here, do check out the photo and art sections (behind the stereo equipment last I checked). There's all sorts of overpersonal stuff with great imaginary stories to them - I suspect Found magazine cheats and ends up here once a week.
Berkeley, CA
Category: Home Decor
Neighborhood: Lower Hills
Category: Antiques
Neighborhood: Bayview/Hunters Point
Category: Building Supplies
Neighborhood: Temescal
Category: Arts & Crafts
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: Home Decor
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