Architectural salvage fans have a new stop in Pasadena

Connoisseurs and collectors of authentic Craftsman, Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco architectural details can enjoy one-stop shopping in the San Gabriel Valley now that Pasadena Architectural Salvage and Architectural Detail have teamed up at a new joint location. The companies, popular resources among preservation-minded contractors, designers and homeowners, this month opened a 14,000-square-foot retail space on Foothill Boulevard.

"Before, we were serving some of the same clients, but they were having to drive back and forth from store to store. This place is more convenient, with much better parking and a loading dock in back. It also allows us to be under one roof but still remain two separate businesses," says Gayle Stoner.

With business partner Chris Shackelford, Stoner bought Pasadena Architectural Salvage in 2008 following the death of original owner Cary Pasternak. After the 5-year-old store lost the lease to its San Gabriel Boulevard location, Stoner and Shackelford found spacious new digs for rent just four blocks away and approached their crosstown colleagues with the possibility of joining forces.

Architectural Detail, an architectural restoration consulting firm and online salvage dealer that was established in 1997 and located on Valley Street, considered the shared storefront a win-win proposition.

"While our business is still primarily online, we can’t help but benefit from the bricks-and-mortar association with Gayle, who is very customer-oriented," says Skip Willetts, co-owner with wife Janice.

Setting up showrooms side by side has prompted the companies to tweak their respective inventories to avoid direct competition. Pasadena Architectural Salvage sold all of its bathtubs, lavatories and toilets to Architectural Detail but continues to trade in accessories such as medicine cabinets, towel bars and soap holders. Meanwhile, Architectural Details sold its inventory of doors -- hundreds of them -- and about half of its hardware to Pasadena Architectural Salvage. Keep reading for more on the offerings, including additional photos.

The merchandise, displayed neatly under high ceilings and clerestory windows, ranges from 1880s Victoriana to mid-century modernism and includes lighting, mantels, columns and gates. Although Pasadena Architectural Salvage gets some stained- and leaded-glass windows from a source in the Midwest, nearly everything else comes from buildings in Southern California.

Says Stoner: "Anyone who's remodeling an old home or just replacing something that's broken can probably find what they’re looking for here."

Pasadena Architectural Salvage and Architectural Detail are located at 2600 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. Pasadena Architectural Salvage is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Architectural Detail is open limited hours.

-- Emily Young

Photo credit: Emily Young

Comments

[Old House Fanatic]

As a long-time and frequent patron of BOTH, I'm happy to hear of their "merger." It is kind of funny though, the thought of sweet, customer-friendy Gayle under the same roof as gruff-but-extremely-knowledgeable-"eh-don't-bother-me!" Skip.

Can't wait to drop in!