Eddie's, Up Close and Personal
The NY Times’ Local blog had a guest post yesterday about one of our favorite stores and people in the neighborhood: Eddie Hibbert and his eponymous salvage store at 224 Greene Avenue. We began frequenting Eddie’s as soon as we bought our house a couple of blocks away (here’s the first mention of him on…
The NY Times’ Local blog had a guest post yesterday about one of our favorite stores and people in the neighborhood: Eddie Hibbert and his eponymous salvage store at 224 Greene Avenue. We began frequenting Eddie’s as soon as we bought our house a couple of blocks away (here’s the first mention of him on Brownstoner back in 2005). It was the perfect spot for us for a couple of reasons: 1) we were endeavoring to use as much architectural salvage as possible; and 2) we were trying to spend as little money as possible. Not lost on the writer of the post: Eddie’s warm personality and insider’s knowledge of what’s going on in the neighborhood. As the real estate market has exploded in the area in the last decade, Eddie’s had a number of offers for the large storefront space he occupies but has no plans to move—which is good news for salvage junkies and those who care about the community.
One Man’s Trash [NYT/Local]
Photos by C. Zawadi Morris
This is for James Doran. You definately stand out as a crowd of one. It does not seem that you are telling the whole story because I have been dealing with Eddie for years and have never seen that side of him. Ever. Take a poll and I think you will find the same. Or maybe you do not know your effect on people or don’t communicate well because Eddie is not an aggressive guy to nice people. He has survived in that neighborhood for some time; I have seen him deflect the bad vibes from rude, aggressive or disrespectful people. Ask yourself how could such a person run you out of the store with his “retinue of paint scrapers”? Even your use of that derisive expression suggests how you might have dealt with Eddie. Does this happen to you often? Eddid is not just another con man in the reno trade. He is not a con man. And he is not in the reno trade.
Is this a recent picture and are those office chairs on wheels still there?
this is going to be an unpopular post, so sorry everybody. I too thought Eddy was great — when I was buying things from him. When I sold him two 8 foot finished paneled oak doors with antique fittings he showed a different side.
Having dealt numerous times with the lovable friendly eddy everyone describes I trusted him. So I struck a deal for the doors — either he would find me two more doors of the same size but in a different, particular style within a few months or he would pay me a certain amount of money for the two doors. I would often stop in to ask him how the hunt was going, I even used to run into him down at home depot once in a while and we would chat. But after a few months it was obvious the doors I was looking for were not going to emerge so i went in to see eddy and collect my cash. He completely flipped out, said he would give me $50 or I could go fuck myself, and then gathered his retinue of paint scrapers to run me out of his store with threats of violence. It was so weird and jeckyll and hyde like, it was very odd. I’m used to dealing with the weird commercial goings on in my neigborhood, I’ve lived in Bed Stuy for five years. But above all else the episode made me sad that even someone as seemingly friendly as Eddy is just another con man in the reno trade. So be careful, Eddy is far more than he seems.
Eddie is truly the BEST! I could go on and on about him, in fact I think I will some day. Maybe today. Actually, what I would love to do is to have a photo essay with pictures of everything I have bought from Eddie. Little tables, big tables, patio furniture, a beautiful antique painted hand fan, a jade dish, antique light fixtures, French ladies club chairs which I had reupholstered by DAS, candlesticks, all kinds of wonderful stuff. My sister who is a glass artist got all kinds of great raw materials for her art (including window frames …). I bought chandeliers, the best was two fabulous marble fireplaces in pieces which Manny Lasalle installed. Eddie sold me crystal door knobs… I could go on. One sunny gorgeous Saturday I saw this fabulous wicker chair; I planted myself in it to watch the people show for a while and then spent time talking to Eddie. Then I bought the chair. Eddie is also incredibly knowledgeable about wood (the king of doors) local tradesmen, buildings, the neighborhood; he has directed me to excellent trades people (Manny Lasalle, Omar for example). But on top of everything, Eddie is a wonderful guy who is a human being and who is fun. How many times during my renovation he talked me in off the ledge!! I would tell him some horror story, of course with great drama, and he would have me laughing in the end and I would come back the next Saturday with an update, always better. For those of you who didn’t know, Eddie is a retired NYFD Fire Marshall with a psychology degree. He uses it every day. Eddie is truly the best and I am the president of his fan club. Go there!!! An aside, his prices are unbelieveable too.
It’s called “Eddie’s Swap Shop”? Who knew?
Me too, Montrose. When I have a front door, that is.
Dangit! The secret is out, and now we’re all screwed.
Still, Eddie deserves it. He’s selling at a fair price, with an absolutely lovely way about him. And it’d be great to see a guy like him have too much business.
I have to visit Eddie.
Sounds like a great guy.
I bought a gorgeous stained glass window from Eddie at the first Brownstoner Salvage Fair. I couldn’t believe the price was as low as it was for what I was getting. I’ve checked out his store, often, and prices are extremely reasonable, especially for the city, where most salvage places charge as if everything is gold encrusted, or rare and hand carved by McKim, Mead and White, themselves. When I finally am able to replace my front door, Eddie’s will be my first stop.