I Found the Coolest Vintage Building Sign Letters…for FREE!
I love when the universe conspires to put something in my path that quickens my heart rate–like these vintage building sign letters I got for free today!
(Yes, I said free).
I had just left a horrible doctor’s appointment (have you ever had a tube inserted up your nose and down your esophagus?? Um….it’s not fun….).
Around the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC area, traffic is a nightmare, especially during the early afternoon/rush-hour.
I was on I-495 and bad traffic forced me to take a local road. May as well stop by my favorite organic store to pick up some of my favorite tea, since my alternate route would lead me right past there.
But what do my eyes see as I park my van??
Some folks removing these vintage building sign letters from an old Chinese food buffet restaurant that has been out of business for months!
Without hesitation, I excited walked over to the very-little-English speaking new restaurant owners, anxiously wanting to know what they were going to do with the old building sign letters.
ME: [gesturing towards the trash bin] “Are you going to throw them in the trash??”
THEM: “Huh? Oh….no.”
ME: [Excited smile, hands grasping my chest] “Oh! I want them! I want all! [insert arm waving] Can I have some? I will pay for them.”
THEM: [Giggles] “How many you want? Which ones you want?”
ME: [Eager] “Can I have 3??”
THEM: “Ok, 3.”
I was willing to pay for them because I know how much letters like this cost! You’ve been to those vintage stores that sell vintage building sign letters like this for at least $50 or more each.
At least.
But the fact that they were willing to give some to me–swoon……They were fabulous!
I stood there thinking quickly about what I could spell out with these awesome letters before they changed their minds.
I was hoping for a D…I…Y, but unfortunately, there weren’t any “D”s and there were no “S”s “Serena” either.
Nope…Not “T” “D” for Thrift Diving, either.
But….they had an “A” for Appiah, my last name!
That’ll work.
Here in the Appiah household, two of my sons and my husband’s name all begin with “K” so of course, I asked for that!
I eagerly waited as they removed the “K.”
I got excited for a moment when I saw the outline of an “S” but apparently, that “S” was from an older sign from a previous business many years ago.
Darnnit!
Beggers can’t be choosers, though, and I was soooo thankful they were allowing me to take home the letters that I got!
The only thing one of the owner wanted was to remove the stickers on the sides which had some numbers on them.
I’m assuming these were similar to SKU numbers or something.
After she removed them, she handed them over to me.
I stacked those babies in the back of my van very carefully so I didn’t crack the plastic, thankful for the detour I took today. (You’ll notice that the covers are red plastic and the backings are metal).
Oh–and the coolest thing they allowed me to take was this ampersand!
There were small lights in them, but it looks like the writing was cut in order to remove them.
I’ll likely create my own lights inside.
Shouldn’t be a problem.
Gleefully, I drove away excited at their generosity. They totally didn’t have to allow some random stranger like me to walk up and ask for old vintage letters from the building that is soon to become their new Korean BBQ restaurant! But they did, and I was so happy about it!
And just to give you some perspective of how tall these vintage building sign letters are, I asked my middle son to stand next to them. 🙂
They nearly come up to his shoulder!!
The big question now is, “What are you going to do with them, Serena?”
I’m thinking of putting them in hubby’s office. Since he’s technically “K” and A”….I mean, it makes sense.
But I may keep the ampersand to myself and find a place to hang it and light it up in my garage.
….Perhaps when I remove my DIY wall-mounted Christmas tree after the holidays! 🙂
OMG, wasn’t that the best (FREE!!!!) discovery today??
Finds that good rarely happen on a random Monday outside of a Korean restaurant. HA!
Sometimes the universe conspires to deliver you a bit of good luck on a day when you can really use it. 🙂
Have you ever had a great discovery where you got something for free that made your heart race a little faster?
Let me know in the comments section! 🙂
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What a fab find – it was your reward for being a good patient. lol You tickle me – sometimes I’m brave and walk into a situation like the letters but mostly I’m shy and just stand there and drool. I did want to share a “cheap” find I recently came across. A local thrift shop works with the homeless people in our area. I donate to them because I know where their proceeds go. So, I stopped in some time back and found a gorgeous floor cloth for $15.00. My heart went pitty-pat so loud I thought everyone must have heard it. It adorns my breakfast area and is a joy to see each day. Mercy I do love such finds.
How do I include a pic?
Love the red letters and it was so nice of them to give them to you free. Merry Christmas to you and your family
I really enjoyed reading about this!
Hi Serena, sorry for your crappy day at the doctors. I have never had that test done but I have had many others.
My most recent find was a lady who told me to come to her place (a ginormous garage) to look at bins of fabric. Well she had enough bins to easily fill a store. Her husband bid on a boxcar lot of an elderly ladies quilting fabric. I walked away with 39 lbs of fabric for $20! It was awesome. I’m a crafter so it felt like Christmas.
Yep, I, too, had the tube up the nose and down the throat, but didn’t have any fun surprises afterwards–just the bill…
Oh hey, the question is, did anyone recognize you from your commercial? The perks of being a star, dahling!
Great find, woo-hoo for the DMV!!
I’ve found wonderful free treasures, but will always rue the day I couldn’t get a free Eastlake china cabinet since my car was too small. The one that got away…that, and a Hoosier cabinet.
Keep thriftin’, you’re fabulous, Serena! Merry Christmas (I’m watching “Elf” for the 20th time…)
I’ve gotten so many things off the side of the road that people have sent texts to tell me where to go to find them! The best was a child size hutch, complete with sticker inside the doors that said Karma Chameleon and Duran Duran!! I added bun feet, got special paint for the Formica top,painted it all and love it!! It fits a small space and my little tv fits perfectly. Best score!!
Pretty cool! Most of the things that we own were either given to me directly or indirectly from management placing the belongings of a recently passed neighbor out beside the garbage. They do not do this any more. I got a legit tapestry of the Last Supper that was made in Italy. Still had the receipt in the bag with it. It was $3,000. I still have it and I plan on getting it professionally stretched and frame. ?
Have a wonderful Christmas.
I would go crazy for that find! Always wanted letters for my entrance way. Great letters!! My best find? An old friend that finds the most incredible items and i were trading “find” stories. She asked what was one thing I have yet to find and i immediately answered…. an old church pew. She mentioned she knew of a church that was being demolished and they might have some. Long story short…. I got the phone number, drove 3 hours to get there and got my church pew!! 100+ years old. As I was packing up the van I noticed 2 stained glass windows and you bet I got them too!! Score!! I re-finshed the pew and have the smaller stained glass hanging above my front door in a window that lets the light go through. One day I want to build a giant lightbox in my dining Room wall to light up the second window
I could hardly restrain myself from scrolling to the end to see which letters you took. Wow, great find!
I guess the find that had the most impact on how I furnished the house was the Danish Modern buffet found in the saddest half empty dark thrift store. I swear there was a sunbeam shining on it and I heard a chorus singing. Other than give it a good cleaning it didn’t need any help and remains something that fills my eye.
But the most miraculous discovery was the 1950s bedroom set. I really wanted to completely fill that wall so there was no floor space to collect clutter and had given up hope of finding something nice and cheap that would fit. Then there it was. On sale for half price and fit with an inch to spare. It was at the thrift closest to my house so the 3 trips to get it home were short ones!
MANY more wonderful finds. I love thrift stores!
Happy for you Serena! You amaze me though, just back with family from Costa Rica, going to unpleasant appt. next day and then out doing what you do best! I go on a weekend trip, driving distance from home and takes me a day or part of to catch up a little! Those must have been meant for you to have! I enjoy and look forward to your blogs!