They have beautiful items, but I don't think that they understand how stores work. Here's my understanding: a customer has money, a store has goods. The store offers to give the customer goods in exchange for money. Not here. I called City Foundry. Asked about buying an item I'd seen there earlier in the week. Before answering any of my questions (e.g., delivery options), they asked who I was and where I worked. Because maybe they only sell to certain people? Like, not just customers with money? But specific customers with specific money? I don't know. I didn't get it. And I didn't buy it. read more

This isn't going to sound good- but this store reminded me of a bad 80's horror movie. You know, that one where the pretty girl employee is closing up and all the lights go out and then all of a sudden there is a guy with a mask and an antique shovel in front of her. Ah! I don't like horror movies, and I didn't really like this shop. Yes, it's packed with all sorts of interesting finds: metal medicine cabinets, world globes, retro styled end tables, metal baskets, bowls, other misc accessories, and dozens and dozens of hanging light fixtures. But as I wandered farther and farther into the store I just got creeped out. There is sooo much packed in there that someone could actually be hiding behind a cabinet and I'd never know it. I wandered half the store before I even saw any life from the staff- so imagine my thoughts when someone finally came out (from wherever) and asked if I needed any help. Despite her asking I really didn't feel welcomed and decided not to spend any more time in the store. Not that I would have made a purchase anyway- prices were a bit steep for my wallet. Notes: No photography allowed in the store. and you're not supposed to touch anything without the assistance of the staff. I hate rules like that. read more

This place is a pure miss. Do yourself a favor and just go right past it...you have way better options on the block. The old bag who works there is so incredibly rude! You're actually bothering her by walking in. The only decent employee is the dog who hangs around the shop. She at least has personality and the only greeting you'll get in the entire place. The prices are overly high and I know for a fact this place buys from the thrift shops in the neighborhood and resells here for a 1000% markup. Support businesses that try...not ones who do not want you there. A word of advice City Foundry. The customer experience is the next competitive battleground. ~ Jerry Gregoire read more

I love lamps. And not just in the Steve Carell-in-Anchorman kind of way, but I really do adore well-made lamps, desk and table lamps in particular. City Foundry is an antique furniture store that makes you want to explore nooks and crannies and its annex a few doors down, and you'll know it when you see it since City Foundry usually has old storage pieces, bar stools, and their brethren on the sidewalk during business hours. Not only lamps, but they also feature many other wonderful vintage pieces like metal hutches, sign-size letter blocks, old catalog filers, botanical and anatomical diagrams, and other things you may find lying around in someone's old garage or barn storage. Not as keenly organized or specific as a few other stores in the neighborhood, City Foundry is a solid shop for that unique piece in home decor and is extremely accessible to non-antique seekers. For those of you who like getting lost in stores, this should be a stop on your list. read more

After going into this place today I knew I needed to write a review. I've walked past this place for nearly 10 years and today decided to go in because I'm in the market for a vintage ceiling light. NEVER AGAIN. This place is insanely, insanely expensive. For no reason at all. I looked at three or four super simple antique glass pendant lights - I've seen identical and similar ones on ebay and etsy for between $50 and $150 - and at City Foundry the price range was $350 - $550. The woman who works there was sort of friendly but mostly hovering, like she didn't trust me to be in there alone. I didn't like her vibe. I still can't believe how expensive this place is. It's almost laughable. I believe in splurging on unique and really special things but nothing inside this place is unique or special enough (as I said earlier, you can pretty much find the exact same stuff at flea markets, on ebay, etsy, etc) to warrant the hundreds and hundreds of dollars more that they charge. read more

City Foundary is an ultra concentrated treasure trove. It's no wonder why newspapers and magazines rediscover the store every year in their write ups. It's crammed with wonderful vintage pieces and industrial parts. Many items are hidden away in the basement and stored in a giant warehouse where they also create custom furniture and lighting. Walking space is limited so don't come with small children, pets, or big totes and shoulder bags. It can be fun to leisurely peruse the collection with the generally cordial staff in tow. BUT! If you come in knowing exactly what you want, they'll really turn it on to find what you're looking for. If you're looking for basement bargains, it's best to dig through a thrift store. The inventory is curated and space is situated on a trendy expensive strip in Brooklyn. Expect the prices to match, though it's not unheard of to find some great deals. Sohrab, the owner, has run the shop for 12 years. With a background in interior design and fabrication, he has a deep appreciation for objects and materials that can be infectious. read more

I had a great time at this store - not sure why there are so many negative reviews. Yes, like the other reviewers, I was not immediately approached by the owner. So to all of those people who weren't approached, there is a simple solution - you go up to the owner and actually talk to him! I had a great conversation with the owner and told him what I wanted. I was at first a little hesitant to tell him my budget because I was afraid he would think it was too low. However, he said he could work with any budget and proceeded to show me around the entire store (including opening up both basements) to help me find two dining chairs. After much searching through what seemed like piles upon piles of furniture (all very well curated - the owner has great taste) that the owner knew his way around like the back of his hand (he kept pulling out chairs from random corners of the store/basement and let me inspect them to see if I liked them), I found the perfect chair. And to everyone who says this store is expensive, yes there are expensive items but there are some items for more cost conscious shoppers as well. I got my two solid wood hand carved dining chairs for around $300 - you may be able to find two dining chairs at West elm for that price (or a bit more) but you will also be paying for chairs made out of chipboard with a veneer that cracks very easily and that is hard to repair. I had a great experience and found this store to be filled with beautiful vintage furniture - and would recommend it without hesitation to any one of my closest friends. I hope this review helps readers see this store from a different perspective! read more

Great selection of stuff...variety is key. But HIGHLY over-priced for even small , damaged and not fully restored items... Slightly, "douche-y" owner...paranoid about...everything, I think. Seriously, this place is truly a STY and is stacked to the ceiling with all kinds of cool items.But apparently, this owner is nervous that you topple his whole store over. It is a trip and fire hazard, no doubt and he'd better keep FDNY out of there if he wants to stay in business. And unfortunately, the owner goes out of his way to make you feel unwanted or uninvited...because he is afraid someone will break something in his very unorganized store...A customer must be able to look at an inspect an item in the store somethings WITHOUT assistance or waiting for the owner. Yo bro, it's just a wooden spoon...not the original constitution...relax. Dude, get a storage unit, pull back your store inventory, organize the place a little better (think shelving) and get better insurance or something...you simply cannot be so antagonistic with your customers who want to BUY something. I've been in fine china stores that were not as fussy as this place. If your store is THAT fragile, you need to do something a little different in your store or make it appointment only. Otherwise, great selection of items , but please organize them a little better and allow easier customer access to those items...without your assistance ( which, by the way, is not always necessary) so please stop all the lecturing to grown ups. Great and interesting selection, but just not an overall good shopping experience each time I've gone there...I leave feeling irritated by the owner each time so I am not going any more..congratulations. And as I said before WAY over-priced... read more

Just walked through this store and asked a question about an item and was met with the dm rudest behavior by one of their sales people. I asked a little blond lady about a baguette tray and she was so patronizing about my questions, which I find odd since I was thinking of buying them. Sad if she's an owner, sad if she's not. read more

A perfect place to feed the ex-mad scientist-steampunk dustbowl-robot love machine-mechanical pencil drafter-curiosities prone-anatomical model explorer-metallic dust immune-monster within. But only if your inner monster is loaded with doubloons, diamonds, or daddy's credit card... mine is not, which only makes it angrier. read more

Not a store for regular people due to the high prices. I added one star because I enjoyed browsing here (the owner said "hi"), though I would never buy anything. For those that have money to burn, this would be a good place to hunt for interesting items. read more

Browsing the Atlantic Ave shops with the wife and wandered in here. Had some dough to spend but left due to the 'No Touching' sign. What a crock. Adults can't touch your old metal junk that you found for nothing and now rock with a huge margin? Get a grip. read more

Really cool stuff in here. Some interesting light fixtures, old tv's, furniture, all kinds of stuff. Kinda over-priced...he was trying to get $275 for an old bass drum worth about $150. Some cool bar stools and utility drawers that look like they were from dentists or doctors' offices. read more

This store is chock full of amazing eclectic vintage finds. One might expect that such novelty items as the stock would be significanly marked up over the handful of dollars many of them were probably purchased at junk sales and so forth. But the markups here are insane and even during a "moving sale" like they are currently having they won't budge significantly on overpriced items. For example, I had been eyeing an 18" vintage industrial fan blade there as a curiosity item to hang over my fireplace. The marked price...$295! Unsurprisingly it had been sitting there for months since I first eyed it with no takers. They offered 25% off which still put the price at $220 or so. I asked for 60% ($125), noting that similar items were going for around $75 on Etsy, but that I wanted to support a local brick and mortar. The shop owner then condescendingly proceeded to explain to me how overheads work, and when she got on the phone with the owner he wouldn't budge under $200. Needless to say I think this is a pretty poor business model to adhere to. You're trying to clear stock for a move, you have an item that isn't moving, someone offers a decent price for it that will undoubtedly bring you a profit (unless your buyers are stupid and overpaid for it to begin with), and you aren't willing to even go to 50% off. The way businesses with overheads like this are supposed to work is that you have enough reasonably-priced, moveable items in stock to cover for your overheads and have the flexibility to negotiate down and yet still make a profit on items like this fan blade that aren't moving at their markup price. read more

Sohrab (owner of City Foundry) has recovered three chairs and one couch for me. He did *excellent* work on all four jobs. The couch in particular was in horrible shape - broken, sagging, needing a total re-haul. He completely re-built it and it looks amazing. He is especially thoughtful and knowledgeable about mid-century furniture. I love the store. Yes, it's absurdly crowded and difficult to navigate. Can we please have a few stores in NYC that aren't sterile, mass-market chains? The occasional eccentric personality in this sea of cookie-cutter drones? read more

This place is literally crammed to the ceiling full of the coolest industrial-age artifacts out there. Laboratory glass, medical mannequins, and industrial lighting fixtures are plentiful. They also have a series of neat robot sculptures built from old parts, by Bennett Robot Works. If you're into the steampunk thing, it will push your buttons. That said, this place has an ego problem. The owner and staff are quite rude and orbit around you, glaring as you browse. Don't even think of inspecting anything or even taking pictures and measurements. Prices are also stratospheric, even compared to normal antique shops. Bear with the treatment to get ideas, and then try other shops, Ebay, flea markets, or rural estate sales for the same items at 1/100 of the price. Half the fun is in the hunt, anyways. read more

This fun-to-browse store has a great mix of industrial pieces, early 20th Century antiques, and period lighting.

To preface, I enjoy antiquing and learning about different eras, styles, etc and I thought I'd give the place a shot. I now understand why this place has such terrible reviews. I just moved to the area and was looking for interesting pieces for my apartment. I noticed a watering can that I potentially wanted to buy. It was priced at $175. Wanting to know the backstory to it I asked the person working why it was priced so high and he replied "do you ask why your clothes are priced so high when you buy them?" All I wanted to know was about the piece I was looking at: where it was from, date, material. Thinking he was being facetious, I directly asked him about the item and all he did it retort his initial response. My two cents to this douche: get your head out of your ass otherwise good luck surviving this world. The shop next door is awesome, go there instead. They have an interesting selection of both antiques and contemporary pieces. Oh, and they're not assholes! read more

I wandered into City Foundry one very hot day last week because I was shopping for a dresser. I had never been in the store before. The woman who was there was very informative and showed me several dressers. When I came back the next day to look at one particular dresser again, the same saleswoman remembered me and was quite helpful. I did not feel any pressure to make a purchase. Finally, I returned a third time and bought the dresser. And then the store was able to have it delivered to my home that evening for a reasonable additional charge which was great. read more

They have a nice selection of (expensive) vintage items HOWEVER the lack of very basic customer service and straight-up rudeness means I will never be returning. What's with the distrust and disdain for your customers? Dude, take a chill pill! read more

Spent thousands if dollars here and the lady always makes us feel like a huge inconvenience or implies we're causing some sort of trouble.. It was funny the first time because we thought she was just confused, but now it's as if she just doesn't want anyone in her store.. so we won't be returning. read more

So I went in there on my day off looking for a new desk. There was no staff to be found..then I turned the corner and there they were cleaning a table. No one greeted me. No one asked if I was looking for something. I walked over to lamp that I had seen in CT for $50 bucks and was amazed to see they had it priced at $500. I love it when I can find things for cheap and then realize what the real value is. I made a comment about it and the woman just said, "It's 500." Missing my whole point. Then I asked about a lamp that I have and whether or not they buy stuff because sometimes I come across cool things. The gentlemen basically had no answers and then the chick comes back and follows me to the other side of the store. Then I asked her if she knew about pricing on the floor lamp I own..just wondering the value..and she coldly says "We don't do appraisals" oh and WAIT! i forgot about how she yells, "There's no photography in the store!" When I wanted to take a picture of the beautiful lamp display. So then I walk towards the door and she literally stands there and watches me like I am a freaking thief or something. It was a horrible experience. Don't bother there are plenty of great stores on Atlantic that know how to treat your customers. read more