This place has a lot of things for older houses and apartments. Not everything in here is a deal. Also dont have high expectation for getting assistance up in here. Its a great idea but only average in the delivery. read more

Definitely a thrifters heaven. Drove an hour to this store and was not disappointed. Will definitely be back to buy more. They have EVERYTHING here. read more

Simply the best. I go there every chance I can. Every time its an adventure. The last time i was there I bought a Pottery Barn dining table. THe bummer is that things dont last long there. If you hesitate someone else wont. Well worth the drive out to Berkeley read more

Good finds for great prices, good to come and find things to build/repair, has bike parts, doors, furniture and more read more

Urban Ore - Heres some vintage photos, photo albums and etc. - Home & Garden Near Me - Berkeley, California

One of a kind place. Think of a thrift store, crossed with a curated junk yard the size of a football field, guarded by a flying pink pig There were supposed to be a bunch of photos here, but with updates to software, that's not working read more

I used to love Urban Ore and am sad to hear that they might be closing. I've heard pretty much great things about their staff. It does bother me to hear that some employees use the business for their own businesses. There is a rumor that the clothing person has their own shop. As a customer I find that to be a conflicting business model. No wonder the business is having trouble!! concerned customer, Jan read more

You can find things here that are impossible or expensive anywhere else. We have purchased vintage doors, vintage hardware, spare tile, furniture, kids toys and more. We also donate extra stuff whenever we can. It really is a treasure hunt. We got a brand new Rejuvenation light for only $60!! read more

An unbelievable calf assembly of salvage parts and orphaned vintage items Some very interesting things some very cool things if you're an artist and wanna cobble something together Everything is unique and you won't see it elsewhere Prices are fair , a bit on the high side, but for the most part fair A fun place to go if you're into Thrifting repurposing and doing found object art read more

Super friendly and professional they came and picked up some furniture we needed removed. I'd highly recommend working with urban Ore. read more

I love shopping here and will always come here first before looking elsewhere for stuff i need. Such a wide selection and it's always fun to wander even if you're not looking for anything in particular. The workers here are always super helpful and nice, and i hope their unionization efforts are successful in achieving the working conditions they deserve. I hope management and owners can stop union busting and bargain with workers in good faith! read more

Urban Ore - Home & Garden Near Me - Berkeley, California

I would drive from Oakdale California to urban or in Berkeley maybe 10 times because the of the outstanding merchandise and variety it was a thrill for me to see it. Unfortunately, I would buy more than I could hardly fill my car or truck with. It was a great experience. read more

The store has very interesting pieces and I love that they recycle many things that are "great for the right house" just "not my house". We changed some great door knobs that work but don't necessarily fit our house as well as beautiful vintage hanging chandeliers. They are very nice, too. read more

Crazy cool spot. They have a little bit of everything... lots of cool finds... if you are looking for something new, don't come here. read more

Such a cool place to dig for treasure. A wide variety of used items: furniture, home goods, media, clothing, outdoor items, etc. I didn't find anything this visit, but I'd gladly return to dig again. Reasonable prices. Small and busy private parking lot. read more

I try to go here once a week. Sometimes the stuff is a great price! Sometimes not so much. It's an exercise in creative thinking in and of itself. I REALLY like that it's a union shop, and I REALLY hope the owners see sense and bargain with the union in good faith.( I also wish the closed off tool section was more accessible and visible, but that's minor) read more

See all

(Customer experience during Covid-19 Pandemic) I love this place. We've made some good finds here. Most recently, we found a door to replace the one leading to our backyard. After the original door pretty much rotted out, we put up a makeshift door of OSB board. Finding the door took a while - three years awhile - but this one presented itself. A couple of guys loaded the door into the back of our old truck. We should have realised how heavy it was when the truck rode really well on the way home. Getting it down two flights to the backyard was another story. We removed the creative window grate then realised that it was double-paned. Talk about top heavy! Covid protocols are in place. Staff is friendly and efficient. Transaction was smooth and pleasant. Takeaways: Dress warm, it's chilly inside. read more

See all

Absolutely love this place! The staff is knowledgeable and you never know what treasures you'll find. I live in an old Berkeley house and this place is perfect if you need to find antique replacement parts like a mortise lock, pocket door handle, or any kind of old hardware. Or a replacement bathroom sink! Or cool furniture! Just awesome! read more

See all

Not worth it at all. Glorified trash heap. Anything cool you find is not for sale. Items not priced take "3-5 days" to get priced, according to signage. Most items are broken or wildly over priced. Example: Film camera without working flash and broken battery compartment was $5. Broken doors rotting from the inside out were hundreds of dollars. Furniture was twice the price you could find second hand on facebook marketplace from much nicer people... Speaking of, every employee was incredibly rude when asked simple questions like asking for assistance in a specific section. Sorry I want to spend money and support your business! The only thing I would recommend is the adorable elderly cat in the back. Would not return and would not recommend read more

I had the best time just browsing around this awesome spot. There's so much to see! If you're looking for salvaged doors, this is your store. They also have a ton of amazing furniture. I grabbed some books and vintage glassware. Couldn't be happier. read more

Urban Ore - So much fun! - Home & Garden Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been going to Urban Ore since the 90s. Whenever I got to a point in a project, where I needed something, the first place I thought of was Urban Ore. The best part about Urban Ore is the staff. The employees run an amazing shop. They know where everything is, and are happy to show you where it is. That's why it's difficult for me to understand why the owners of Urban Ore refuse to bargain in good faith with the Union. Get to the table, bargain a contract to TA, and put it to the membership for a vote. read more

Love this place so much! Growing up in the Berkeley community and coming of age through the 90s, Urban Ore is a big part of the rare Berkeley culture I love and revere, much of which--Wall Berlin, Berkeley Square, and now even People's Park, has vanished! Not just an ordinary salvage yard, they've got everything from the practical to the outrageous. We've come here to shop their huge collection of doors, or to browse for vintage furniture and decorations. They've almost always got something worth seeing that's a total surprise as well! Oh, and a lot of what makes this a special Berkeley landmark is the workers themselves who have recently unionized with the IWW, the same union as three of the Berkeley Peet's Coffees, City Lights Books in San Francisco, etc. Definitely check them out if you're nearby! read more

Urban Ore - Amazing chair at Urban Ore, Berkeley - Home & Garden Near Me - Berkeley, California

Urban Ore is an eco-friendly salvage center that feels more like a home improvement toy store for adults. They sell everything from bathtubs to sinks, windows to doors, tiles to mirrors, lumber to furniture...the list goes on and on. It's a friendly and fun place to explore. The inventory is donation-based, so it's always changing.  I've been coming here to shop for years and the pricing used to be phenomenal. Unfortunately, over the past year, the prices have skyrocketed. Furniture is priced 3x that of Ikea. FB Marketplace and CL have better deals now. The doors, windows, and building supplies are similar to Home Depot prices. It's a bummer, as this used to be the place to score bargain HomeGoods, and build new stuff with recycled. It feels like they have shifted into a hand-select thrift store now :/ I'll still keep coming back as it's great to walk around and get inspired by all the unique pieces of history. I just won't be buying $400 old dressers that need refurbishing. read more

See all

This place has some really cool stuff. Building materials, antiques appliances, etc.. cool vintage stuff, even clothing staff has always been friendly and there's a cute little cat running around the place too that loves to be pet. read more

5 stars for the Urban Ore Workers, IWW IU 670! 0 stars for the owners refusing to bargain in good faith and for union busting. read more

I absolutely love this place! If you like thrifting and scouring for amazing items? This is the place for you. I purchased a standing desk for $45- which is perfect and is less than half the price of a new one. However, you have to take your time and look. My wife and I spent 4 hours here without even realizing. Prices can be a bit higher than other thrifting/ liquidation places, but overall a fun and exciting experience. Be sure to look up, there is always something funky just above your head! read more

See all

I used to visit here in my lunch hours because I worked close by. I found a glass lampshade that fit a reading lamp which I had been unsuccessful in locating until I came here. read more

Such a cool place! Urban Ore is essentially a huge, organized junkyard/ thrift store where you can buy random essentials for affordable prices. They have anything you can imagine from doors, couches, cups, clothing, TOILETS - so much!! I usually go just to walk around and browse in case there's any cool stuff. A cool, casual place to check out w friends! read more

See all

I have loved going here for a few years and was going to pop in today when I saw a protest organized by their workers. After talking with a very nice man who worked there I learned of the management issues and other disheartening circumstances that had prompted their protest. After talking with a few of the employees, all of whom were delightful, i have decided to stop going there until the changes requested by the staff are executed in good faith. I look forward to returning when a more equitable contract has been negotiated on the employees behalf. read more

They have literally everything. I took stars off because everything was overpriced for the condition they were in. It was worth stopping by for the experience thpugh. read more

See all

Smells weird in there. That was my first impression. I was in Richmond doing some shopping with a colleague and she told me about this store, we look a Lyft and went there, as it was on our way back to San Jose, so it was worth a stop. To me, it seems like a huge covered flea market with an exterior full of toilets, bathtubs and bidets of all colors. If i owned a house and wanted to decorate it with a 70s flair, i will definitively go there and get that yellow or pink bathtub (not sure about a second hand toilet, though!). However, as a normal user trying to find something in the clothing or shoes section, I did not find anything noticeable. Actually, the interior kind of put me off with that 'cemetery smell' and the creepy figures everywhere. I would not recommend this place as thrift store but given the amount of second hand pieces for homes such as doors of all kinds and qualities, furniture, windows, bathroom accessories, etc, Urban Ore seems a paradise for the DIY home makers. read more

See all

I've been inside and know where I will be going for doors for my 100 year old home when I get to that point, I usually go there to drop stuff off. I had collected many odd mechanical items over the years that I no longer needed. Stuff that would not be worth my time selling. Goodwill wouldn't want the stuff either. The gladly took everything. I went just last week to drop off a bunch of scrap metal items. I'd rather have them make few bucks from the metal than add things to the landfill. read more

Great place to find random Knick knacks and cool second hand stuff ....sometimes a little overpriced ...but for furniture this place rules !! read more

I was introduced to Urban Ore about a year ago and I have been a fan ever since. The space is massive, the selection is impressive, the staff is fantastic, and it all around is a really good experience to shop there. It's a staple of the community for a reason. I think that has made it all the more disappointing to hear about how management is stonewalling negotiations with the workers of Urban Ore. As a union member and union representative who has sat through numerous bargaining sessions and waged many just battles against terrible employers, management's public anti-union propaganda has been extremely disappointing. Cut to the chase, bargain in good faith, and understand that the workers are just trying to make their jobs more sustainable and Urban Ore a better organization. Also, please spare me the cookie-cutter response that you've given other reviewers; your time is best spent bargaining--ideally in good faith. I really do hope that you and the workers can come to a fair and just contract soon because I would hate to have to boycott such a lovely place. read more

Hot tip! Great place for your Halloween costumes if you come early enough. It's also a fun place to browse around and reminisce down Memory Lane. We have also saw great finds for building needs. Everything is well organized and the staff is very friendly. A Berkeley icon! read more

The spirit of 80s Berkeley lives on! Urban Ore is carrying the legacy of environmental activists into the 2020s. I'm in the process of decorating my new apartment and was recommended Urban Ore for unique, eco-friendly finds. For COVID safety purposes, staff and patrons must wear masks. The size of this warehouse is staggering-- it's hard to imagine that everything here has been accumulating for decades. Plenty of vintage and contemporary pieces for the pickiest of hipsters. A little dusty, but that's part of the charm, right? The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Anything you can think of, Urban Ore will have it. Legit. Wall art? Cabinets? Clothing? Kitchenware? It's all there. Obscure metal parts? Clasps? Lighting? They have that, too. Had we not been in a time crunch, we probably would've been meandering for hours. I finally came away with a vintage hexagonal Starbucks mug. Death by options! Prices for small items were on par with typical thrift shops ($1-10), larger pieces like furniture were in the hundreds but nothing obscene. I definitely need more time to absorb everything Urban Ore has to offer. read more

A maze of random things, the occasional gem or two. See what spontaneity brings as you wander your way through. The selection seems to never end, doors, fabric, clothes, power tools. A surprise around every bend, wires, ribbon, thread on spools. This would be a solid five star, except everything is too expensive. The priciest thrift I've been to so far, such a shame, since it's so extensive. read more

Urban Ore - Just a small tidbit of the massive selection. - Home & Garden Near Me - Berkeley, California

I haven't been here in a while but I got all my antique light fixtures and antique door knobs from here. They have a good selection but the store smells of cat urine unless they have remodeled it recently read more

If you like old things, and goiing through old stuff, this may be the place for you! It is kinda like a scavenger hunt--you may or may not find what you are looking for. It might be a good idea to take a list  of what you are looking for--unless you don't mind getting lost for hours. I went in looking for wide-mouth quart canning jars. I found 2 wide mouth and 4 regualar quart canning jars for a dollar each--they can be difficult to find these days. In the back of my mind, I was looking for a way of dealing with mail and paperwork. I found something made out of metal with three levels for holding business papers for $8. Another thought I had was to see if I could find some LP vinyl records for my teenage grand daughter. Well, they had a large number of records, but I easily gave up on that idea because there was no order.  However, the price was right--only $1 each. So, for someone who has a lot of time and patience, that could be a goldmine. It makes me happy that there are still places that one can take stuff and keep it out of the landfill. read more

See all

Urban Ore is one of my longtime favorites. I was here several times a week, every week, for over a year during the remodeling of my 1870s cottage in San Francisco. This is the place to go to find authentic. Hardware, furnishings, plates, plumbing, electrical fittings and lamps, and so much more. The ravages of the pandemic have definitely taken their toll on the variety and depth of choices currently available. Don't take me wrong, this is absolutely an essential place to visit, especially with the implosion of Omega Salvage. They also have used books, audio and video equipment, more modern tables and shares and cabinets and even beds. Now that I think about it, I believe they even have a selection of used clothing. It might take you a little bit of time to find it, but there's something wonderful waiting for you here. read more

Urban Ore is well loved by the community, thanks to the hardworking employees who foster a great place to visit. Without them, it just simply isn't Urban Ore. Therefore I proudly support and stand with the union. I kindly call on the owners of Urban Ore to bargain IN GOOD FAITH (: with the Urban Ore workers. I look forward to visiting the wonderful workers there soon! read more