by Rynski on Jun.30, 2009, under Rynski's Blogski, art, notable folks
Gerson’s: The best little ‘junkyard’ in Tucson
Anyone who takes a quick gander at Gerson’s, on the corner of South Park Avenue and East 29th Street, may think it’s just a sprawling yard full of junk.
Gerson's at a glance
But take a closer look and you’ll find the place is stocked with infinite treasures.
And please don’t let it hear you call it a junkyard. That’s politically incorrect and may offend the pieces that went to great lengths to be known as “used building materials.”
Kate and her new shed door
I was first turned on to Gerson’s from my friend Kate Fox, an interior designer and the same woman who insisted I needed a leopard print ceiling.
She recently bought the cutest door to cordon off her shed so the dust stops blowing into her washing machine area (that really puts a damper on clean white sheets).
Gerson’s has much more than doors.
My main fascination with the place has been as bastion of creative pieces I use in my art. More than once — and from complete strangers — I’ve been told I look like the proverbial kid in a candy store. (Full disclosure: they also sell my art in their office.)
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- Gerson’s at a glance
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- Kate and her new shed door
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- Co-owner Jim O’Grady (left) with Donald Turner and Kate scouring for my treasures in the background
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- Anna O’Grady, Jim’s daughter, works the office
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- Employee David Rodriguez hauls some of my latest finds to the front
The fun folks who own and run the place simply add to the fully amusing experience.
Co-owner Jim O'Grady (left) with Donald Turner and Kate scouring for my treasures in the background
Anna O'Grady, Jim's daughter, works the office
Employee David Rodriguez hauls some of my latest finds to the front
Do you love it as much as I do?
What’s the best deal you got there?
Did you buy a toilet lid?
Where else do you shop for used materials and supplies?
13 Comments for this entry
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Artist’s Sketchbook: How to make art out of junk - Rynski’s Blogski
July 13th, 2009 on 6:58 am[...] junk. Visit your local salvage yard, such as Gerson’s Used Building Materials, or scout for random debris in washes, alleys, riverbeds and on the side of Ajo Way. Scrape and [...]
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June 30th, 2009 on 8:51 am
Mornin’ Rynski! Gersons’ is just down the street from where I work, lots of quirky stuff. Pretty handy when our plumbing goes screwy too! Some of your pics didn’t come thru!? Have to keep my eye out for your art next visit.
June 30th, 2009 on 8:58 am
Mornin’ RadMax -
Glad you, too, have found joy — and plumbing supplies — with Gerson’s. Which pix are messed up? Don’t know if I know how, but I can try to fix them perhaps. Nice avatar!! btw.
June 30th, 2009 on 9:05 am
Top 2, bottom 3- Can you see that dinky little thing? BTW-Thanx!
June 30th, 2009 on 9:09 am
There they are.
June 30th, 2009 on 9:17 am
So here’s the deal on the photos and why they didn’t show. I set up a GALLERY of some pix, while others I wanted as stand alone. The GALLERY sucks all photos into it even when you don’t want them as part of the gallery and, when you delete them from the gallery they delete from the post and just show a box on some systems.
So, please forgive the duplication of some with LONG CAPTIONS in the gallery and as stand alones. As long as you get the smiling people photos, you’re good.
If any Word Press experts can inform me how to keep other photos out of the gallery in a post, I would be most grateful.
Thanks for heads up, RadMax. All this posting and reposting has made me hungry. Time for bread and cheese.
June 30th, 2009 on 10:42 am
The link to gersons.net doesn’t work, but I’m going to try to find it and check it out – thanks
June 30th, 2009 on 10:49 am
OK, fixed the link. Thanks for pointing it out. Whew, this post is just crying for me to keep editing it.
June 30th, 2009 on 10:51 am
Cool! Never been there. I usually do yard sales to try and find unique stuff.
Fred Sanford would be envious.
June 30th, 2009 on 10:56 am
lol. I could eat cheese and crackers every day.
I made apple cinnamon whole grain muffins this morning. They’re yummy with a little whipped cream cheese.
Happy munching!
June 30th, 2009 on 10:57 am
(Ryn-
Tried to reply to your food comment, but reply didn’t work. Sorry for any confusion)
June 30th, 2009 on 2:02 pm
I go to Gersons to salve my obsession with antique Stanley half-surface hinges (one leaf is decorative and screws to the face of the door rather than being mortised into the door edge like a standard hinge). They’re pretty common in the older houses downtown and around the U. I like the way they look with the craftsaman style detailing in the old bungalows, plus I find it easier to hang a door with them.
By the way, the correct term for hinges is “butts”, but I don’t use it except with hardware people as it usually gets me strange looks.
June 30th, 2009 on 4:21 pm
Korey-
Hello!
Lol….butts are good. lol
It’s interesting to hear all the responses, and why people go there.
July 1st, 2009 on 1:24 am
Hey azmouse,
Yes, butts can be good, very good!