There’s a treasure trove hiding in this Jersey warehouse

It started with a kitchen sink. Back in 2002, Carolyn Curtin bought a Victorian house in Asbury Park and wanted to restore it with the real deal era-appropriate pieces, not the stuff from the big-box stores.

What began as a personal project turned into something much bigger. Salvage Angel, a 20,000-square-foot warehouse packed with vintage, antique, and architectural gems.

If you’ve never been, it’s tucked inside the old Canada Dry building on Ridge Avenue, and it’s basically a playground for anyone who loves old homes, cool history, or just really good design.

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We’re talking stained glass, light fixtures, clawfoot tubs, nautical gear, doors, mantels, tile, furniture and that’s just scratching the surface. There’s even a perfectly rusted five-foot anchor and a vintage “Big 6” gaming wheel, because why not?

Most of what you’ll find here is pre-1980, and Carolyn and her partner-in-salvage, Brett Holloway, spend their time rescuing pieces from buildings that are otherwise headed for demolition. They recently salvaged treasures from a church in Ocean County and a mansion in northern Monmouth.

What makes this place special (besides the fact that the selection is freaking huge!!) is
how much love went into the collection.

Carolyn sees herself as a foster parent to these old pieces, waiting to get them into their next forever home. She loves the big, heavy, chipped-up stuff most of all. And her finds have even made it to Hollywood, with appearances in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Sopranos prequel, and a Bruce Springsteen video.

So if you’re restoring a home, designing a space, or just love a good wander, Salvage Angel is worth a visit. But just be warned..you’re gonna need a bigger truck.

Opinions expressed in the post above are those of New Jersey 101.5 talk show host Judi Franco only.

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