Second Chance, Inc. is a Baltimore-based social enterprise that creates "green collar jobs" for displaced workers by taking apart (deconstructing) buildings that would otherwise be demolished and dumped in a landfill. We then offer the reclaimed materials and other donated items to the public at a discount in our 200,000 sq ft retail warehouse, helping fund our workforce development programs. Preserving the region’s rich architectural heritage, protecting the environment, and providing living-wage jobs to those with employment barriers is why we've been proud to be called "Second Chance" for over 16 years.
OGT was founded on the mission of preserving history. Our story started in 1995, when we discovered a huge silver plated coffee pot in a Manhattan dumpster. We pulled it out, and within a week it found a new home as a flower vase in Mary Tyler Moore’s home.
Since that coffee pot, we’ve built a network of developers, contractors and demolition crews interested in preserving history. We salvage across the US and project by project, gained experience in removing small and fine pieces such as lighting, glass, and hardware, to large and complex artifacts such as mantels, stone gargoyles, copper cupolas, carved limestone friezes, and more.
30 years since its founding, OGT is one of the largest architectural antique dealers in the US. In addition to a web store, we have three stores and two warehouses – a total of 250,000 square feet of warehouse alone. Our finds are sourced largely from pre-depression and late nineteenth century buildings preserving pieces from icons such as: The Philadelphia Civic Center, the Ellis Auditorium, the J.L. Hudson Department Store, the Flatiron Building, the New York Times Building, the Plaza Hotel, the Waldorf Astoria, and more.
Our Locations
Manhattan, NYC:
Flagship Store: 333 W 52nd St New York NY 10019
Los Angeles, CA:
1800 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90015
Scranton, PA:
Main Warehouse: 400 Gilligan Street Scranton PA 18508
300 Brook Street Scranton PA 18505
Started in 1991 by Joel & Joy Hirshberg who were trying to build a natural & non-toxic home.
We now offer more than 3,000 natural and non-toxic building products that are certified and fully tested by our staff over the past 20 years. Non-toxic flooring, finishes, cabinetry, countertops, energy and water conservation.