Two of the quirkiest businesses I’ve found in Tucson reside on East Colombia Street. First, there’s Creative Machines, a Willy Wonka-esque factory that churns out interactive public art and museum exhibits.
Then, there’s Vintage Appliances. I passed by and couldn’t help, but pause, park, and take an Instagram photo of what I thought was some sort of appliance graveyard. However, Rich Allen, soon set me straight and gave me an imprompteu tour.
- Mariana Dale and her trusty iPhone.
- Top, This was the scene that initially caused me to stop. Most of these units are used for parts to repair other appliances. Bottom Left: One of the retro style stoves in the show room. Bottom Right, A vintage Frigedaire is almost done being restored and would be shipped to England.
Allen’s shop restores and repairs worn but classic appliances, mainly fridges and stoves. When I stopped by, they were working on an adorable Frigedaire that would be shipped to a doctor in England.
But they also sell lines of new-made-to-look old appliances that come in a a rainbow of colors from candy apple red to sunshine-y yellow.
If you’re ready to redecorate or just a fridge fanatic, Vintage Appliances makes for an interesting stop.
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 3, 2012.
I will have to check this one out! I had no idea this place exexted and I live in Tucson since 1971 ! Thanks for bringing this Tucson Gem out in th eopen 🙂 Grrreat Job!
It’s called Spell Check. Use it.
I love old appliances, and think that getting them repaired is a much better option than buying a new one. Having a classic looking kitchen is a huge selling point for me, and the maintenance costs really are not that much compared with buying a whole new unit. Thanks so much for letting me know about this place, I’ll definitely have to check it out, and see what I can get repaired, and put into my kitchen at home. http://www.5cornersappliance.com
It would be a lot of fun to get an old over or something and fix it up. I was reading on http://www.giddensservices.ca/en/appliance-parts.html about how you can buy old parts to go in the appliances you pick up. I can imagine that would be one of the hardest parts, to find all the old parts to put in.
Can someone tell me the location of this place? I have tried finding an address and nothing comes up.
Can someone give me an address or cross streets to this location? I have tried looking foe an address with mo luck.