Kerri T.
Yelp
She: This place is such a gem, and Sally the slightly smelly salvage dog makes it a perfect place to get lost in, if you have the time. Black Dog Salvage is a massive warehouse of reclaimed fixtures, windows, doors, metal railings, claw-foot tubs, old signs, and various and sundry other treasures collected regionally. The warehouse boasts two floors, and a small design-oriented area demonstrating how one might re-purpose a host of chairs, tables, lamps, and vintage memorabilia to create a one-of-a-kind living space. In addition to the huge indoor warehouse, the metal yard is ripe with piles of metal railings, gates, frames, fountains, and more.
The lobby boasts a host of salvage directories, design books, and idea books, as well as the beloved black dog. Clearly the proprietors love dogs: if you drop off an SPCA food donation you get 25% off your total purchase. Check out their ebay store, or drop in and get lost in the rows of windows and fixtures. Sit in a claw foot tub or three. Get inspired to keep hitting those flea markets and estate sales.
This is THE go-to spot in the Roanoke region if you've got a penchant for authenticism, an eye for design, and an old house to restore.
I love you, Black Dog Salvage.
Him: When browsing the warehouse of salvage, you find a showroom of sorts of newly manufactured furniture made up, no doubt, of the scraps that BDS got inexpensively and is trying to reincorporate into contemporaryish housewares. This is not the company's strongest suit; it would serve them better to keep space for their great collections of genuine architectural salvage. For the builder/remodeler/designer who is seeking authentic artifacts with which to complete a project, these home made pieces are of no value. To me, the labyrinthine halls of BDS are a gem of Roanoke and I remember feeling that, although I'd not had coffee that morning, I was so excited by what was behind every corner that I had to make an effort to calm myself. So many ideas flow in as one sees and touches these old, higher quality remnants of older buildings.
The service, knowledge and welcoming personalities of the folks who run BDS made the experience memorable. I highly recommend a long morning or afternoon spent wandering their collections.