Film Biz Recycling in Brooklyn, NY

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Telephone:	+1 347-384-2336
Website:	www.filmbizrecycling.org
Address:	540 President St Basement, Brooklyn, NY, 11215 b/t 3rd Ave & 4th Ave Gowanus
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	560 ftUnion Street (R) 0.3 miUnion Street 0.3 miThird Street
Categories:	Thrift Stores Art Supplies Furniture Stores

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Accepts Credit Cards	Yes
Parking	Street
Bike Parking	Yes

Wheelchair Accessible	No
Dogs Allowed	Yes

Today

Today	–
Local time (Brooklyn)	9:47 AM Thursday, November 28, 2024

Business hours

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Description

Specialties

Film Biz Recycling is a not-for-profit established to help the entertainment industry in New York City address the triple bottom line. (people, profit and planet)

This green business is all about keeping items of value out of the landfills and into the hands of a loving home at a price that suits any budget! We love to haggle. Not everything is priced, but it’s all negotiable.

Since May of 2008, over 120 tons of building materials, set dressing, and wardrobe have been diverted from landfills into the hands of local arts organizations, schools, and other not-for-profit reuse centers.

Film Biz Recycling retains a small and unique hand-selected array of items for a boutique which sells and rents to prop stylists, set decorators, eco-interior designers and individuals with a desire to surround themselves with low-impact beauty.

History

Established in 2008.

It’s founder, Eva Radke, was in film and commercial production for 15 years in the art department and filled way too many dumpsters with beautiful and useful items.

Determined to use her powers of problem solving for good and not evil, she founded Film Biz Recycling to get the conversation started, bring the issue to light and make film making a source of, not just media, but positive change.

Meet the Business Owner

Eva R.

Business Owner

This major babe and super genius doesn’t mince words or metaphors. The only thing she does not tolerate is intolerance. A sucker for a good joke, make an decent offer on the creepy clown collection (or whatever) at Film Biz Recycling and it’s yours.

Running a prop boutique and revolutionizing the film indisutry world-wide is fun and all, but once the film industry reaches zero-waste, she’s moving to Costa Rica to sell sandwiches to surfers on the beach… and taking her rock star son with her.

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20 reviews of Film Biz Recycling

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Caitlin C.

Place rating: 5
New York, NY

RIP to a true gem of New York. You could while away a really amusing afternoon here, perusing the offerings and trying to guess the origins of the wide and random assortment. A great spot for finding unique gifts, too.

Sally W.

Place rating: 3
New York, NY

Poo. Film Biz Recycling will no longer be accepting donations after ⁴⁄₃₀ and they will be liquidating and vacating their space by ⁶⁄₂₀. They are going to close forever. No more fun times?! It was fun playing with the stuff inside. Too bad.

Rich W.

Place rating: 4
Queens, NY

OH NO, they are closing their doors on June 20^th!
They stopped accepting anymore donations and will liquidating.
Where will I go to rent a ventage 1960 refrigrator for my 60’s pool party?
Or a real typwriter? Or a 8-track tape player?
Goodbye Film Biz Recycling.
:(

Mr F G And Ms M S.

Place rating: 4
Flushing, NY

This place is pretty cool & unique. Too bad they are going to close for good by the end of June. They have stuff like old CDs, books, vintage clothings, furniture, taxidermy, empty wine bottles, etc. Some of the stuff here is not for sale. Stuff like old fridge, vending machine, medical tools are rentals only. The prices here seems to be decent. The place is in the basement, a bit dark at some part of the store.
If you like vintage unique stuff, this place is definitely worth stopping by.

Brendan M.

Place rating: 3
Brooklyn, NY

Don’t get me wrong, this place is cool and unique, but it seems like 80% of the stuff here you could find in one of the dozens of other flea market type stores in BK. Another 20% was actual props, etc. I really liked the bin of fake/dismembered body parts, and I seriously considered renting a fake gravestone.
Overall it’s pretty cool but I expected more misc movie props and less crappy/overpriced furniture and chachkis. If this was just a regular storefront and had a regular name, would it be as cool?

Billy D.

Place rating: 4
Madison, WI

Eclectic is a heavy understatement for film biz.
Filming a movie — in a hospital? in a spaceship? with a lie detector? at a graveyard? during an elementary school class? during the 80’s? but teleported to the 1800’s? Yeah sure, you can rent some equipment & props for that.
Need some telephones from the rotary age through the 2000’s? Creepy stuffed things? Large lit/unlit signs? Electronics? Severed limbs? Books? Furniture? Sodium lamps?
Make sure you figure out the convoluted directions to this place before going.

Reina C.

Place rating: 5
Anaheim, CA

I loved the section with books and school supplies where all of you have to pay is a small donation!

Ming T.

Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY

I never knew a place like this existed. My friend was the one who introduced me to this place. This is a cool place. To think all these items were in the same room as all the movie stars… star struck? Kind of…
I only wished I had some money to purchase these items and a big house to stuff all these items in.
And yes, this store is difficult to find. Luckily, my friend brought me here.

Laura I.

Place rating: 5
Sunnyside, NY

I drag my boyfriend here and browse all the things I wish we could fit in the apartment. I love places like this and this is top of the list!

Leo L.

Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY

Cool place to shop for unique items and props.
This store is a bit difficult to find, the entrance is a bit hidden, the store is pretty big but the layout is a bit confusing. All items are organized by category but still I felt confused lol sort of like going through a maze.
You can find a lot of cool stuff at this store, stuff you didn’t think you wanted until u saw it and decided it’s something you need in your life lol.
The prices are ok, you can find things ranging from all different prices.
The staff are mostly not existent you sort of feel like your all alone in the store, you might have to look for someone and ask for help if needed.
Cool place to visit and shop.

Nick K.

Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA

This is a really nice place that takes consignment shopping to a new level.
It’s hidden behind a gate, down a hill, through a hallway and around a corner. If you make it this far, you will find a magical warehouse full of used film and TV junk.
Furniture, housewares, old electronics, picture frames, clothes — the normal thrift store stuff, but a little quirkier. You’ll also find some bizarre stuff like pews, giant plastic letters and tombstones hidden in the crowded corners.
The prices are reasonable ($ 50 for a huge mirror, $ 10 for a couch pillow, $ 2 for a vase) and Unilocal offers a check-in special of 10% off.

Alice E.

Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY

If furnishing a new apartment, working on a low budget film or wanting a good 80’s jumpsuit, this is the place to go! A real variety of stuff from costumes to props to really amazing couches and lighting fixtures. All of the stuff is in great condition, well organized and curated. Really worth a wander. Also fun is to see the hilarious props such as decapitated heads and aisles of plastic food. From the exotic (tombstones) to the mundane ($ 1 wine glasses) this is a great place to shop! I also like that shopping here benefits the planet and gives money to important causes.

J. K.

Place rating: 4
Rego Park, NY

A very kool browsing experience at this everything thrift shop. They have a little bit of everything from clothing to furniture to old old typewriter’s.They have props from movie sets that they sell, instead of winding up in a land fill. You can decorated a complete apartment on the cheap. They had this very kool old leather jacket I wanted but it was to small. A eclectic collection of some wonderful items. A good time for all.

Jane L.

Place rating: 5
Pittsburgh, PA

Really like this place! Came across it because they had an 80s event complete with karaōke, people in 80s clothes, and tons of 80s clothes/accessories for sale. Didn’t know but they’re open 7 days a week to the public.
The idea behind this place is brilliant. Clothing and props and set stuff from films get thrown away all the time so instead Film Biz channels it away from landfills and helps charities and people like me get cool stuff.
If you’re filming a period piece or creating a set for photography, I’d recommend stopping by to check out their shelves. There were all kinds of things, from maple syrup bottles to a skeleton for rent.
Tweet or Instagram a picture of the place and follow them to get 10% off your purchase! Or check in on Unilocal ;)

Alyvia M.

Place rating: 4
New York, NY

Holy sensory overload, Batman! Do I need a blue coffin, no, but I saw it and now I want it! This magical mystery of movie set pieces and backyard junk is hidden behind a parking lot and gate. From costumes to surfboards to wigs and old dolls, there’s something for everyone. It reminds me of my grandmother’s basement in some spots and a bad dream down a few aisles. The staff is as eclectic as the assortment inside and are always down to help you find that mint condition typewriter from 1989. We found the most perfect stools for our kitchen table and they held them while we hailed a cab down the street. If you’re a search-shopper, this is the place for you.

Pinky C.

Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY

You won’t find this place easily. it’s sorta hidden on the side of a building next to a parking lot. Don’t worry though, there will be signage to guide you along your way. You’ll have to buzz in at the gate first though!
Unlike your conventional thrift store, this place rents out movie props for you to use. Anything you can imagine, these guys might have. You’ll find all sorts of wigs, gadgets, props, decorations, and devices to fulfill your inner Spielberg.
Aside from all the cool movie stuff you can rent, they also sell a bunch of furniture and a lot things you wouldn’t normally find. They have a lot of old electronics for sale that range from the 70′s through 90′s. I’m not sure if they even work at all, but it’s still pretty cool — use them to film your own movies!!!
The staff here are super friendly and would love to help in anyway they can. Be sure to stop by here! They even just give out office supplies (for some reason) based on a «whatever you can pay» transaction method.

Rachel A.

Place rating: 5
Woodside, NY

When someone asks you to go to Gowanus, don’t cringe from the thought of sludge and nuclear waste!
Instead propose a meal at Dinosaur BBQ and then a little adventure at Film Biz Recycling and Prop Shop. Who knew this magical place existed?
Getting in is like making your way to the Wizard of Oz. Ring the bell, have them buzz you in, then zig zag through the warehouse maze to Film Biz. Once you open those doors, it’s like a land of make believe. This is dress up for grownups.
Film Biz Recycling is really meant for movie sets and theater. It’s where you go when you need period pieces and décor. Cell phones as big as your face? Fake food? Gurneys and IV fluid? They’d have you ready for your low budget film in no time.
For people like me who like to putz around and take goofy pictures, it’s like a giant playground. Plastic turkey legs? Baby dolls. Shag carpet. A churro stand. I don’t know what you’d do with all this stuff but it sure is fun. If you go a few times, you’ll begin to notice that they arrange and decorate for the seasons. Right now they have their Halloween spreads in full effect. It’s like a miniature haunted house! They also have all sorts of costumes. Care to be a fireman? Corn? Carmen Miranda? Football player? They have everything. I ended up getting my Halloween costume here. Took a pic of myself wearing it, posted it on social media, and got a discount on the spot.
I couldn’t be happier.

Matt E.

Place rating: 4
Brooklyn, NY

4.5 stars…
This is one of the most unique stores in all of NYC. Apart from being an interesting shop they also have a great deal of space, provide very friendly service, and take credit cards, there’s a lot to like about this place.
If it wasn’t for the big sign outside this would truly be a hidden gem as you have to be buzzed into a loading dock/parking lot, walk through a warehouse/loft building until you reach the door of the shop at the end of the first floor hallway. There you’d find Film Biz Recycling. A shop that rents and sells the most random used props. Some things are for rental only (seems all the things I really liked were in this category), while other things are for sale. The place is a little cluttered and a little dirty but for the most part everything is well organized. Prices are reasonable and they also have sales from time to time to free up space. I bought a relatively brand new pair of roller skates for $ 18. I’ll probably never use them but that’s what this store is all about, to buy crap that seems cool that you don’t need, just because.

Peter D.

Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY

This place is magical.
Somewhat hidden behind a locked gate and beneath a larger building, Film Biz Recycling defies comparison to other establishments. It’s like a flea market you hit up to find things you previously just wished you could buy (or rent!). And it’s staffed by fun folks who clearly love the shop, and want nothing more than to help you out.
They have racks upon racks of well-labeled costumes, props, and my favorite aspect of the entire joint: stuff… in a box. By that I mean they have all sorts of ready-made kits of props/accessories for specific situations. For instance, they’ve got:
A Wedding In A Box.
Ulster County in a Box.
Videos in a Box.
Thanksgiving in a Box.
Valentine’s Day in a Box.
License Plates in a Box.
Whether you’re looking for a Halloween costume, to decorate your home with odds and ends from various movie productions, or you just want to browse around for something you never knew you always wanted, there isn’t a better place in Brooklyn.
Really when you think about it, Film Biz Recycling is Awesomeness in a Box.

Colleen C.

Place rating: 5
London, United Kingdom

Have you ever watched a theater production and thought??? «wow, I wish I could make MY living room look that rad.»
Well, it’s quite possible that after a visit to Film Biz Recycling your home decorator dreams could become a reality. On the cheap fly, my dears.
Mission statement: «Film Biz Recycling (FBR) is a not-for-profit organization, creating socially responsible and sustainable solutions from media industry waste.»
BRILLIANT! Easily the coolest business I’ve discovered in quite some time! Even on a Sunday evening at 6pm (they close at 7pm) we were greeted warmly. While the selection was a bit picked over after a weekend of people pickin’ through, there were still some sweet gems to be found. I can only imagine on a weekday (and THIS WILL BE MY PLAN going forward) what the treasure trove might hold…
A very cool multi-faceted business truly devoted to the community. They offer office supplies for free for local theater and small businesses. Meeting space, showcase local artists, and just do all around cool stuff.
Items of note:
*Some (most) items can be rented for theater or purchased for your home!
*10 percent
*The staff is SO FRIENDLY.
*They do take cards.
Score.

Film Biz Recycling

Brooklyn, United States

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Map

Streetview

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Today

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Description

Related places

Vicinity

20 reviews of Film Biz Recycling