Two Jakes

I bought a Saarinen executive arm chair from Alex Walsh at Two Jakes a few months ago, I was meant to purchase fabric to have it reupholstered, but it took longer than expected to find some. Well, here I am – I’ve found the fabric but the phone is disconnected and no one answers the EMail — I think I’m out about $ 300 — paid in cash, and he was meant to keep the chair. UGH! Alex, if you read this — will you please contact me ASAP — I’ve sent you a couple Emails now, happy to readjust this review but for now, super bummed!

As a potential seller to Two Jakes:
I agree with another reviewer: «Guy working there was a bit of a douche when I asked for more info on a piece.»
In my case, «was a bit of a douche» when I asked about the selling process and what was a reasonable price to propose when selling Two Jakes a high end ergonomic chair.
The guy kept twisting my question back at me.
Me: What do you think is a reasonable price to propose given the retail price of the chair? I was thinking _​_​price, but I am flexible.
Guy: What do YOU think is a reasonable price to propose? I don’t know what YOU want to sell it for? If you want to give it to us for free, that’s ok.
Etc, etc.
This went on for 5 – 10 minutes, getting nowhere.
By far, one of the most unpleasant seller experiences — especially if you want to ask any questions over the phone.

Large selection of not-​quite-​high-​end vintage and replica modern as well as, I gotta say, quite a bit of junk. Guy working there was a bit of a douche when I asked for more info on a piece. I was puzzled by the fact that they were selling a desk that one could buy new at Blue Dot and they were asking the very same price as in the catalog. What? Rather large selection though, which is good. For true high end, Cosmo next door is better. For smoking cheap, probably need to pick through Meeker Ave flea mkt. Go here if you can’t quite afford Cosmo but don’t have patience for a flea market and are nonetheless willing to put up with unnecessary surliness.

Two Jakes is one of four furniture stores on Wythe Ave between Grand St and S 1^st. It’s not very intriguing from the outside, but it is my favorite furniture store on that block for two reasons:
1. Their filing cabinets! They are so cute and come in bright colors. I really wish I could think of a legitimate excuse to buy one, but I feel like it’s one of those things that you would want more than one of, because they’re so cute and fun!
2. They have some amazing home theater furniture by OMNI+. They are so simple yet very hip. They come in different colors and were priced reasonably.
The filing cabinets and the OMNI+ furniture grabbed my attention, but everything else in the store did not appeal to me… thus the 3 stars!

There is a large selection of reasonably priced vintage office furniture at Two Jakes. They also have some cute vintage midcentury modern sofas and chairs and new Blu Dot sofas. The last time I visited, they had quite a few vintage Eero Saarinen executive office chairs by Knoll in many different colors, including a pair of show-​stopping white leather Saarinen executive chairs that were not for sale but custom reupholstered for a client. The vintage chairs were about ¹⁄₃ the price of a new Knoll chair of the same style being sold at Design Within Reach.
The staff at Two Jakes are very friendly and helpful and offer no sales pressure. I was interested in purchasing a chair and they let me take it home and try it out in my apartment to see if I really loved it before buying it. I thought that was really cool since I buy most of my furniture at thrift shops where items are not returnable.
If you are shopping for furniture for your home, I recommend checking out your local vintage furniture and thrift shops such as this one. It’s good for the economy to support local businesses and it’s better for the environment to purchase quality vintage furniture as opposed to inexpensive mass produced furniture that was created in an overseas factory and will end up in a landfill within a couple of years. Vintage furniture also tends to have more character and style as well!

I think this place is a great option for sensible, good-​looking furniture, athough true to the name it’s all a little (or a lot) office-​y. I bought my desk and all my bookshelves here. The showroom is full of great modern stuff, and the prices are pretty good, especially compared to a) the unabashedly high-​end, editorial, half-​way jokey contemporary stuff on offer at The Future Perfect and b) the shockingly expensive vintage of the places that rub shoulders with The Two Jakes.
The guys who work here are very friendly and seem genuinely happy to help out with your purchase. Give Two Jakes a try if you’re in the market for anything functional: desks, shelving and storage, lamps, and side or work chairs are all well-​represented.

Two Jakes is a great find and not too out of the way in Williamsburg if you’re looking for some authentically hip vintage (or new) furniture and particularly if you value Mid-​Century Modern design.
I saw a handful of enviable Saarinen office and side chairs there among two huge rooms filled wall-​to-​wall (and in some cases stacked up) with great finds. It’s one of those stores that makes you wish your apartment was larger, but alas, I shouldn’t attempt to reproduce the filled effect you find at Two Jakes in my own home. The prices are pretty reasonable for this type of furniture store in Williamsburg, and my impression is that haggling is allowed since the economy is not doing so hot right now (to say the least) and since they usually have more than one of each item.
Highly recommended. These types of great outlets do come in handy sometimes!

Holy mother of Eames!
I just visited Two Jakes for the first time, and let’s just say that if I had limitless funds, I would’ve walked out with half the store. If you’re at all interested in industrial design, if you’ve ever had a hankering for a vintage filing cabinet (in amazing colors like bright yellow or turquoise blue), or if you’re jonesing for a new (to you) Herman Miller chair, then this is the place to go. The selection is great, the prices are fair, and the staff seems helpful.
Go now. Just please stay away from the beautiful blue Saarinen chair in the window (the one for which I’m saving my pennies). It’s mine. OK?