Film Biz Recycling

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.

OH NO, they are closing their doors on June 20th!

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.
:(

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.

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.

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.

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.

A friend suggested that we check this place out one afternoon. I was a bit hesitant. I had no clue what to expect (well I thought it would be a bunch of mannequins and dusty old stuff). I was so wrong!

This is a gem of a place with a great location. I was able to find a few knicknacks (I like knicknacks...don't judge me). The items were organized into sections and nicely displayed. I eyed a few items I would like to come back and get. Prices were reasonable.

And the best part. Hold onto your hats! The office supplies were...FREE! Oh yeah you read correctly! Free! As in the best price in the world!

The owner was nice and informative. She welcomed us to come back for more free office supplies.

Needless to say...I will be back!

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.

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.

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.