The Night Kitchen Bakery, one of Philadelphia Salvage's projects

Chris Stock’s design build company, The Stock Group, was in need of reclaimed materials. Entrepreneurial Stock solved the problem by creating Philadelphia Salvage as a source for recycled and reusable building materials, which would help keep the debris out of the landfills near Philly. Philadelphia Salvage has been using their reclaimed materials (not just some old wood planks; we’re talking the marble dance floor of the Divine Lorain Hotel here) to create new projects using the architectural salvage or donating what they demo to Rebuild Together Philadelphia or other charities, everything down to the nails.

Besides locally sourcing from small lumber houses, when Philadelphia Salvage is working on a project—-like the Earth, Bread and Brewery in Mt. Airy or The Night Kitchen Bakery in Chestnut Hill—- they use bio-degradable plastic, zero-VOC paints and low-solvent adhesives. Salvage’s new Philadelphia location will hopefully encourage more contractors to think of different ways to build and help the local economy. The 542 Carpenter Lane retail shop will also offer classes like straw bale construction and how to create rain gardens and vegetated roofs. Stock is dedicated to building using safer materials, teaching the community how to think greener in construction and being a part of the neighborhood—Philadelphia Savage will be an active part of Germantown’s First Friday showcasing local artists.