Visiting the Resource Exchange was a bit of a happy accident: it’s located in the same building as Beaty American and the Neon Museum of Philadelphia, and my wife and I were immediately drawn in as we passed by. While it initially might strike you as a cool vintage/art themed store – and it is! – there’s quite a bit more going on here than you might initially think, and if you’re a creative, DIY-oriented person it absolutely should be on your list of must-see places in Philadelphia.

The Resource Exchange is a non-profit that was founded in 2009 by Karyn Gerred, who worked as a scenic artist for movies including The Lovely Bones, Rocky Balboa, and Invincible. Noting how much was thrown out, Gerred had the idea to recycle the materials back into the artist community with a focus on environmental sustainability. As an organization, the Resource Exchange works to advocate and raise awareness for reuse/recycling, and according to their website has saved “over 48,000 lbs of film & theatre props, set pieces, art supplies, textiles, lumber, and many other reusable materials from landfill by putting them back into the local creative economy.”

What this translates to, in practical terms, is a store whose inventory is constantly changing and incredibly diverse: there are the antique typewriters, cameras, and photographs you might find in a vintage store, but there are also dressmaking patterns, craft papers, fabrics, jewelry, and even lumber. The wildly eclectic mix includes items donated from theater companies like the Walnut Theater, Arden Theater, and Philadelphia Opera House, and films like Concrete Cowboy. Two important distinctions between the Resource Exchange and vintage stores, staff member Brittany Beyer notes, are that the store is largely material-focused and that, rather than throwing away items that don’t sell, they work to find a home for the things they acquire.

Beyer, who has been a staff member for four years, was initially drawn to the Resource Exchange when she was new to the area and looking for affordable places to get yarn for her own fabric art projects. Many of the staff are artists themselves, and the Resource Exchange supports artists by hosting gallery shows and workshops (which they hope to resume by August 2021) and sharing the fascinating projects created with RE materials on their social media and blog. Having opened their current location to the public less than a year before Covid, they’re looking forward to making their space a hub for creative events again.

My wife happily left the Resource Exchange with an armload of goodies including frames and thick, luxurious paper that she used to make gifts and supplies for her sister’s wedding. She had the excitement of someone who had just discovered a secret treasure, and you know what? I think it’s safe to say that we did.

Visit the Resource Exchange’s website for more info on store hours, events, and links to their social media and blog: theresourceexchange.org