No Reservations Over Surplus Hotel Furnishings

A few weeks ago I wrote about a store that sells surplus hotel furniture--Hotel Surplus Outlet, 3170 E. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles--and even the most experienced shoppers got excited.

It was so well-received that I sought out another. Best Hotel Interiors has been around a few years, whereas Hotel Surplus Outlet just opened. The day I visited, Best Hotel Interiors had some rather spectacular pieces from the New Otani, including a heavy entertainment center in cranberry red with brass accents for $79.

Many entertainment centers that held 19-inch televisions were tagged at $69 when I visited. Since then, Best Hotel Interiors has received a large shipment of sofas from a local Hyatt hotel in a dark blue, striped material for $69.

Intense competition between the big hotels means they are doing a lot of refurbishing. And that means more surplus merchandise. Owners of furnished apartments and motels are steady patrons of these outlets, as is the frugal homemaker.

Keep in mind that this is commercial standard furniture built for heavy wear. No flimsy particleboard here.

Best Hotel Interiors, 1782 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles. (323) 734-1700. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Weekend Super Sale: The folks at Homemakers Furniture are cleaning out their warehouse, and the deals are inspiring. About half the merchandise in the store is half-off, but some prices are even better.

An upholstered classic leather and chenille queen-size headboard that was $1,779 is now $399. From the Hearst Castle Collection by Lane, a cherry coffee table that was $849 has dropped to $299.

Homemakers Furniture, 18901 Soledad Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. (805) 252-6052.