Building Character

This is one of the coolest shops in Lancaster. Building Character is set up warehouse style and gives off a hip, artsy, vibe even before you walk in the building. They sell handcrafted items created by local artists (love that so hard), and you can also find vintage or antique items on site. I got a beautiful print of the Eiffel tower printed on up cycled sheet music. I’m still crazy excited about it and can’t wait to find the perfect spot for it in my home. I would say for the originality and craftsmanship involved that most items were reasonably priced, but you will for sure find a few pieces on the pricier side. If you’re a fan of unique décor and local art, you will most definitely want to put this place on your list of shops to hit. It’s also conveniently located in downtown Lancaster near other fun shops and restaurants. Also, winner, they totes accept credit cards.

Such an amazing space!
I could wander through this building for hours, finding new obsessions each step I take. This is a must if you are in the Lancaster area. Great place for furniture, general house decorations, gifts, etc. The staff was very helpful and willing to lend a hand or give advice when needed. Also good to come to if you are looking for inspiration for a DIY project.
I will definitely be coming to this place when I move into an apartment– I think everything I furnish it with will come from here!

Stumbled upon this place after attending a design talk at Candy is Sweet.
I really like the space here, they have a huge selection of items from vintage to handmade. They not only have clothes but toys and knickknacks and things around the house. Even if you don’t purchase anything, it’s still fun to walk through. Prices seem fair. Worth checking out.

Must stop in-​the staff is fantastic and there is something there for everyone! Antiques, vintage, salvage, art… you name it! Make sure to visit when the have events– they usually include live music and great food vendors!

So five years after my first review I revisited BC to see how things had progressed and they had indeed changed.
On their web site there is a quote, «It’s like Etsy Live». Yeah, indeed and all that implies. In some cases grandiose and unrealistic pricing and some silly stuff that defies imagination as to why it’s being offered for sale…
First off, the salvage is better than ever selection and merchandising wise. They have some amazing stuff. And, the downside, you’ll pay for it. Back in the day, BC probably priced a lot of their salvage too low. It seems to me the pendulum has swung the other way. There are a lot of cool things here you won’t find elsewhere in Lancaster or maybe Central PA but you’ll pay for them.
In my opinion, Building Character is still a must-​visit store in Lancaster. They have truly cool stuff and the space inside is better than ever.

This place takes old things and makes them new again. Vintage thrift clothes, upcycled glass, refurbished antique furniture, hand-​crafted accessories — there’s a little of everything in this cool marketplace. I always stop in when I visit friends in the area, and it’s well worth my time just to enjoy the sheer variety of it all.

Sigh, I don’t know… I can’t speak to any of the events held here, and I hear they’re wonderful, but I haven’t had much luck here on a retail basis.
I’ve gone to BC in search of untouched/​unrepaired salvage pieces, but they’re just so pricey… for example, I was looking for antique glass doorknobs and iron brackets… they had both for around $ 75 and $ 100 apiece, respectively. I have to admit I was surprised. I ended up getting two doorknobs at a shop in Baltimore for less than that price, and they had even been polished. I haven’t bought any iron brackets yet but I’ve found a lot on Etsy for ¹⁄₃ of that price– coming from stores that also have a brick-​and-​mortar presence like BC.
Of course I understand they are a retail store and need to maintain a profit margin, etc., but to me their prices for those types of items are unrealistic for the average homeowner looking to use reclaimed pieces.
As far as salvaged pieces they’ve done work on: the furniture pieces that they’ve upcycled/​restored seem like they’re in a more reasonable price range– you’re understandably paying more for great craftsmanship. But on the accessory side, I mean… I was in there the other day and they have wine stoppers that are basically just salvaged knobs stuck into a cork, and they’re selling them for about $ 35 – 45.
Let me put it this way; it’s kind of like a convenience store for vintage/​salvaged pieces. You know you’re going to easily find what you’re looking for there, but you’re going to pay a hefty price. If you travel a couple miles farther down the road to the more inconvenient location (like the Habitat ReStore, or a smaller retail shop, for example) it may or may not have what you’re looking for, and you may have to hunt a bit for it, but the prices make more sense.
Now the market section made up of different vendors, however, is a different story. Those mini-​shops have a lot of interesting things that are definitely worth a look, and the price ranges seem more tailored to the type of customer that the BC store itself aims to serve. I have had a lot of luck there.
The staff throughout is always very nice and helpful.

Shop locally!
I didn’t have much time to shop in Lancaster while I was there last summer, but Building Character was definitely on my list.
If you’re looking for antiques, architectural salvage, vintage apparel, jewelry, local artwork, and on, this is the place! I was told at my hotel that you could spend days in there, and you probably could! It’s a nice place to leisurely browse your way through stall after stall, most of them on consignment. It’s a great way for local artists to sell their wares without having to actually physically be there. I was able to score some gifts and prints for pretty reasonable prices. I thought it was funny and odd to see some «vintage» things that were about 20 years old, fashions from the 90s that probably should have stayed there! That kind of stuff makes ME feel old!
Building Character is the kind of place that is never the same place twice, so if you have your eye on something, you should probably get it.

So fun! A great idea for a shop. Their furniture, lighting, & industrial-​style home accents are great. The section of the building with arts-​and-​crafts stuff could use some fresh ideas, seems like its the same few things with very little turnover. All in all it’s an awesome little place!

if i could live inside this place i would! they have so many different vendors with one of a kind antiques, folk art, vintage and used clothing, gifts, kitsch. their prices seem pretty reasonable on the whole. i love that they feature a lot of artists and craftspeople from the lancaster area. on the whole prices seem pretty reasonable.

Vintage clothes, vintage homegoods, baked goods, art prints, and handmade gifts of all sort under one roof, divided into many different stalls. I’m usually not a fan of shopping as a leisure activity, but I do enjoy strolling through the aisles of this place and checking out the goods.