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Argyle Studio opens with some repurposed doors (but not where you think)

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– May 28, 2021
Exterior shot of the new Argyle Studio space in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland.

Greeting reuse fans,

CJ is pleased to be a part of a unique pop up shop venture in downtown Oakland called Argyle Studio! The shop is a curated collection of hand-made goods and one-of-a-kind wares created by over 30 local artists and makers, 50% of whom are people of color, as are Argyle’s curators, Christine McCray-Bethea and her daughter Brigette. (Full disclosure, I have known Christine since 2004 from the SALVO Arts project days when CJ partnered with local artists to put on a salvaged arts festival.) Even the sidewalk is painted in the colorful characteristic argyle pattern usually seen on socks and sweaters. I hope this colorful side walk painting trend catches on. Maybe something in a plaid? Argyle Studio is open 11am – 5pm Tuesday through Sunday. Stop in and support local artists! The space and the art (and the stuff the art is displayed on) is worth a visit.

  • Exterior shot of the new Argyle Studio space in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland.
  • A crowd watches the speakers at the grand opening of Argyle Studio in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland.
  • Some of the artisan goods available at Argyle Studio.
  • Christine McCray-Bethea, co-founder of Argyle Studio standing in front of a display of entrepreneurs.

CJ was approached by Georgia Petropoulos, the ED of the Oakland Business Improvement District to provide retail fixtures for Argyle. We worked with the project architects–Front Studio and Christine–to provide display cases, tables, chairs, carts and the “butcher-block” cubes that can be seen supporting merchandise around the space. CJ worked with skilled woodworker Scott Riggle to fabricate the cubes.

  • The planed commercial door core in front of an unplaned door.
  • Finished display pedestals in the shop at Construction Junction.
  • Layout progress beginning inside the Argyle Studio space.
  • Finished reclaimed door display cubes filled with items for sale at the grand opening of Argyle Studio.

Long time CJ shoppers might recognize that the raw material used for the displays is actually older commercial door stock with the veneer planed off. The material is eye catching and looks fantastic in the space–a significant visual improvement over the dull brown, scuffed surface that usually characterizes a slab commercial door. We are always on the lookout for these older commercial doors. Commercial doors installed after the early ’80s are typically filled with foam and don’t work at all going through the planer. Contact us if you have an older commercial building you are renovating so we can capture more of this cool material. We know that retail is changing and we also take retail fixtures, so donate before you dumpster!

Thank you for supporting reuse, local artists and makers!

Mike Gable

Executive Director

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