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Photography courtesy of Coolfire Originals
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This weekend, Discovery Channel will debut a new reality show, Salvage City, based in St. Louis and created by the city's own Coolfire Originals and No Coast Originals. The program follows Fortune Teller Bar co-owner Sam Coffey, who also owns The Factory, a salvage business that specializes in repurposing discarded items. On the show, Coffey and his team explore some of St. Louis’ forgotten areas and hidden gems. Here's an entertaining sneak peek.
Just a few days before Salvage City's premiere, Coffey shared a bit about his unusual business.
How long have you been in business?
It's hard for me to recall an exact date that I started salvaging as a business. It's one of those blurred lines because I've been going into abandoned buildings for as long as I can remember. Probably the first time I paid rent or a utility bill from something I reclaimed was just after high school. I'm scared to think how long that's been, but I graduated high school in 1999, so you do the math.
What's the most interesting things you've unearthed?
I prefer functional art, something that can engage people in more than just conversation. For example, when we were trolling through an old, flooded mine—and I mean that literally, as we were on a homemade boat with a trolling motor—we found a flying saucer-looking mold. My best guess is that it was a concrete mold used in the mine and we turned it into a wood burning hot tub. It never sold, which meant that we got to enjoy it and soak after a long salvage.
What are some of the most valuable items you’ve come across?
One of the most valuable things we've ever found was a birthing tub from the old People's Hospital on Locust. It was the first hospital in the city to allow black physicians and surgeons to treat patients and this little tub was where thousands of St. Louisans began their lives. We collaborated with a local artist, Cbabi Bayoc, to create a fountain installation that really celebrates the unique history of the piece. How do you even put a price on something like that?
You emphasize repurposing discarded items and in abandoned locations. Is there a preservationist streak in your work?
Certainly. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated by beautiful architecture and discarded memories. The things we reclaim are not items that other people see value in. We are not going after copper or wire or other commodity-based things. We are going after things that others have left behind decades after the building was disregarded. I never take things that could be used in a historical renovation. I love these buildings and want them to come back to life and be used and appreciated by future generations. My hope is that by rescuing certain items from the landfill, we can help keep these buildings alive by storytelling through functional pieces.
How important is the city of St. Louis specifically to your work?
It's very important. I was born and raised in Saint Louis and feel a deep connection to my city. Whether it's a town of 3,000 or a city of 10 million, urban decay affects us all in every part of the world. There's a whole region called the Rust Belt. When industry left these places, it didn't just cripple economies, it took people's pride. I see what we're doing as celebrating what made these cities great. When people say, "We used to make things in this country," St. Louis is the kind of town they're talking about.
Do any hidden landmarks show up in the show?
One of the coolest places we salvaged was the Castle Ballroom on Olive, this old nightclub where you could see jazz stars like Miles Davis and Duke Ellington in their prime. It was probably the most dangerous building I've ever been into in my life. The whole place basically crumbled completely to the ground a few months ago after filming was over.
Salvage City debuts on Discovery Channel with back-to-back episodes this Sunday, December 22, at 10 a.m.
