- Attraction: The Scrap Exchange
- Location: 2050 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707
- Industry: Art Supply Store
- Website: https://www.scrapexchange.org/
Imagination runs wild at this 23,000-square-foot wonderland where discarded materials transform into artistic possibilities.
The Scrap Exchange has operated as a nonprofit creative reuse center since 1991, collecting materials from individuals, businesses, and industries to provide affordable supplies for artists, educators, and makers throughout the Triangle area.
This isn’t your typical thrift store – it’s an organized treasure hunt where bolts of fabric, vintage magazines, lumber, light fixtures, metals, and buckets of buttons create endless possibilities for your next creative project.
Creative Materials & Endless Treasures
Fabric & Textile Paradise: You’ll discover meticulously organized sections filled with scrap fabrics in every imaginable color, pattern, and texture, plus spools of yarn, ribbons, trims, and sewing notions that would cost a fortune at retail craft stores. The textile section alone could keep fashion designers and quilters busy for hours.
Paper & Print Materials: Vintage magazines, books, photographs, sheet music, maps, and specialty papers offer perfect elements for collage work, scrapbooking, and mixed-media art projects. You’ll find everything from handmade papers to commercial printing samples in quantities that make large projects affordable.
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Keep Exploring →Hardware & Building Supplies: Lumber pieces, metal components, keys, bolts, brackets, electrical fixtures, and construction materials provide endless possibilities for DIY home improvement projects, sculptural art pieces, and functional furniture creation at a fraction of retail cost.
Craft Supply Bonanza: Beads, buttons, sequins, decorative elements, and specialty craft materials fill organized bins and containers throughout the space. The variety changes constantly based on donations, making each visit a unique discovery experience.
Art Supply Treasures: Professional-quality art materials including matte board, picture frames, canvases, specialty tools, and supplies that would be expensive to purchase new are available here at dramatically reduced prices.
Unique Collectibles & Décor: Beyond crafting materials, you’ll find vintage hand-colored prints, costume jewelry, home décor items, collectibles, and one-of-a-kind pieces perfect for upcycling projects, theatrical productions, or personal collections.
Business & Office Materials: Filing systems, binders, promotional materials, and office supplies from business donations provide resources for entrepreneurs, students, and organizations operating on tight budgets.
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Warehouse-Scale Exploration: You’ll need shopping carts to navigate this enormous space effectively – the sheer volume of materials can feel overwhelming at first, but the thoughtfully organized layout helps you locate specific categories while encouraging serendipitous discoveries.
Ever-Changing Inventory: Every visit offers completely different discoveries since inventory constantly changes based on new donations from individuals, businesses, and manufacturers, making return visits exciting and unpredictable for regular customers.
Organized Chaos System: Despite the massive scale, materials are systematically sorted into logical categories, making it possible to find specific items while still allowing for creative inspiration from unexpected finds in adjacent sections.
Community Creative Environment: You’ll encounter like-minded creative people, helpful and knowledgeable staff members, and other customers who freely share tips, inspiration, and project ideas, creating a collaborative atmosphere that extends beyond simple shopping.
Multi-Building Complex: The facility includes both the main creative reuse center and an additional 18,000-square-foot thrift store, doubling your treasure-hunting opportunities and providing completely different types of materials and finished goods.
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Keep Exploring →Educational & Community Programs
Hands-On Creative Classes: The facility offers regularly scheduled classes in art-making, crafts, printmaking, jewelry making, and other creative skills, taught by experienced local artists and makers who understand how to work with reclaimed materials.
Cameron Art Gallery Inspiration: Browse inspiring artwork created entirely from reused and recycled materials, demonstrating the incredible artistic potential of discarded items and providing creative inspiration for your own projects.
Design Center Workshops: The on-site Design Center hosts creative workshops and community events that bring together artists, makers, and environmentally conscious individuals interested in sustainable creative practices.
Practical Shopping Information
Exceptional Value Pricing: You’ll find materials priced at a tiny fraction of retail cost, making expensive creative projects accessible to artists, students, hobbyists, and educators operating on limited budgets without sacrificing quality or variety.
Daily Teacher Discounts: Educators receive 10% off purchases every day year-round, recognizing the important role of creative education in schools and the ongoing need for affordable classroom supplies and project materials.
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Discover MoreExtended Operating Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday with extended hours on Friday and Saturday evenings (until 7 PM), providing flexibility for working artists, weekend project warriors, and families with busy schedules.
Convenient Parking Access: Free parking in the Lakewood Shopping Center lot eliminates downtown Durham parking hassles and additional costs, making visits stress-free and accessible for customers bringing large vehicles to transport bulky materials.
Seasonal Variation: Inventory varies significantly based on seasonal donations from businesses, schools, and manufacturers, with back-to-school periods and end-of-year business cleanouts providing particularly rich material opportunities.
The Scrap Exchange
📍 2050 Chapel Hill Rd, Durham, NC 27707
