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    Home » Recipes » Ramblings

    Road Trip: Homer Laughlin Fiesta Retail Store and Seconds Warehouse

    Published: Feb 14, 2012 · Modified: Mar 31, 2022 by Mike Vrobel · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

    I love bright, vibrant colors. That's why I'm so attached to Fiesta ware. I buy new colors as soon as they're released, to add variety to my pictures.
    *Yes, I'm an addict. I can quit any time I want. Wait, is that marigold? I must have it.

    A friend who grew up in Pittsburgh saw my stack of multicolored plates and said "Is that Fiestaware? My mom would make special trips to their factory store…" What's that? Factory store? Only an hour and a half away? Road trip!

    Homer Laughlin is in Newell, West Virginia, at the tip of the Northern panhandle, sandwiched between Ohio and Pennsylvania.
    *If you are scared of heights and coming from Ohio, like me, ignore the directions that take you over the Newell Bridge. It is a historical landmark, a fine example of early 20th century steel suspension bridges, with a roadbed of open mesh steel. It felt like driving across a fine mesh strainer. All I could think of was how far down the Ohio river was…and what a great view of it I had through the road. I sang Bobby McFerrin's Don't Worry, Be Happy to avoid a panic attack.
    **"Don't worry, be happy now. Oooh, ooooh ooo ooh…"

    There are two sides to the store. The first is the Homer Laughlin Retail Store, with a beautiful display of all currently available Fiesta ware. The prices are roughly the same as in regular stores, except for some seasonal sales, and sales on discontinued pieces. The selction is impressive - every single piece in every available color. For a Fiesta fanatic like me, it felt like a candy shop. Looked like one too, with all the colors.
    *I want…no, want is too soft. I need the limited edition marigold soup tureen. It's only $275. Would I ever use it? Maybe. But I need one!

    The other side of the store is the Seconds Warehouse. It is full of boxes stacked with slightly flawed Fiesta ware. The flaws vary, and are usually related to the glazing. Some pieces are barely distinguishable from first quality; others have obvious flaws. The color selection and pieces were limited as well; some plates had more than one box, filled to overflowing; others were limited to a handful of pieces. The advantage to the seconds? The price. They are half off regular dishes. If you are flexible about the colors, can live with minor imperfections, and are patient enough to pick through things with major imperfections, you can get some great deals.

    Homer Laughlin Fiesta Retail Outlet
    800 Fiesta Drive
    Newell, WV 26050
    Open 7 days a week, except on major holidays (see website)
    Monday through Saturday: 9:30am - 5:00pm
    Sundays: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
    Phone: 1-800-452-4462 Option #2
    Website: HomerLaughlin.com

    My Five favorite Fiesta pieces:



    1. Luncheon plate: Our everday plates. They're 9 inch diameter plates, part of the mind games I play with myself to keep my weight under control.

    2. Stacking cereal bowl: Our everyday bowls. They nest perfectly, and fit in one slot in our dishwasher without leaning on each other. I cherish things that fit well in the dishwasher - they keep us ahead of the endless wave of dishes the kids produce.

    3. Large serving platter: Look familiar? It's my favorite display piece.

    4. Rice bowl: I discovered this new addition to the Fiesta line at the retail store, and picked up five of them - one for each of us. I need to write an Asian soup post, just so I can show them off.

    5. Square plate: Another purchase just for the blog - I wanted to add variety in my pictures.
    *I got a great deal on them in the seconds warehouse. And I haven't used them since I got back from the Fiesta store. I forget about them in the rush to get dinner on the table. Whoops - I need to fix that.

    Honorable mention: The jumbo cup, which holds my jumbo weekend latte.
    *Three shots of espresso, steamed milk. And yes, my coffee mug is bigger than my bowls. 

    The sauceboat, which I bought just for the Thanksgiving gravy post.

    And the disc pitcher, of course. It's an icon of American design.

    *I also picked up a large canister in the seconds warehouse that was missing its lid; it is perfect as my new, jumbo utensil crock.

    View Larger Map

    Related posts:

    My list of Ethnic and Gourmet stores in the Akron, OH area.

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    Comments

    1. Amelia's momq says

      August 25, 2012 at 3:04 am

      thanks for the info on the seconds pricing. we are planning a trip soon. Tried to combine the October tent sale with a Steelers game, but they are away that weekend.

      Reply
    2. Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says

      February 21, 2012 at 12:50 am

      I'm on the mailing list now, so you may see me at the next tent sale. My debit card is already whimpering in anticipation...

      Reply
    3. Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says

      February 21, 2012 at 12:50 am

      Wow - I'm going to have to leave early next time, to make sure I can hit all the pastry stops. Thanks for the tips!

      Reply
    4. Shelly says

      February 20, 2012 at 11:00 pm

      If you want some REAL fun, go to one of the tent sales, one in the fall and another in the spring.  We went to the one in October.  We got there at about 6 AM and stood in the freezing cold for about 2 hours.  But it was well worth it.  Square dinner plates for less than $2, pitcher for $4, countless bowls, mugs, platters, etc.; most of which I didn't need but couldn't pass up the awesome deals!!

      Reply
    5. Della says

      February 20, 2012 at 10:46 pm

      Better yet, drive north a mile and feast on  goodies from Frank's Pastry, in Chester. 

      Reply
    6. Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says

      February 20, 2012 at 10:19 pm

      You're welcome.

      Reply
    7. Mike V @ DadCooksDinner says

      February 20, 2012 at 10:18 pm

      I'll keep that in mind - thanks!

      Reply
    8. Yvonne yummy says

      February 20, 2012 at 9:14 pm

      Thanks for sharing your trip to the outlet.. makes me want to go back!!!!!! I need a fiesta fix

      Reply
    9. Ginger LaRue says

      February 20, 2012 at 9:04 pm

      If you want to give yourself a real treat the next Fiest road trip, hop over to L&B Donut Shop on Main St in East Liverpool and get the best donuts ever.

      Reply

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