On a recent day at The Brick Basement, a customer was $4 short. Rather than walking out disappointed and empty handed, the young woman left the shop with all her items and a smile on her face. Carol Walker, one half of Brick Basement, was happy to tell the woman she could take her things and return the next day with the remaining $4. These acts of kindness are a daily occurrence at Brick Basement—every customer that walks in through the shop’s doors has the trust of its owners.
Located in downtown Fullerton on Harbor Boulevard, The Brick Basement has the friendliest owners, Nathan Piliero and Carol Walker, and the best finds. But they’re not just selling second-hand goods, they are also in the business of building lasting friendships.
From the outside you see a cute little antique shop, but once you step inside you see a painted brick road on the wooden floors leading you down a staircase into a hidden basement, filled with everything from old CDs and VHS tapes to vintage books to cute bags and tiny trinkets.
With 33 vendors bringing new things in daily, The Brick Basement is always stocked. Sometimes it’s overstocked. “For Christmas last year, we donated about $3,000 of toys for a church in Yorba Linda,” says Piliero. “And then I give away a lot of random stuff because we just get so much stuff, we need to get rid of it.”
Walker bought the shop over eight years ago, but before she ran any shop, she was an employee relations manager in corporate America. When Walker retired, she realized that retirement life wasn’t for her. “I didn’t want to retire, so I wanted to do something that I could have fun at and meet new people constantly,” says Walker. She has met many types of people at The Brick Basement, creating strong connections and relationships.
Piliero hasn’t been at the shop as long as Walker, but he has made his mark. He first visited the shop when he was a Fullerton College student. He became an employee in 2021, then in just three weeks he was asked to be a co-owner.
Piliero has made sure to create close relationships with customers. “Just a week ago, I was at a customer’s wedding. We’ve become friends,” says Piliero. “And another customer, I’m cat sitting for them for the month while they’re away.” Being a loyal customer means you’ll always have a friend at The Brick Basement.
There are the senior customers that come in looking for pretty glassware and cute trinkets, and the younger customers coming in for plushies and fun toys. So, whoever you are, you’ll always find something to buy.
The Brick Basement celebrated its 26th anniversary in May 2024. The shop had a ribbon cutting ceremony, which was extremely exciting for Piliero. “It was money well spent to hold the big scissors. Like they’re real scissors, and they’re huge. It felt super cool,” says Piliero. Many people showed up to celebrate—the City Council, representatives of the county and even the Chamber of Commerce.
If you’re ever looking for new friends or some interesting finds, drop by one of the Brick Basement’s open houses, which they host twice a year. Being kind-hearted is the main quality you need to be a Brick Basement vendor. While most of the vendors are seniors, there are also some younger folks bringing in a modern touch with Y2K jewelry, trendy clothes and more.
The longer you spend in the basement, the emptier your wallet becomes. However, the bite in your account is worth all the things you’ll walk out with. So, whenever you’re in town, make your way over and enjoy The Brick Basement experience. And who knows? Maybe you’ll make a lifelong friend.
