HOUSTON – If you need cookware or kitchen items such as pots and pans, serving dishes, utensils and crocks, you need to head to the Chantal Warehouse Sale in Northwest Harris County.
"The warehouse on Beltway 8 near Highway 249 is normally closed to the public, but for three weekends in November, it is open and almost everything inside is half off.
"Right in time for cooking season and right in time for gifting season," said Henry Nading with Chantal.
The Chantal Warehouse Sale is an annual event stretching back more than 20 years.
"I think a lot of people, it's become sort of a tradition," said Henry. "And some people collect a lot of the unique one-of-a-kind Chantal stuff."
Those one-of-a-kind sample pieces that never made it to production are included in the sale as well as pieces customers may recognize from high-end stores like Williams Sonoma, Sur la Table, Crate & Barrel.
Chantal is most widely known for its brightly colored tea kettles, but it was enamel cookware that put the brand on the culinary map more than 40 years ago.
"It just seemed so natural with my background in engineering," said founder Heida Thurlow.
Thurlow has a degree in mechanical engineering. She used her background to design some of the first enamel on steel cookware in the U.S. She moved to Houston from Germany, where most families use enamel on steel pots and pans.
The cookware all comes with a warranty and a steep discount. There is a nine-piece stainless steel set that normally sells for $349. At the sale, it's $200. But you can also buy pans and pots separately. If you buy four individual pieces of cookware at the warehouse sale, you'll get an extra 20 percent off.
"Since these are already marked down about half off, the additional 20 percent means you're getting a great deal," said Nading.
We checked.
A Williams Sonoma exclusive Christmas kettle made by Chantal is regularly $99.99. It's on sale at Williams Sonoma now for $79.96, but you can get one at the warehouse sale for $50.
Most other kettles at the sale are $25. They are regularly $50 everywhere else.
If you have enough pots, pans and kettles, there are gifts for teachers, co-workers and family starting at about $10.
2018 November Sale Dates:
1st weekend - Nov. 2-4
2nd weekend - Nov. 9-11
3rd weekend - Nov.16-18
Hours:
Fridays and Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You can also help support the Houston Food Bank by bringing canned goods to the sale. For every can you bring, you'll get a coupon for $1 off. You can bring up to five canned goods for a total of $5 in coupons.
