Whether you grew up visiting the local thrift stores with your parents or have only recently fallen in love with the timeless hobby of antiquing, one thing is certain: there’s something in it for everyone! The best thing? There’s probably an antique store near you just waiting to be explored.
Shopping for antiques is endless fun—especially once you find an antique store near you that’s easy to get to and filled with your favorite items. Learn how to find a local antique store you love with our helpful guidance so you can take this passionate pursuit one step further. Who knows what’s waiting to be discovered in the antique malls in your community?
Why Do People Shop for Antiques?
From making sustainable choices to better the planet to investing in unique accent pieces to spice up your home décor, there are plenty of reasons to shop for antiques. Get inspired by the main three reasons we see people visit our antique mall locations:
Antique Shopping is Fun for All Ages
When we say there is something for everyone, we truly mean everyone, whether you’re nine years old and looking for rare Hot Wheels to complete a set or 99 and interested solely in antique grandfather clocks. A well-stocked antique store will have some sort of collectible for customers of all ages – and hunting it down is part of the fun! If you’re looking for a hobby the whole family can enjoy, it’s time to search “antique store near me” before planning your next weekend.
Shopping for Antiques Celebrates Nostalgia
The number one reason people love shopping for antiques, or even just walking the aisles of a vendor mall, is that these timeless items satisfy the human desire for nostalgia. Something about being surrounded by vintage clothing, rare model trains, and the antique kitchenware of your youth will bring a sentimental tear to your eye. The next time you need some comfort, just step into a Melbourne antique mall near you.
Antiques are the Key to a Unique Home
If you’re interested in interior design, you know how drab modern cookie-cutter home décor can be. When you shop for antiques, you can dare to be different and buy one-of-a-kind rare art, furniture, and other charming home goods and trinkets to fill your space. Antique stores near you are the key to adding your unique style to every room of the house.
5 Things Every Good Antique Store Should Have
When you shop for antiques, we know you probably have at least a handful of options—but that doesn’t mean they’re all a good shop! As you try to find the best antique store in your area, make sure they check these requirements:
Item variety
Fair pricing
Helpful staff
Convenient hours
Community-focused events
What is the Difference Between an Antique Mall and an Antique Store?
As you search for antique stores near you, you’ll quickly realize there are two main options, “malls” and “stores.” But what is the difference?
Antique stores tend to be smaller and curated directly by the shopkeepers, whereas antique malls are large locations, filled with sometimes hundreds of collections stocked by different vendors. While there is a time and a place for both, people who shop for antiques will almost always find success strolling down the massive aisles of an Algonquin antique mall—so why wouldn’t you check the one closest to you out?
How to Find the Best Antique Mall in Your Area
There’s only so much an “antique store near me” Google search can get you. Consider these tips and tricks as you look for places to shop for antique treasures to find the right shop for you:
Step 1: Ask Your Friends and Family Where They Shop for Antiques
Before spending hours researching antique stores near you, the first step should be to ask your trusted friends and family members where they shop for secondhand treasures. Someone in your life is bound to have a favorite Florida vendor mall or mom-and-pop shop. Word of mouth is a business’s best friend, and who better to trust than the loved ones who know your style and tastes in collectibles?
Step 2: Search For Local Guide Opinions on the Best Antique Mall Near You
If asking your inner circle for suggestions has you coming up empty-handed, turn to the knowledgeable local guides in your community. A local guide is loosely defined as a member of a community that shares their experiences and knowledge of the area they live in. Whether they write for official websites, such as Tripadvisor, run a column in the town newspaper, or are self-proclaimed on their blog doesn’t matter—once you find one you enjoy, you know you can trust their antique mall recommendations.
Pro tip: You can start by looking for official Google Local Guides, who are trusted to write reviews, share photos of establishments, answer questions, and fact check for potential customers. If they rated one Indiana antique mall near you lower than another, you know which one to check first!
Step 3: Consider the Size of the Antique Store Before You Visit
As you research antique stores near you, remember that the size of the location is the first clue to whether or not they’ll have inventory that interests you. If you’re searching for a commonly found pre-loved item, small stores and thrift shops have a good chance of having it in stock. But, if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for or are searching for something extra niche, it’s a good idea to visit the Indiana antique stores with the largest square footage, as there’s a higher chance that hundreds of different vendors will have it on display. If it’s a bigger location, it might be more worth your time.
Step 4: Look Up Online Reviews from Real Customers
Any business can paint a pretty picture—the online reviews tell you the real story. When you look up “antique stores near me,” you’ll likely be met with a wall of advertisements. Feel free to skim these and head directly to the online review pages of your favorite search engine.
Look at both the highest reviews that sing the praises of the store and the lowest ones to see what the complaints were and how the business fixed or responded to them. Both will tell you all you need to know about the place before you even shop for antiques.
Step 5: See if That Antique Mall Stocks Your Niche Interest
Whether you go once a week or every few months, you have to invest a lot of free time into shopping for antiques. Avoid wasting precious hours by determining if the potential antique store in your area has the items that interest you before you even walk in the doors.
Certain antique stores will specialize in certain niche items, like rare Funko Pops, while others will carry a broad inventory covering all the bases. Browsing just for fun is always worth it, but understanding what they have to offer is key to finding the perfect antique store fit for you.
Pro tip: the best antique malls near you will have a way to contact them with any specific questions. Don’t be afraid to call the store number, email their customer service, or even DM them on their social media accounts with any inventory questions to determine if it’s the right place to shop for your antiques.
5 Types of Items Found at An Antique Mall Near You:
Timeless Vintage Finds: Any secondhand shop worth its salt will have its fair share of vintage items. By definition, this can include anything over 20 years old, whether it’s vintage clothing for your collection from the ‘80s and ‘90s or discontinued Pyrex designs from the ‘60s. Different vendors can specialize in certain subcategories, but vintage pieces are always waiting to be found at an antique mall near you.
Rare and Stylish Antiques: It wouldn’t be much of an Illinois antique mall if they didn’t stock a variety of rare antiques! Anything over 100 years old can be considered an antique item—and these have the potential to be quite valuable. Whether you’re searching for antique paintings to complete your gallery wall or a priceless gift that will have your mother teary-eyed with nostalgia, a good antique store has plenty of stylish antique pieces for you to sort through.
Niche Collectibles and Figurines: If you have a specialized collection or niche antiquing interest, heading to a larger-than-life antique mall is your best bet. Shopping for antiques can get tricky when it comes to hard-to-find items, but it’s always worth a shot! Stroll the aisles of our vendor mall to see just about everything, from rare copper figurines to collectible United States coins and so much more.
Vintage and Antique Furniture: Furniture is one of the main reasons to stop by a massive antique mall when shopping for antiques for your home—we have plenty of space! The best antique stores near you will have a wide variety of furniture available, whether it be authentic Art Deco designs, one-of-a-kind side tables, or any other timeless and beautiful piece you can imagine.
Homemade and Upcycled Goods: Antique malls are the best places to shop for antiques for countless reasons, one of which is the fact that they house vendors who specialize in charming homemade and upcycled wares! If you want a one-of-a-kind household or are searching for a unique gift, you can find all sorts of fun items, from personalized tumblers to revamped coffee tables and more.
Step 6: Check The Authenticity of the Items
The last thing you want to happen when you shop for antiques is to be tricked into spending way more than an item is worth. Before you purchase anything, make sure you trust that they understand how to determine the authenticity and procure appraisals of their inventory—and if something doesn’t feel right to you, don’t be afraid to research it yourself!
When you shop for antiques in person, make sure you can locate appropriate maker’s marks, manufacturer info, and certification, especially if they are claiming the item is rare and valuable. While this may seem like a nuisance, it’s better to be safe than sorry! Once they’ve proven themselves trustworthy, you know you can shop for antiques there again and again.
Step 7: Don’t Be Afraid to Stop By Their Antique Store Events
Don’t be shy—when you find a Highland antique mall near you that you love, become a part of the community! A great antique store will have events that bring together customers, employees, and vendors. When you visit, ask a staff member if they host anything fun throughout the year and join in!
Types of Vendor Mall Events We Host
Car shows
Holiday photo ops
Plant swaps
Trunk-or-Treat
Arts and crafts workshops
How to Get the Best Price When Shopping for Antiques
Sometimes, the difference between a vintage purchase being worth it comes down to the price point. Some antique stores will allow you to haggle and ask for a price that better suits your wallet, but the best antique malls near you will have a wide range of prices that are already perfectly set for a wide variety of budgets. Haggling depends on the store’s owner as well as your comfortability with straight out asking for a discount—if that’s something you’re comfortable doing, ask the employees if their shop is okay with that time-honored tradition.
Our Bonus Tips for Shopping at an Antique Store Near You:
Tip 1: Once you find your favorite booths, try to stop back often—vendors are constantly updating their stock with new pieces.
Tip 2: Don’t be afraid to flag down the employees when in the store to answer any questions or get a closer look at merchandise.
Tip 3: When you’re loading up to shop for antiques, make sure you bring a car or truck with you in case you find a large item you just have to have.
Tip 4: We recommend coming in right around opening to score the best finds!
Finding an antique store in your town that you can trust is easier than you think. Follow our helpful tips and tricks to discover the treasure trove waiting near you. If you’re in the area, stop by America’s Antique Mall in Florida, Indiana, and Illinois to explore our locations for yourself—we can’t wait to have you!
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