Good Questions: Cheaper Vintage Shops?

AT,

I love flea markets and vintage/antique furniture. I've only been in San Francisco for nine months, and my boyfriend and I didn't have time to explore when we first came out. We're moving to a MUCH larger place in North Berkeley in the next few months, and I finally get to have some fun decorating. I've since found a few places that seem fun (Modern X-21, The Apartment, Swallowtail, Nest), but I know I can find stores in the area that are a little closer to my price point. CL is useful, but I miss actual brick and mortar places. Any favorites I should check out? Thanks!

-Samantha

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Samantha,

Our favorite places to find deals (other than CL, of course) are actually not brick and mortar, but the Alameda Antique Faire and San Mateo Antiques & Collectibles Market.

We've also written about several places that we'd recommend checking out:

• Antique Society in Sebastopol
• Janakos and Company in Burlingame
• Muzzy's Attic in SF
• The Other Shop in SF
• Past Perfect in SF
• Retro@Home in Emeryville

And we'll continue blogging good resources as we get to them. In the meantime, anyone have any other suggestions for Samantha?

Image: sfgirlbybay

Comments (14)

The Other Shop on Divisadero, Mickeys Monkey on Pierce and Haight, The Antique Mall are all reasonably priced. And then theres places like Urban Ore, and Creative Re-use. But you have to do some digging there

P.S. Retro@Home in Emeryville is way overpriced

Thrift Town on Mission. Seriously. I have found so many amazing pieces there. My most recent score was a set of two Lucite nesting tables for $49. And I second Mickey's Monkey on Pierce, they have had a lot of mid-century feeling stuff out lately.

Hi Samantha,

Welcome in advance to the East Bay! There's a new Midcentury/Danish Modern store in Emeryville called Klassik by Lynne that has some nice pieces. It's not bargain basement, but there are reasonably priced items mixed in with the pricier stuff.

I recently blogged it here: http://morewaystowastetime.blogspot.com/2007/04/retail-therapy-klassik-by-lynne.html

Also, there used to be a great shop a couple of doors down from Bakesale Betty on Telegraph in the Temescal area of Oakland. I think it was called "Front Porch Antiques" and the last time I went by, there was a sign saying they'd moved -- but I can't remember where. Anyone have an idea where they are now?

Anyway, have fun exploring this side of the Bay!

All the best,

Leah

Leah -- you're talking about Porch Light Antiques on Telegraph and 51st. Great store, but more for knick knacks than furniture.

I second the thought about Retro@Home's prices -- you can get much better deals by keeping an eye ut at places like Urban Ore or Thrift Town (there's also a great one in El Sobrabte).

Welcome to the East Bay!

Sorry -- meant El Sobrante!

That's it -- Porch Light Antiques! They did have some tables, sideboards, armoires, etc.

But anyway, the Telegraph store is closed now. Where did they move?

Leah

Thanks! These seem really, really cool. I can't wait to get my car and actually transport things home. Sigh...soon...

Oh yeah, there's also Trout Farm (MCM, not super-cheap) on Bancroft near the Cal campus in Berkeley, and Gilman Trading (eclectic vintage with an Asian vibe, reasonable prices) and Reliance Antiques (gorgeous refurbished vintage stoves and tables made from reclaimed wood -- not cheap but fair) on Gilman.

Best,

Leah

Porch Light moved out of state. I was very sad when that happened.

My favorite store in the Eastbay is Mingonne. They have an adorable mix of precious french antiques and accessories along with more modern interesting pieces. Even better - they are very resonably priced. 1000 Jefferson st, Oakland CA. 94607, 510.444.5288, mignonnedecor.com

the Drugstore collective formerly on mission and 28th is now called I-Spy on Market and Gough (haven't been inside yet tho to check out the goods price range).

I second the recommendation for Mignonne.

And WhitneySF -- thanks for the reminder to get my blog post on Mignonne up!

You can find it here:

http://morewaystowastetime.blogspot.com/2007/05/retail-therapy-mignonne.html

Leah

You can find some antique furniture stuff at www.antique.lv, also exports to U.S.