Antiquing: New and Improved

Ever since I was six years old my mom has had a deep love for antique stores – always hunting for the perfect painting or finding a new piece of fina China to add to her collection – but for me, it was a deep hatred.

I dreaded getting dragged along with my mom to sort through “old, smelly” furniture and pieces of art, sitting on the floors for hours in boredom. Meanwhile, my mom was fangirling over vintage vinyl records and clothes. 10 years later, and I finally understand the obsession with antique stores.

The trend of thrifting has grown immensely popular for teenagers recently. The quirky, eclectic idea of sorting through people’s once “favorites” to create a cute, vintage outfit is something that has grown on all of us. Once I told my mom about my newfound love for thrifting, she practically trampled over me as she ran to her laptop to show me antique stores and reinvent a new idea of them for me. 

At first, I thought there was no possible way after all this time antique stores would suddenly be intriguing, but after walking through multiple shops and discovering the treasures you can find in them, I was proven wrong.

RIVER MARKET ANTIQUES

My first stop was River Market Antiques, a 30,000 square foot, three-story, brick building located in the heart of the River Market. A massive mural of the river was painted on the side of the building and immediately caught my eye. 

I was overwhelmed with all sorts of trinkets – the items ranging from fur coats and vintage band tees to coffee mugs. Every room I turned had walls and floors covered in items for sale in all of the coolest and oldest degrees. It was hard to resist grabbing the Hawaiian license plates from the 80s or the glass milk bottles from the ‘60s, or even the hundreds of alternate rock vinyl records. 

I saw a red sweater that, although pretty and used, screamed my style, I had to buy it. The River Market has one of my new favorite antique stores – I suddenly understood what the past years of my mom obsessing over antique stores was all about.

AUCTION HOUSE

The second stop I chose was located right off the West Plaza and had a whole street filled with different antique stores – the ultimate jackpot for any antique lover. When first stepping foot into Auction House, I felt like I was in a horror film waiting for a serial killer to find me amongst the creaky floors and old paintings. But the more I ventured past the creepy paintings, the more at home I felt as I approached the jewelry section. 

Auction House had a specialty for paintings and furniture, as vintage tables were stacked one after the other. Every floor I discovered was covered in one-of-a-kind artwork and beautifully crafted tables and chairs. They had a section dedicated to Christmas antiques and decorations, which the five-year-old Christmas lover in me absolutely adored. 

PARRIN AND CO.

Right next to Auction House was a smaller antique store by the name Parrin and Co. – a pink, teacup-filled antique store that is runner-up for my favorite. The hundreds of teacups and paintings caught my eye as I peered in from the window.  

Most antique stores feel like a maze filled with passages and staircases leading you to room after room, but the layout of this store was simple, as it is just one big room. 

No matter where I turned I loved everything I saw, which was different from the other antique stores I visited. It wasn’t just a shop by any means, it was unique in the sense that it collected different sorts of antiques. They don’t collect just old wooden dressers and China, they collect paintings centered around fashion, gold dishware and decadent gold frames that anyone of any age would love. Parrin and Co., deserves more credit than it may get. 

CHRISTOPHER FILLEY ANTIQUES

My last stop for the day was the last shop on the street, Christopher Filley Antiques. Upon entering the shop, Mr. Filley himself greeted me with a “hello”, adding to the local, homey atmosphere. Filley was a bit of an eccentric man, but nonetheless a sweet one, and prideful of his work in antiquing – as he should be. 

This shop didn’t exactly pop out, as it was just an average antique shop to me. The prior stores all had something unique that resonated with me, yet Christoper Filley Antiques did not. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s still a quality shop filled with eccentric and eclectic furniture, artwork and antiques, however, it’s not my style. Although I probably would not revisit Christopher Filley Antiques, the store had a wonderful charm to it.