About 25 years ago, antiquing was all the rage. Flea markets, hole-in-the-wall antique stores, and estate sales filled with young adults looking to fill their home with rare items were quite the norm. Then came the mass-production phase ushered in by Target, IKEA, and other brands. Affordable furniture became the new trend, but ultimately the short lifespan of cheaper materials brought about a newfangled interest in antiques. Fortunately, San Jose has one of the best antiquing scenes in the country thanks to the famed Antiques Row and other stores. Here are a few places in which you can find a one-of-a-kind item.
Briarwood Antiques & Collectibles
Located on Antiques Row at 1885 W. San Carlos St., Briarwood Antiques & Collectibles is one of the oldest antique stores in San Jose. An old bakery houses this antique store, adding to its charm and providing an excellent backdrop for your shopping excursion.
Over 30 dealers exhibit an array of items such as apparel, jewelry, furniture, antique signs, and more at Briarwood. The large variety of dealers ensures that you will be provided with different and new merchandise every time you visit the store. There’s a reason this antique mall was voted as one of the 10 best places to shop in San Jose.
Briarwood Antiques & Collectibles is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Colony Antiques
Located two doors down from Briarwood at 1881 W. San Carlos St., Colony Antiques is the largest antique store in San Jose, offering an assortment of furniture, art, clothes, and vintage toys. The store has 50 dealers and covers over 9,000 square feet — you could easily take days to peruse its contents.
What makes Colony Antiques even more impressive, is the range of styles you can find in its stores. Boasting everything from European furniture to Asian pottery to ephemera from yesteryear, there’s something for everyone’s style.
Colony Antiques is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Whatnots & Doodads
Not sure what you’re looking for? Head on over to the aptly named Whatnots & Doodads. Voted the best antique store in San Jose in 2012, this collective of 23 dealers is always stocking that unique piece for your home or an excellent gift for a loved one. What separates them from the pack is the dealer wish list. If you can’t find an item here, their dealers will put it on their watch list. When they find it, they’ll contact you and arrange a purchase and pickup. There’s no easier way to find something you’ve wanted for your home.
Whatnots & Doodads is located at 1330 Lincoln Ave. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The store is closed on Mondays.
From fancy chandeliers to beautiful oak armoires, San Jose’s antique markets have everything you could ever want. All you need to do is exercise a bit of perseverance in your search, and you’ll end up with decor that’s the envy of all your friends.
Photo by docoverachiever | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
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