Spokane, WA

I love exploring antique stores. Each one is completely different and has an entirely new selection of content to browse through. So when I drove past what I noticed to be yet another antique store I hadn’t explored yet, I had to stop in. This antique store is easy to miss because they haven’t had a chance to put their signage up yet, but I’m glad I was able to spot them. They are at 707 N. Monroe, just as you pass Golden Rule Brake over the bridge. This is the perfect antique store to check out if you are a collector of teapots and/or fine china.

The shop is set up with several tables with a set of matching china dishes laid out on each one. I’m a sucker for pretty teapots, so I loved the fact that they had several different ones set out for me to admire. The different patterns and colors next to each other created a collage similar to what you might find in a beautiful English flower garden. Everything was so quaint.

In addition to what’s on the tables, they have shelves of matching dish sets, and some pieces of furniture set out in the semblance of a room. Their glass cases at the counter are full of beautiful glittering old fashioned jewelry. I was particularly taken at one large “diamond” necklace that sprawled out in a fringe fashion. It was reasonably priced, just as was everything else in the shop, for about $60. I’m still considering going back to buy it sometime later this month.

The shop just opened up on December 8th. They had a rough start during the Christmas season because of all of the snow. For the majority of those rough couple of weeks they didn’t even have a walkway, so it was impossible for anyone to even get into to store. But, they told me, after the snow has started clearing things have been picking up. They should have the rest of their signage up within the next week or so, making it easier for people to be aware that they are open and in operating business. Their hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The Antique Gallery

Going to an antique store is usually like browsing through someone’s attic, or like going on a treasure hunt. It can feel like a hunt because you have to really look at everything to find something that strikes you. The places typically aren’t very organized, and everything is mixed together in a disorderly fashion. This is not the case at The Antique Gallery at 620 N. Monroe St. My first impression upon entering the shop was definitely astonishment at how well-kept the place is. Everything is displayed in an orderly fashion on the walls, in cases and shelves, and on the furniture. The set up is easy to browse through, and makes it very shop-able.

There are over 37 dealers that sell items within the shops space, so there is a variety to pick and choose from. There are glass cases filled with jewelry and other wearable treasures. The walls are filled with beautiful reproduced prints and original works (some dating over a hundred years old).There are complete sets of beautiful porcelain dishes (some that fill an entire china cabinet display!) Also, there are many pieces of lavishing European furniture, which was what was most impressive to me.

If you happen to be on the lookout for the perfect china cabinet, The Antique Gallery is the place to go. They have many cabinets of different sizes, wood colors, and capacities sure to fit what you are looking for. And they are all in such good condition! It was easy for me to fantasize taking several of them home with me and filling them up with pretty dishes and knick knacks to gleam through the windows. And the best part is that they were priced so nicely! Most of those china cabinets could have easily been priced over $2,000 at a regular furniture store, but at The Antique Gallery they average at about $675.

The staff was very nice and helpful. They even will arrange to ship the stuff you buy over to your house. So even if you don’t have the truck to take that new (old) china cabinet home with you, they can arrange for it so it’s still an option. The Antique Gallery is open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Lillian Conn Antiques & Dinah Carlson Gallery

The sophisticated art and antique collector doesn’t want to bother with shops that sell chipped china dishes and ratty old toy dolls. My Grandfather is one of these collectors. When I told him about some of the antique shops I’ve been exploring lately he recommended that I go to a different one. He told me about Lillian Conn Antiques & Dinah Carlson Gallery (located at 1001 W. Augusta). I took his advice and decided to drop in, and just like he said it would be, the restored Victorian style home with a completely different experience.

Because all of the art and antique items are set up within an actual home, it’s easy to envision what these things could do to your own home. Each room is decorated with unique and original art on the walls, and each shelf and table contains beautiful, polished antique items.

My grandpa is big on collecting silver dishes and trays. Now that I’ve been to Lillian Conn Antiques & Dinah Carlson Gallery I can see why he loves this place so much. There was a wide selection of beautiful silver items. I eyed several things I knew would be good considerations for his next birthday. I fell in love with several of the beautiful paintings they had on their walls‚Ķ each was unique and spoke to the voice of their creating artist.

This location goes farther beyond just being a shop and a studio gallery. They offer services on interior design, including simple advice on what items would be good for your home and how you should display them. They also offer appraisal services. So if you think you have a valuable antique item, but aren’t really quite sure, you can bring it into the Gallery and they will let you know how much it’s really worth. I can only imagine what a valuable service that must be for professional collectors.

Lillian Conn Antiques & Dinah Carlson Gallery is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, or by appointment (call: 509-329-1005).

Time Bomb

My boyfriend and I were headed to Milford’s Restaurant to go out to eat when we decided to stop in the shop across the alley before we headed in. “Time Bomb,” we decided, was not a usual name for any antique store we’d been in before, and as it turned out, that was because it WASN’T like any antique store we’ve ever been in before. We were both very excited that it was still open and we were able to go inside and check it out. Time bomb turned out to be anything but a “tea party” store. They host an array of vintage toys, clothing, records, and more.

The main items they carry are toys. And not just any toys, but the cool ones you remember playing with when you were a kid (and probably your parents too.) I’m talking about all of the Star Wars action figures (and LOTS of them), the Hot Wheels cars, and old-school arcade games. And entire set of miniature Star Wars action figures (unopened!) ranges from only $8 to $12, for a major collector’s item I thought these prices were amazing. The figures range from a quarter of an inch in size, to the 12-inch dolls. The arcade games averaged to be about $300 each, and held such well-known titles as Pac-Man.

In addition to all of the vintage toys, there are boxes and boxes of comic books. Perfect stop for a comic book lover. While we were there we watched as another group of kids was discovering the shop for the first time as well, eagerly grabbing several different comic issues in excitement. There were also several shelves of regular books, covering relative subjects of art and comics. Large boxes of vinyl records were filled with a wide variety of music styles, certain for there to be something in there for everyone with a record player.

The overall experience of Time Bomb is something that has to be enacted. It’s a great little shop, set up so well for its purpose. In addition to the wall being covered with hundreds of fascinating items, the ceiling is covered with plastered images, creating an amazing collage that you notice as soon as you bother to look up. Time bomb is open from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Take a stop in if you feel like being blown back into the time of your childhood.