Connecticut Antiquing: Places to Visit and Tips to Make the Most out of Your Thrift and Antique Shopping Experience
Recently, on my Instagram stories I have been sharing some of my little excursions to local thrift/antique/secondhand shops. Many people have messaged me expressing interest and asking for the addresses of the places I visit.
Below is a list of some of the places I visited. I put them in order of where I stopped first to last, so you could easily make a little day trip and follow the same itinerary.
Before you take a trip, I suggest you do the following to make the most out of your shopping experience.
MAKE A LIST: Make a list of things you are looking for, the more specific the better. Once you get into the shops it gets overwhelming really quick, and there is so much to take in that you can easily get distracted and forget what it is you are on the hunt for!
BRING MEASUREMENTS: Whether it is piece of furniture you are looking for or even the height of a bookshelf, measurements are a must have.
SNAP SOME PICS: Take pictures of spaces you are looking to decorate in your home. Sometimes it is easier to visualize how an item will look if you have the photo of the space versus just relying on your memory.
SET A BUDGET: Do some homework and set a budget. If you know you are looking for a specific item, you could browse online at places like Etsy, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc. and see how much people are asking for the items. Depending on what it is, sometimes you can find a better deal online, OR in the actual store. For example, if you have to pay shipping for something like heavy vintage books or decorative sculptures, pottery, etc it makes more sense to try to find those items in a shop. Shop owners also are motivated to clear out inventory so you may also get a better deal versus online,although sometimes not. When you make your list, if you have seen those items online, jot down the prices so you can compare.
SNAP MORE PICS!: If you are unsure of items while you are out, take pictures of everything you see and like and then go home and see if any of them work for your space. If the items aren’t that expensive and you don’t want to risk them not being there when you go back, just grab them! You could always sell them online or tag sale them. Or if you are like me, they will live in your basement for a while, and eventually will get utilized!
ENJOY THE HUNT: One of my favorite things about utilizing vintage pieces in our home is hunting for them. I know we live in a world of swipe ups, and 2 day delivery, but let’s not lose sight of the pleasure a fun shopping experience can give you. Chatting with passionate and knowledgeable shop owners, seeing people in person, supporting local businesses and just feeling the history of the items to me beats boxes on my door step any day of the week.
A CT shoreline antique/thrift excursion (These are in the order in which I visited them):
Clinton Antique Center 78 E Main St. Clinton, CT
Miriam Green Anitquarium Book 88 E Main St. Clinton, CT (the best vintage book selection I have seen anywhere)
Key To the Past Antique Center 301 E Main St. Clinton, CT (under new ownership and very well organized)
Hey-Day Antiques and Appraisal 327 E Main St Clinton CT (very knowledgeable about vintage Persian rugs)
Clinton Goodwill 341 E Main St. Clinton, CT (worth a quick stop, hit or miss as per usual with a Goodwill)
The Trove 1119 Boston Post Rd. Westbrook CT (SOOO good! TONS, have a back warehouse)
Tovas Vintage Shop 1330 Boston Post Rd. Old Saybrook, CT (great vintage clothing and great hat box selection)
Essex Saybrook Antiques Village 954 Middlesex Ave, Old Saybrook, CT (large, vast selection)
WHERE TO EAT: If you start your day early and need to stop for lunch, I love Cristy’s in Westbrook, CT. For dinner, I recommend you end up dining at one of my favorite historical dining establishments, The Griswold Inn in Essex, CT. In the warmer months outdoor seating is available. I love the atmosphere of The Gris, both inside and out. Also, take a stroll along Main St. in Essex, it is my favorite town in CT. Great shops and incredibly charming.
Other Favorite Spots:
Madison Stock Exchange 170 Boston Post Rd. Madison, CT (higher end and re-finished pieces, they carry Annie Sloane Chalkpaint, this is where I buy wax to refinish furniture pieces)
Estate Treasures 134 Main St. Ext Middletown, CT ( I LOVE this place, pop in all of the time, have scored many great finds here through the years)
Mongers Market 1155 Railroad Ave Bridgeport, CT (A fantastic Sunday morning excursion, get there early. This place is a true delight!)
Habitat for Humanity Restore (there are locations all around CT) the best location is in Stratford, amazing furniture finds for phenomenal prices. 1785 Stratford Ave (store entrance is on Honeyspot Rd) Stratford, CT
Stuff Estate Services 39 Center St. Wallingford, CT ( I have purchased some great vintage art from this store)
I know this is a lot of information but hope this helps, if you are looking for a fun and productive day of picking!! Please share with me what you find! Enjoy!
xo,
Nicole
