*** Please note that this post on Atlanta, GA has not been updated since 2015. I had planned on updating it in 2020, but as we all know, 2020 hasn’t gone as planned! So, please check back in 2021 for a freshly updated post. ***
If I haven’t mentioned it before, my husband’s favorite past time is sword fighting- with the long sword, to be precise. He studies historical European martial arts with various groups in the Carolinas as well as Eastern martial arts at a local dojo. When he had an opportunity to train with a sword fighting studio in Atlanta, Georgia, we decided to turn it into a long weekend…which meant I could go junkin’!
Truth be told, a city as large as Atlanta offers COUNTLESS options for antiques, vintage, and thrift stores…so this post will just have to count as “Part 1” in a series…because with Atlanta not all that far from me, you can be sure that I’ll be returning many more times…for many more blog posts.
Let’s get started- here are the places I hit this time around!
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Now isn’t that a clever name for a shop? It gets right to the point and is probably true- if you enjoy thrift stores and flea markets. And I most certainly do- especially if they are climate controlled…so I was in luck with this place! This is the kind of shop that requires time- there are aisles and aisles of “stuff”- a mix of thrift and vintage…and the shelves are FULL! I’ll have to come back when I have more time, but if you’re looking for an indoor flea market with decent prices, than My Favorite Place needs to be on your to-go list!
Kudzu is a long-time favorite of mine! A very good friend of mine introduced me to it several years ago…and now I stop in at every chance I get! Think of yourself as Alice and allow yourself to fall down the Kudzu rabbit hole- it’s a fantastical vintage mix of mid-century modern, industrial, cottage, and kitsch. I don’t think I’ve ever left Kudzu empty-handed…there are always treasures that I need to take home with me!
Decatur Estate and Wayback Antiques
After Kudzu’s wonderful quirkiness, I checked out this new-to-me antique mall. Decatur Estate and Wayback antiques is a more standard antique mall that hosts finer antiques, lots of glittering vintage fashion jewelry, pretty glassware, and rustic primitives. I was repeatedly drawn to the cases containing screwback earrings and rhinestone brooches…typical me! And I did end up purchasing some pretty jet bead earrings- can you believe I didn’t have any like that yet?
While I was out and about near Georgia Tech, I hit an absolutely fantastic Salvation Army Family Store! I know there are dozens of thrift shops in Atlanta and I was only able to hit a couple, but this one was fantastic…in part because on the day I was there, everything was half off.
So this place, The Fainting Couch, was a lovely discovery! It hadn’t made my radar and wasn’t on my list…but I stumbled upon it and I am SO glad I did! Jazz and swing music from the 20’s and 30’s greet you as you enter, and then the treasure hunt begins. It is as eclectic a mix as you can imagine- I ended up with some jewelry and an early 20th century light fixture to repurpose. But there were old steamer trunks…and typewriters…a vintage Hoosier cabinet filled with wonderful old kitchen gadgets…antique cameras and Depression glass…and so much more that I just didn’t have the chance to unearth. Highly recommend for anyone with a vintage soul!
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All in all, it was a fun-filled whirlwind of a weekend! I am already conjuring up ideas for Atlanta: Part II so if you have suggestions of vintage shops or thrift stores that I need to check out, please drop me a comment below!
Explore on!
S
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
i am green with envy so many places so little time xx
I know!! And there are so many places that I didn’t even get to!
Next time you must check out Vintage Village in Snellville, GA just outside of Atlanta. Great selection and fantastic prices. Dealers from Scott’s Antiques often shop here.
Wow, that’s great to know- it’s definitely on my list now! Hoping to swing back by in early September. 🙂
There is a town nearby called Aurora and it is filled with a variety of antique shops! So much fun to explore (you know how that is!) and seek a great find at a good bargain! There is even an architectural salvage warehouse there!
Oooh, I’ll definitely put it on my list- thanks!
Oh, when I said nearby I should have mentioned near me here in Oregon.