Nostalgia draws antique treasure hunters to historic Galveston
Trends may come and go, and your trash may become someone else’s treasure, but one thing stays the same in the antiques business: customers are looking for something unusual and special. Holiday shoppers can find multiple antiques purveyors in Historic Downtown Galveston, which is a good thing for customers, according to Frances St. John, owner of St. John Antiques.
“I know that when I go shopping, I want to go where there are a lot of antiques stores, because it gives me a lot of places to go hunting for that special item or gift,” she said.
Nostalgia is often what brings people into Christine Solis’ shop, Somewhere in Time. Solis plays on that wistfulness for times past with a working Coke machine from the 1950s that dispenses glassbottled beverages. Though it isn’t for sale, it’s the most expensive item in the shop.
“It’s very popular with customers, just for the fun of it,” Solis said.
At the holidays, people are often seeking original gift ideas, and The Strand and Historic District offer a backdrop unlike a typical shopping center.
“It’s not a cookie cutter experience,” said Tulisha Dampier of Hendley Market. “The holidays are a fantastic time to be here in Galveston.”
Currently popular items among these shops include vintage cameras and typewriters, pocket watches and timepieces, Victorian and estate jewelry, military memorabilia and World War II posters, sterling silver, and advertising signs. Being so close to University of Texas-Medical Branch, antique medical equipment is also popular. Holiday specialty items include vintage ceramic Christmas trees and various Santa figures from the 1900s-1960s at St. John Antiques and a selection of more than 200 nativities at Hendley Market.
“We love seeing high school-age young people in the store,” St. John said. “They are buying classic books and they love the old vinyl records.”
All three store owners consider their shops family-friendly, and Hendley Market is even dog-friendly.
“At our shop, it’s OK to bring your dog, but leave your soda outside,” Dampier said.
Hendley Market’s most expensive antique is a 17th century Spanish vargueño traveling desk. Though it isn’t for sale, customers admire it. An oddball category of antique the shop is known for is French glass eyeballs made in the 1800s.
“People go right to the back of the shop to look at these,” Dampier said. “They are becoming hard to find. We’ve had both artists and doctors buy them.”
Working in antiques and vintage items, St. John and her husband, Harry, consider themselves recyclers saving history. Solis has a similar philosophy.
“I enjoy the delight on customers’ faces when they find an item of nostalgia or something they have been looking for,” Solis said. “It’s fun to know we found the proper home for these antiques to live on.”