Go for a treasure hunt at Alameda Point Antiques Faire
is 7:30 a.m. on a sleepy Sunday morning in Alameda, and the sun is just peeking through the fog to shine on the San Francisco skyline. It’s a perfect day to stay in bed, but try telling that to the hundreds of cars rolling past the ferry station at Alameda Point and heading a bit further on down the road. Most of these folks are on a treasure hunt.
The sought-after treasures are the items sold at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire, the largest antiques show in Northern California and one of the most popular and well-regarded shopping events of its kind in the state, if not the nation.
More than 800 vendors roll in before dawn to set up their wares, which range from Colonial-era antiques and vintage jewelry to mid-century modern furniture and kitsch. It’s a feast for the eyes to see all that is offered.
“We’re not a flea market,” stresses Allen Michaan, the mastermind behind the 20-year-old market and the on-site go-to guy. “Everything here must be at least 20 years old.”
The crafts that are sold are made from repurposed materials decades old — like the tiny vases Gina Mastintonio of San Francisco makes from old airline liquor bottles.
“This is almost high time,” she said of the early morning rush. “Early morning is when all the serious buyers come. Then it starts to get crazy after 9 a.m.”
The rush she is talking about are the throngs of people lining up to enter at 9 a.m. That’s because of the Antique Faire’s staggered prices. From 6 to 7:30 a.m., the price to enter the faire is $15; from 7:30 to 9 the price is $10; from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the price is $5, the most popular time frame.
But the early bird catches the great deal, Michaan says, which is why the fair attracts many people early, even at the higher price.
“We have many antique dealers from across Northern California who come in early to find pieces they will sell in their stores,” Michaan says. “If you don’t get here early, you risk missing out.”
But not everyone is a dealer. Jean and Ed Lindsey of Livermore came out early to shop.
“You have better prices than at a garage sale, and there’s more variety of things to shop for,” Jean Lindsey said.
Her husband agrees. “There are a lot of treasures.”
treasures range from fine china and jewelry to old Wheaties boxes, Victorian-era furniture and newly made pieces from repurposed materials. There are games, vinyl albums, photos and books.
“The books are the hardest sell,” Michaan said. “Everyone these days has an eReader.”
Jewelry is one of the most popular items, either for dealers looking for resale or for the general public, he said.
During the day of the faire, Michaan hardly stops moving.
“I get here at about 3:30 a.m. and get home around 8 p.m.,” he said. “It’s a long day, but it’s fun.”
He stops walking the rows long enough to tell a vendor to secure his tent or the wind might blow it away and to tell another vendor they have exceeded their space. He is polite, but firm, and everyone happily obliges. Michaan knows many of the vendors, and there is mutual respect between them. They know they must work together to make the huge undertaking successful for everyone.
And it looks like it’s going to be a successful day. The 9 a.m. line is stretching almost a halfIt mile waiting to get in, and the sun seems to have won its battle with the fog.
“This is one of the nicest days we’ve had all year,” Michaan says. “It’s been a hard winter because of the weather.”
If the faire — which runs on the first Sunday of every month — is rained out, it rolls over to the next week. But Michaan admits that even when it does roll over, it’s not as successful, as vendors and customers may have commitments elsewhere.
Michaan stops to say hello to Heather Warden, who runs a brick and mortar store on Piedmont Avenue in Oakland called Gypsy Rose.
“I started here six years ago and it’s been great,” she says of selling her unique and high-end jewelry.
The sentiment is echoed by vendor William Squire with his antiques he procures from estate sales in San Francisco.
“I’ve sold a ton of things alThose
ready this morning,” he said.
One shopper approaches Michaan to ask about scooters to help people get around the fair. Despite his casual baseball cap and blue jeans, everyone seems to know he’s the man in charge.
Michaan assures her that wheelchairs are available. In fact, the faire seems to have everything for the customer — including 40 food trucks and booths selling all types of cuisine.
“We realized that if we offered good food, people would stay and shop longer,” Michaan says, saying hello to the proprietor of Alameda’s Café Jolie, who is serving up coffee and beignets. There are also six ATMs on site for vendors who only take cash.
The market also has paramedics and police on site for the day.
“Safety is our main concern,” Michaan says, adding that here have been very few emergencies in the market’s history. There is even a trailer set aside as a customer lounge for shoppers who may get tired or to serve as a meeting place for groups of people.
The market also makes it easy to pick up large items: Cars can pull up to a gate, grab a cart and get their already-paid-for treasure at no cost.
‘It’s really a win-win for everyone,” Michaan says. “It usually runs like a well-oiled machine”
The true stars of the faire are the items displayed at the eclectic booths. There is even a lamb running around at one stop. But Jolie Brown, who is selling books, vinyl albums and other antiques, is quick to say that Coco is one treasure not for sale.
“She’s a one-woman lamb,” says the Elk Grove woman, who takes Coco along with her to various flea markets and antique faires throughout Northern California.
It’s almost time for the “morning rush” to hit, as 9 a.m. approaches. One man who has been standing in line for nearly 45 minutes says it’s worth it.
“It’s the best market ever,” said Chuck Morgenstein, who runs Woodchuck Antiques. “I always find something I can sell.”