By Dana Hubanks
If you’re anything like me, then you love spending an occasional Saturday perusing vintage treasures. Luckily, Bellingham is an excellent place to be an old-time enthusiast. Here’s a quick list of four especially well-curated shops around town.
Aladdin’s Antiques and Records/Penny Lane Antique Mall
Undeniably the most eclectic and extensive antique destination in town, this coupling of stores is a necessary stop for anyone with a fascination for hidden treasures. Housed in the same building, Aladdin’s and Penny Lane are two separate businesses comprised of goods and antiques from over forty individual vendors. What this means is that you are guaranteed to find an enormous array of items any time you step into this antique wonderland.
In the more than 10,000+ square feet of shop space, you’re bound to find anything and everything from vintage camera lenses to finely curated clothing to imported silver to vinyl records dating back to the swing years. Every time I step into either Aladdin’s or Penny Lane, I find at least one thing I can’t leave without.
Be sure to set aside at least an hour for this venture. With so much to see, you may not want to leave.
Aladdin’s Antiques and Records/Penny Lane Antique Mall
427 W Holly St.
360-647-0066
Open Daily:
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Diamond Antiques
Diamond Antiques is the perfect stop for those in search of larger items for the home. From antique wooden desks to a hand-carved chair in the shape of an elephant, Diamond Antiques is full of items fit for you home. Walking into this shop, one immediately gets the impression that these folks know antiques. Nothing tattered or torn here. Everything is in pristine condition. If you’re an antique connoisseur, this is certainly the shop for you.
Diamond Antiques
1806 Cornwall Ave
360-676-9100
State Street Thrift and Vintage
State Street Thrift and Vintage is a self-described “community thrift shop.” With numerous different rooms housing everything from vintage men’s wear to kitchen essentials to used books to vintage jewelry. With a friendly staff and an extensive collection, this shop is an essential stop for anyone on a thrifting venture around Bellingham.
In addition to being a great thrift shop, State Street also has a deep commitment to serving the community in as many ways as possible. Just recently, the owners of the shop gathered contributions for a significant donation to the Whatcom Hospice Foundation, an independent organization working to support hospice services in Whatcom County. Stop in to State Street and know that you are supporting a good-hearted business.
State Street Thrift and Vintage
1051 N State St.
360-671-1082
Hours:
Tuesday through Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Fairhaven Antique Mall
The Fairhaven Antique Mall is a finely curated shop full of uncommon curiosities. High on the wall above the cash register hangs a Civil War era banjo. Antique wood saws with finely carved handles are layered atop one another above vintage tape dispensers and delicate hand-carved fishing poles. In the back of the room, two enormous railroad lights are propped up on a wooden shelf next to a collapsible metal laundry hamper. Treasures can be found in every nook and cranny.
Aside from these strange finds, the Fairhaven Antique Mall also houses an extensive collection of vintage jewelry, porcelain dolls and women’s and children’s clothing. Anyone who visits this shop is bound to find something fascinating and beautiful to add to their collection.
Fairhaven Antique Mall
1201 11th St.
360-922-7165
Hours:
Monday through Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
