The Steffen Collection

I’ve visited all the antique and vintage shops in Benicia for many years and I’ve never been treated so rudely as I was here. It was an older gentleman with white hair. I was interested in a piece of furniture and gave him an offer. Instead of telling me he was firm on his price he proceeded to tell me I was rude for my offer and wouldn’t even look me I’m the eye. When I made another offer much closer to his asking he said he would keep it and not sell it to me. I was beside myself and couldn’t believe he was serious and it made me feel horrible when just like everyone who goes into an antique store; I was trying to get a good deal for something I was interested in. Not the biggest or nicest antique store in Benicia, so I would think they would want to keep someone’s business. For anyone who chooses to go into this business make sure your offer isn’t too low because he may get too sensitive and not sell you his merchandise.
If you’d like to visit a place that loves to make a deal, super friendly, and has great stuff. Check out «Fabulous Finds» at the end of First St in the Tannery Building.

This antique store manages to be classy yet not outrageously expensive.
If you’re into linens you MUST visit… there’s a little room in the back that’s PACKED with crisp, immaculate pretties. Susan — the wife half of the charming husband-​and-​wife owner team — painstakingly starches and irons every piece before putting it out for sale. In fact, her husband Joe explained that she makes her local Raley’s manager order liquid starch by the CASE for her! My mom picked up a bunch of snowy-​white vintage baby gowns for a great price.
The front half of the store is filled with the soothing sounds of tick-​tock-​tick-​tock, so this might also be your destination for a one-​of-​a-​kind clock.
If nothing else, stop in and give Athena the Golden Retriever some love and plenty of back scratches!

This is an absolutely charming little store. The proprietor and his companion dog, both greeted me warmly when I arrived. The owner was very careful to explain that because some people are afraid of dogs, or allergic, he wouldn’t let his dog approach me until I said it was okay. That was very thoughtful and I’m huge dog person so it works perfectly for me to have a good greeting. The stock is well-​curated. The linens, ah, the linens! Tons of vintage linens of all types in excellent condition. The prices are good, and some of the prices are great. I will be going back many times. You should go too.

Here’s a nice find in downtown Benicia. They sell antique items, and I was greeted as I walked in the store. I was asked if I could turn around, which puzzled me, but I did and there with tail wagging and stuffed toy in mouth was Athena the Golden Retriever. She gave me her paw and put on the customer service. She led me to her lair, which was a blanket right in front of the old books. Since I happen to be a book collector, this was rather considerate of her. I ended up purchasing an old book on travels in Arabia, but the real find was the owner, who explained where he had adopted his fantastic customer-​focused dog. It’s obvious he loves life and antiques, which made shopping there very pleasurable.
Methinks Athena could teach a seminar in customer success. I noticed she greeted every single person who walked in to the store, very professionally and with no fuss. I will be back, if only to give this gracious dog with the very cold nose another hug. And to buy more books.

Wandering around downtown doing the annual Benicia Wine and Chocolate walk, my friends and I wander into this little gem. The owners greated us instantly, and were super friendly. They were a little busy with the all the people and the wine walk, but we still managed to go through every piece of sheet music they had out. Upon checking out the owner told us she had allot more, and would pull it out for us. We will definitely be taking her up on this at a later time!
They had so many collectables, I could easily spend hours in that store. Even if its just to talk to the owners.

Spending Thanksgiving with family and decided to do some antiquing on Black Friday and found this gem. Retail prices but the owner was beyond friendly and we found some great treasures.