Addison Antique

This place is out of business — and building is for lease.

I realize that the following recounting with Addison Antiques may lack any real consequence since the store is going out of business, though this anecdote may explain to those who are curious why Addison Antique is permanently closing their doors.
To be completely transparent, my experience with Addison Antiques have been fairly neutral in the past. I’ve visited plenty of times, since my partner and I do like perusing antiques – a habit that has been patiently cultivated by years of Antique Roadshow and visits to Alameda Flea every first Sunday of the month. My interactions have mostly been with the head dealer (Deborah, I believe), and while it was never overtly warm, it was never hostile nor rude. When we purchase a piece, it’s usually due to the narrative and history that the dealer or seller paints for us. Sure, we can buy a cherry brown/​dark ebony 18^th century table or candlesticks with Victorian era women in bathing gowns dancing on the façade, but why does it matter if we don’t know where the hell it comes from – then it’s just purely aesthetics, and that’s something we can get by walking across the street to Anthropologie and buying a knockoff of said candleholder. Addison Antiques were never really great at this (see other reviews), though the location and the fact that they are local encouraged me to overlook this.
A neighbor of mine told me yesterday that Addison Antiques is going out of business. I was deeply saddened, since I am a huge proponent of local businesses, and losing a store that collects valuable relics seemed like a cultural loss for a community inundated with hyperreal representations of what Addison Antique is authentically trying to promote. My partner and I went to the store to pay tribute and to hopefully bring something back home.
We walked into the store at 5:33pm. We see three gentlemen in front of the store, chatting about the closure. We see an elderly woman and her daughter perusing the trinkets in the front. Four or five other couples are in the back, looking at furniture. Outside of the store, we see signs of «Going out of business», «Closed», and «Thanks for 10 years». Due to this context, both my partner and I assumed that the store was still open. Right when we stepped in, we were greeted by someone I’ve met before (I believe his name is either Ken or Kevin – definitely something with a K). He first was very polite, informing us that they are closed. We immediately understood and started to head out. Before I could even get my foot out the door, the man very rudely and loudly says:
«I THOUGHT THE SIGN WAS SELF EXPLANATORY!». Followed by a snide scoff.
Let’s recap:
–The store was plastered with signs of «Closing», «Thanks for ten years», and «Going out of business». These signs were general and pointed more to the fact that the store was going out of business and not that they were closed for the day.
–The store was relatively bustling. Three men in front of the store. Many couples of groups in the store perusing.
i turned to the man and said, «That was a really rude comment».
And he responds back,
«YES IT WAS».
My partner and I left as dealing with such interactions is not worth the skin off our backs (though evidently a thousand word essay pontificating about the failures of small businesses is). In the car ride home, it occurred to me, while the interaction wasn’t as severe as other Unilocal posts I’ve come across, it saddened me to see that people, who profess their love for community and ostensibly dedicate their lives to a profession that is underrepresented, treat others in such a disappointing way.
As much as I am trying to resist the basest instinct to delve towards schadenfreude, I can’t help but to relish in the fact that this store will no longer have the opportunity to sully the reputation of local businesses. It is a deep and concerning contradiction to see a business that is supposed to be stalwarts for the community act more like self-​dealing vultures that are more representative of the corporate shills that are putting them out of business.

I make it a point to stop in here about once a month. Every once in a while I find something that catches my interest and I purchase it. My impression is that things are priced fairly. The shop is a cooperative and sometimes the person working the shop might not know much about a particular piece, but they typically call the owner who fills in the details or who decides whether or not to accept my offer if it is lower than the set price. Not a bad place for browsing for antiques and they surely have enough for most people’s taste in things old, unique, or unusual.

I wouldn’t give one start for this store ! I went there few days ago & saw a nice vanity. I wanted to buy it & offered a down-​payment for her to hold that piece until the next day so I would be able to make sure it’s going to be perfect for that spot in my house, she told me that «No need to put money down» and that they holds furniture for costumers ALL THE TIME. so she gave me a business card with all the details on it & I on the other hand, told her that I’ll probably come tomorrow & get the vanity.
AFTER 2 HOURS (!!!) she called me & told me that they have SOLD the vanity ! I was quite shocked ! I asked her why & told her that she knew that I wanted to buy it, but she said «sorry» again — I eve asked her how come they never called me before selling it to someone else but she didn’t reply.
when I went to the store 20 min later the vanity was gone & she have told me that «actually» the «dealer» didn’t want to sell it. first — lying in my face & then again, wasn’t honest at all. she didn’t even looked at me & just moved furniture from on place to the other.
This is NOT the way to treat costumers !!! I would never go back there again.

Well this place posted an ad on Craig’s list. I inquired about one of the items and this was the response «Off hand I don’t know. Please come by the store and see for yourself.» Wow! Nice customer service! So I sent another nice email saying I am over an hour away and would like to know the price. COMPLETELY IGNORED!!! Not a response, nothing. They lost a potential customer of a very avid collector. If they can not bother giving me a price of something they posted on Craig’s list, then I do not want to bother shopping with them! I just don’t get it. You guys posted it on Craig’s list to sell but can not bother with a price inquiry??? From the looks of the reviews below, I am not missing much. It is their loss.

I’ve bought quite a few items here over the years because I was desperate for a few «antiques» and there are few options in this area. However, much of the merchandise is overpriced, and some is overpriced junk. In addition, the customer service is horrible, except for a couple reasonably nice persons who have been helpful… Middle aged guy with dark hair has a horrible attitude towards customers… multiple negative experiences with him coupled with the inflated prices is why I will not return here to shop — ever. Would rather drive 45 minutes to another shop with better product and customer service…

I’m not really much of an antique aficionado. Honestly, I detest the weird smell that emanates from many antique stores and while I like the Anthropologie-​esque look, I’m fine with it being a fake found object rather than a real name-​your-​century piece. That being said, I really enjoyed browsing inside Addison Antiques and not just because it was well ventilated the day we came or its convenient location across from one of my most beloved Anthropologie stores.
The ladies that worked here were quite nice, although I should mention that they didn’t necessarily know a lot about the many of the pieces there. Granted, there was a lot so I guess they can’t be expected to remember more than what is written on the tags. The day we came, there was someone who wanted to buy dozens of pieces but was trying to bargain them down and put them aside on layaway and these ladies were still polite and professional. I was just another shopper and I was getting annoyed by this person.
If we lived in the area, we totally would have made off with a few fun pieces that are similar to the ones at Anthropologie stores but for a fraction of the price, including a rusted metal egg basket, a little white French end table and a 1950’s (I think) typewriter. However, since we couldn’t shove all this into our suitcase this time around, I left with just a small candelabrum with chipped yellow paint. It was a surprising $ 16 (regular price) and I’m sure had we found it across the street at Anthropologie, it would’ve been at least $ 50. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a super old piece, but it was definitely used and looked old enough.
Overall, we are definitely adding this to our list of places that we must visit every time I’m back in the bay area. Compared to some of the antique stores I’ve been to here in Orange County as well as some we checked out in San Carlos, this had a lot of fun, useful pieces in decent and good condition, though some were definitely not «real» vintage.

A good sized antique store with a great variety of furniture, jewelry, books, lighting, and odds & ins. Due to the location (I am assuming), the pricing is… steep. The selection is a 4 but the value is a 2, so 3 seems fair. Given the massive amounts of much better price competition in the area, pass!

Thought this place was nice, had nice things.
But had a HORRIBLE experience with customer service.
Purchased a taxidermy elk head, went home… didnt fit in my house, called immediatly, they wouldnt take it back! $ 700 item i JUST bought and they said no.
They DO however have a program where you can «rent» the item for a day to make sure it works for you… since i didnt do this i got screwed.
Cant even make one exception? They said it was too hard to adjust the books/​payments.
I sold it on Craigslist for $ 300.
Oh, and the old man who helped me load this in my car gouged out my bumper/​rear end with the antlers! i called to tell them about the damage and they never called back to take any responsibility!

Nice clean organized store with lots of beautiful high end items. They seem very selective and only have the best antiques, no junk. A good place if you have a lot of money to spend.

Who loves shopping? Me!!! Who loves history and old trinkets? Me!!! Thats why I love antiquing and Addison Antique’s has everything. as well as an Anthropologie across the street for some shopping for my closet.
Addison Antique’s has just about everything. Tons of jewelry is displayed in the glass cases. A little overwhelming by the amount to look at but all classics. Tons of chandeliers, paintings, vases, cutlery, bowls, plates, a vintage American flag, old tennis rackets and etc. You name it, they probably have at least two.
A little pricey but pieces from decades ago cost a pretty penny nowadays… haha.

Let me start by saying I really don’t understand the negative comment below, I’ve had nothing but great experiences at Addison Antique especially with ALL of the staff who are always so helpful and knowledgeable of there Antiques. I guess some people are just way too high maintenance.
I started coming to Addison Antique about 2 years ago because my girlfriend loves Antique shops and Addison is the best one we have been too by far. I love the look of the store when you walk in with all these different interesting chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. We have bought a few things from here and I even found a beautiful ring for my girlfriend last christmas, and recently Debbie helped us pick out a table, she was very friendly and accommodating as it took us a while to make a decision. There are so many charming items to look at in this store.
So if your looking for Antiques/​jewelry, or a gift for your girlfriend/​wife I would highly recommend Addison Antique.

I don’t know who wrote that bad review but I agree with the positive ones. I am a local and find the people helpful and the antiques, at least most of them, priced fairly — and, if asked the owners are often willing to discuss small discount.

WHAT A RIPOFF. french celluloid doll for $ 35.00 (broken, dusty and gross condition) — when it goes for $ 5-​$ 15.00 at other antique shops around downtown willow glen, downtown campbell, downtown los gatos and pacific grove?
GET REAL ADDISON ANTIQUE. also, i think i would have been a bit more excited about the item had the staff that worked there paid attention to our party of five! we were quiet when we walked in. we’re not rowdy. we were browsing, and i was looking for antiques!
the most unfriendly non-​welcoming to date. it was grossly embarassing to say the very least. this straight haired short haired reddish tinted brunette behind the jewelry counter (who passed my friend and me up several times) did NOT acknowledge us what-​so-​ever; no eye contact; no greeting of any kind. for a little while i shrugged it off and thought maybe she doesn’t see it. she saw us 3x. then i thought maybe she’s a customer or a friend of the owner’s? nope, she worked there.
anyway. one of the store owners, deborah, was told of the situation and apologized profusely and welcomed us back. i just hope when we decide to go back to see their furniture that the straight short haired reddish tinted brunette lady isn’t there again for her customer service is very poor — or she’s very discriminatory. that is all we could think her problem was, for if she were having a bad day, her attitude of gloom and doom would have been more consistent the entire time, but the half hour we were there she had a split personality: dr. jekyll and mr. hyde style.
my friend described it best when she said this is really a hoarders store disguised as an antique shop.
our whole theory is they sell things at over the top prices just so that they really don’t get rid of it. case in point: a bowl of individually broken off ceramic doll heads at $ 5.00 USD a piece. FIVE DOLLARS?! woah.
insane.
oh, another example: empty mini whiskey bottles for $ 10.00. they are old and there still is whiskey inside — at the very bottom of tiny bottle. again, they’re trying really hard NOT to sell things.

Bought a beautiful maple cabinet here for a great price. Prices vary according to the dealer, but there are some very good quality pieces here, and the displays are set up nicely, so it’s easy to look through and not cluttered.

A treasure trove, literally, and a lovely antidote to the manufactured «antique» shlock of Anthropologie, which is across the street. Anyone looking for a Christmas present, wedding gift or something special for the home would do well to check out the ever-​changing stock at Addison Antique. This is a collective, so each dealer’s little ‘store’ has a different feel.