Quaint shops burst at the hinges with antiques and vintagecollectibles.
Antique shop owners and managers may be ready to buy yourantique, collectible or entire estate - and they are always willingto sell you a thing or two.
Some offer consignment - they'll sell your items and pay youafter they're sold. Others lease areas of their stores to dealers.
The smaller places that aren't part of a cluster of similarstores might be passed over by unseasoned shoppers.
So we've gathered a list of some antique stores, several of whichare off the beaten path. It's not comprehensive, but it's a goodstart to a day of antiquing.
1. The Antique Presidio Inc., 3024 E. Grant Road, 323-1844
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays
Price range: $1-$1,000
Personality: This consignment store screams vintage - right downto the building itself: chipped green linoleum flooring, peelingwater-stained ceilings. Country music plays in the background. Youmay even find yourself chatting with other patrons about theeclectic inventory while shopping.
What's in store: Set aside extra time to delve into the array ofrare and unusual items: a gramophone with a velvet turntable, an oldpinball machine, antique pie tins or Mammy cookie jars.
2. American Antique Mall, 3130 E. Grant Road, 326-3070
Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.Sundays
Price range: $2-$2,000
Personality: When neatness and cleanliness count, this is whereyou want to be.
What's in store: On a hot summer day, the air-conditioned comfortof this tidy, bright and neat haunt will be a refuge. Almost 100dealers occupy 7,300 square feet, selling rare books, coincollections, old promotional movie posters and postcards. This mallwas voted a Tucson Favorite by Caliente readers in 2001.
3. Annabell's Attic Inc., 1010 S. Wilmot Road, 571-8400; 3525 N.Campbell Ave. 469-9600
Hours: 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundaysat the Wilmot Road location. And 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays;11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays at the Campbell Avenue store.
Price range: $5-$10,000
Personality: 'Used' just doesn't cut it - 'pre-owned' is moreapt. Well-cared-for pieces are the hallmark of these classy stores.
What's in store: Many of the items are in such exceptionalcondition that you might wonder if they're really pre-owned. Browsethrough the wall-to-wall furniture, much of which could pass fornew; accent pieces; place settings; and patio sets. Our favorite: astorage cabinet that looks like a vintage gasoline pump.
4. Christine's Curiosity Shop and Doll Museum, 4940 E. Speedway,323-0018
Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; closed Sundays
Price range: $2-$5,000
Personality: When asked her age, Christine Olson, the store'sowner, firmly says, '87.' It's the way she answers everything:precise and to the point. Olson has a story about almost everythingin her store and takes pride in her inventory, especially her dollcollection. Her father was a collector, too.
What's in store: A heaping inventory that includes hand-blown andhandmade glass, Waterford crystal, furniture, clocks from the 1700sand 1800s, Hummel figurines and a hefty collection of sterling andplated flatware.
If you're shopping with the kiddos, be careful. There are lots offragile items.
5. Elegant Junque Shop, 4932 E. Speedway, 881-8181
Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; closed Sundays
Price range: 10 cents-$7,500
Personality: With the exception of the walking areas, almost allof the floor space is crammed with merchandise, yet it's well-organized and accessible.
Wayne and Tina Olson own and operate the shop, and there's plentyof history behind the 30-year-old store. Christine Olson, ofChristine's Curiosity Shop and Doll Museum next door, is Wayne'smom. Perhaps that's why there are painted footprints leading fromChristine's storefront to his.
What's in store: This family-owned business isn't a consignmentshop and it doesn't rent out space - the owners are ready to deal.The store specializes in antique and collectible toys, big andsmall, such as the 61/2-foot Ronald McDonald.
Not everything is antique. In true mom-and-pop fashion, some ofthe items are marked with 'not old' tags.
6. Firehouse Antique Center, 6522 E. 22nd. St., 571-1775
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; noon-4 p.m. Sundays
Price range: $1-$1,500
Personality: Pink lace curtains frame the open storefront window;pink, white and mauve paint covers the walls. The shop has an old-fashioned, with-a-woman's-touch feel.
What's in store: Plenty of sports memorabilia, chandeliers,flatware and vintage salt and pepper shakers. If you'd like to pickup where you left off umpteen years ago on 'War and Peace,' wespotted a copy here. Stacks of dishes and ceramics line sectionsleased to dealers.
7. Granny's Antique Mall Inc., 5302 E. 22nd St., No. 140, 748-1383
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays
Price range: $1-$4,000
Personality: You might think you're at Granny's attic when youenter the maze, loaded with memorabilia, collectibles, vintagekitchen tools and even casino gambling tables. With 26,000 squarefeet of space, Granny's is stroller-friendly for browsing moms.
What's in store: If variety is what you seek, this is the place.Granny's doesn't specialize in anything in particular; it offersbreadth. We found Avon cosmetics displayed with oil lamps andcollectible glass containers.
Plan on staying awhile. Each booth, leased by collectors, mayhave something to catch your eye.
8. Price's Thrift Shop, 505 W. Ajo Way, 295-4465
Hours: Noon-5 p.m.
Mondays-Saturdays
Price range: $1-$1,500
Personality: The 21-year-old Tucson mainstay started on South12th Avenue and has been at its present location 10 years. It looksas if owner Marilyn Melendez set up shop in what used to be a house.
What's in store: The store's specialty is antique wood-burningstoves ($200-$1,500). From the looks of the 'sold' signs stuck onmost of them, they are a hot commodity.
The mix of thrift and antique items includes furniture and toys.Don't be surprised if you spot some of the items later at the GrantRoad antique stores. The owner's daughter, Andriana Melendez, saidthose dealers often buy from the South Side store.
9. Razzle Dazzle, 4247 N. Campbell Ave.
Hours: 323-4544
Price range: $1-$3,500
Personality: When you see the vintage dresses, perfume bottlesand ample selection of jewelry (the owner is a jeweler), you mightthink it's a girly boutique.
You'd be half-right.
This little store is full of antique furnishings, accessories andknickknacks. The floor presentation has a homey feel, with themerchandise arranged to spark ideas on putting items together.
What's in store: Jewelry, including lapis, silver, turquoise,jade and garnet. Vintage dining chairs, bar stools, dishes, dressesand stereos. Owner Cindy Ferris likes to stock items from the '50sand earlier. She says she chose to deal with antiques because 'youdon't see multiples around town. It's more unique.'
You'll find some of her merchandise up for auction on eBay, too.
10. ABC Collectibles, 4034 E. Grant Road, 318-1056
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; closed Sundays
Price range: $1-$2,000
Personality: It's all about antiques, Beanie Babies andcollectibles, hence the name - ABC.
There's one consignment area (jewelry) at the mom-and-pop shop,in which half of the floor space is dedicated to furniture.
The husband-and-wife owners, Karl and Karen Miller, were bothearning master's degrees when they decided to ditch their studiesfor the antiques and collectibles business. 'It keeps us young,'says Karen, 65.
What's in store: Judging by all the furniture displayed in theparking lot, you'd think it was just a furniture store. Not so. ABChouses a huge collection of toys, including Raggedy Ann dolls, plus'Star Wars' and 'Star Trek' memorabilia, decorative plates and yes,lots of furniture - you might even find a Civil War-period piece.
