What did I do on my summer vacation? Well, DH and I took a week off to (1) spend the weekend in beautiful Skaneatles, New York, with some old friends, then (2) continued toward Cleveland, to meet up with some family. Heading west, we very serendipitously bumped into the self-proclaimed largest antique mall in New York State, and you can bet, some serious “blog research” occurred. My overall verdict: Fantastic antique mall, well worth the time!
So where is this secret stash? Seriously, I kind of don’t want to let this information out, because dealers just pounce. But, oh well: If you are on I-90 in New York State — it’s The Ontario Mall Antiques in Farmington, New York, nearish to Rochester. A few minutes off the thruway, easy on, easy off.
Since the advent of ebay, antique malls are an endangered species. So this was a really fun place to visit — just like the old times when hunting was truly hunting, not ebay shooting-ducks-in-a-barrel. Queue violins.
The Ontario Antiques Mall (I’ll call them that) advertises 1,000 dealers, and I believe it. In general, I am a skeptic. Driving up to the building, I thought it was likely to be hype. But once inside, yowza. Central and Eastern New York state was very prosperous in mid-century America — and it seems like a good many of the treasures collected by homeowners then are making their way into this antique mall. I thought the prices were pretty reasonable, too.
I knew I would not be able to get out of there in an hour and a half, as DH suggested. We were there, like, an hour extra, and we didn’t even finish. We had to get to our next stop by 5 or 6 p.m., so *needed* to go. And I will admit, even I can get fatigued after two and a half hours of intense ogling. I ogle everything. Just ask Kate, from when she and I went to “research” the Antiques on Second antique mall in Milwaukee. There might be treasure in the corners of those cases! Or underneath! Or up top!
But hey, the pictures tell (a wee bit of) the story. So here’s what I captured…
88 photos of vintage treasures spotted at the Ontario Antiques Mall — the largest antique mall in New York State:
Scott says
That orange matching swag and table lamp are stunning.
eBay is useful and fun but there’s a special thrill in actually being there, seeing things, holding them.. and like others mentioned you discover things you never knew even knew about.
tammyCA says
Are those the mini Barbie booklets for $18?! I have a couple that I bought at the flea market for a few dollars each because I liked them as a kid.
Also, love the pine cone elves & found some at estate sales..I even make some but of course, I don’t have the heads, just use wooden balls & stitch little hats, coats for them.
pam kueber says
Kate is going to send me some pine cones from her trees so I can make some this holiday season (for some reason, the pine cone-lets coming off my trees are quite small).
Jay says
Nice photos! Nice assortment of spoils from your treasure hunt (the last picture). I never have warmed up to e-bay; I like seeing the stuff in real time. There is always excitement of what lies within when entering a new mall and disapointment leaving empty handed.
Penne says
I buy nearly every pinecone person I find. I love them.
Debbie says
As much as I love ebay (and I love it much more than I should), it still doesn’t hold a candle to browsing an antique mall or going to an antique show. Sometimes you don’t know what you “need” until you see it! I live in Portland, Oregon and there are big antique and collectible sales held here three times a year. An 8-hour day of wandering through them is not uncommon for me. And there’s an awesome original tiki bar nearby. Pam and Kate, you are cordially invited to come to Portland!
Kate says
Thanks Debbie! I hope to make it out there someday — hopefully during one of those antique shows. They sound awesome!
Jacki says
I would love to have those brandy snifter shaped Snack Bowls, what a great idea for a party or the holidays.
Cynthia says
Jackie, me too, those snack snifters are so cool! Imagine how much fun a party would be with those holding festive munchables.
SebastianFTL says
Most people look forward to Saturday because it’s an off day; I look forward to it because I go thrifting! That round table with the blue top would look so good with my Blue Willow & orange Fiestaware!!
virginia says
Thank you for the great photos. I would lose my mind! LOVE Gonder and would have snatched up those red ceramic horses if at all possible.
Your little pine cone guy is very cute. Awesome sad clown action too.
Was happy to read in the last few days that you were out of the cast and feeling better.
Thanks as always for brightening my day and helping me to appreciate our house.
pam kueber says
I bought the pine cone elf. I am obsessed with these! As I love to repeat: People… people who need pine cone people… are the luckkkkkiest peoppppple in the world
Jay says
Imagine my surprise to look at today’s post and see my elf ornament staring me in the face – and you bought it! It is one of the ornaments left from childhood but I think mine is missing his tree. Saving the mall photo gallery for lunch. Thanks for mentioning this place, I will be sure to check it out the next time I travel through the area.
pam kueber says
awwwwwww Made In Japan – by hand. Must have been something to see that in action.
Douglas Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
I’m in upstate New York too – we have a place like this right in my town. I love the extra dangerous game of lawn darts. 🙂
midmichigan says
Thanks for the tour, Pam. Really cool stuff; I especially liked the glassware. Did you guys run across any good tiki bars on the trip?