We got out of COVID quarantine lockdown in, what, May? And immediately we went out to the antique malls that we'd been denied entrance to since February, some of which we hadn't been to in a year or so. What did we see?
Well, let's see. The Woodstock antique mall was the first one we hit and it's upped its game considerably; it claims to be the largest in Canada and so far it seems like that's indeed the case. Three floors of this former manufacturing/warehouse/I dunno space are now filled up with stuff, and it's worth an afternoon.
The two in St. Jacobs, on the other hand, are pretty much exactly the same as they were last year, with the weird new wrinkle being that the vendors in both that once had comic books have had all their comic books mysteriously vanish. They're still in the same spaces, still have the old magazines & paperbacks, but the comics are gone.
The Cambridge mall hasn't changed a bit. In fact it seems to have less stuff, if that's possible.
Ditto the Tillsonburg mall, it seems like it has the exact same merch from when we were in there last, in 2019? 2018? I get that the pandemic has made it more difficult for pickers to get out there and bother the retirees and estate salers that are their typical targets, but still, it's weird to see the same exact stuff in the same exact spots in the same exact booths. The Courtland place down the road seems to have a better refresh rate, however. Not great, just better.
Haven't been to Waterdown yet this year.
Beaumont Mill Antiques in Georgetown has been static for a while. We've found better stuff in the Georgetown thrifts.
The Hamilton Antique Mall is reasonably new, in a great building, and seems to be adding vendors at a nice clip. It's worth a visit.
Freelton Antique Mall is reliable, they keep managing to cycle through interesting merchandise.
The 401 Roadshow mall in Innisfill has changed things around a little, it has a few more (boring mid-80s super hero) comics, every once in awhile some neat stuff cycles through.
Further north of Barrie the Pickers' End on the side of Hwy 11 has some great architectural stuff and some truly insane crazy grandma comic book prices. Further north, the Antiques On 11 mall is turning up some interesting pieces, it's worth the drive.
The Port Perry mall is, once again, one of those places where the comic book vendor just vanished. There isn't a funnybook in the place.
The Roadshow mall in Pickering is almost not worth a stop. Overpriced comics and bad furniture.
The Courtice flea market delivers interesting stuff from time to time.
Antiques On 48 in Baldwin is ehhhh (makes hand waving motion)
Sydney Claire and Heath Vintage in Colborne - NOT PORT COLBORNE! - had some groovy stuff the last time we were out that way. Might need to visit again.
The Main Thru Church mall in Orono seems to keep replenishing with just enough interesting merch to keep us coming back. The other antique mall in town is bigger, but the stuff isn't as good.
Perth has a really great antique mall, one of the best we've been to this year. We hit it years ago coming back from Ottawa and it was great then and it's still great, lots of the mid century kitsch we like. Saw a Robotech Lisa Hayes fashion doll there in August, always a good sign.
The Nostalgic Journey mall in Peterborough on Hwy 7 has been a dry hole for a while now.
Craftworks & Antiques At The Barn in Selwyn had good stuff last summer. Haven't been back this year.
The Crossroads mall in Brantford seems to keep delivering small amounts of neat stuff, enough to keep us coming back.
Prudhomme's Antique Market on the QEW seems to have better stuff, need to get out there when the outdoor vendors are rockin'.
If we've been to Lakeshore Antiques & Treasures in Niagara-By-The-Lake any time soon, I can't recall.
Queensville mall closed, Stratford mall closed, and the Barrie mall closed.
