Scavenged treasures: a local antique mall hunt



I've been a thrifter for awhile now. I go in and out of stages of obsession- sometimes going months without stepping foot inside a thrift or antique shop, and sometimes daydreaming daily about what my local Salvation Army has on its shelves. It's safe to say that I'm in an obsession phase right now. And I just cannot get enough of the hunt for scavenged treasures. Miller's Antique Mall in Verona, PA is giving me my FIX. 

Now, for the disclaimer...if you hate clutter and the TV show Hoarders is your worst nightmare, do NOT click ahead. And definitely don't go into Miller's. Oh man, just please don't. As for my thick-skinned, take-no-prisoners, thrifting friends, read on...




So that is the gist of it. But 1000 times more cluttered. I mean it. Be prepared to be completely and utterly overwhelmed when you walk in this joint or else you'll just turn around and walk back out. Here's how I handle the place.. 

  • Have a few goals in mind. When I go in "just to browse" I leave empty-handed. When I go in with a mission, I'm able to cut through the clutter more quickly and zero in on some awesome stuff. 
  • Don't settle on the first thing you see. Carry it with you, but it's likely you'll see a few more similar pieces as you walk through the mall and it's good to compare price points. Since this place hosts multiple vendors, it's not uncommon to find the same vase with two different prices. 
  • Haggle. If the seller is hanging out around their space, they're likely up for negotiating on price. 
  • Stay focused, but keep your eyes open. What I mean is, be open to finding something you didn't set out to buy. My last trip was supposed to be a basket-hunt, but I left with three awesome pieces of vintage jewelry and a pair of sunnies (check 'em out below)
  • If you're local, check it out in July (only a few more days, people!). All of the vendors have their stuff marked down (up to 25% off)
  • If the temperature is hot, this place is going to be a sauna. It's three floors and you WILL be sweating by the 2nd floor. Dress lightly, bring water, and just sweat it out, man. 
  • Don't miss the basement. It boasts some cool artwork, antique tools, vintage ball jars, and the like. 

1 comment:

  1. I know I'm commenting on an old post, but thanks for sharing! I just moved here and am having fun discovering all the cool places to visit. EN Miller did not disappoint!

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