Fall is the ideal time to visit the mountains and valley to our west. In our September 2023 issue, we reveal where to go for great hikes and how to see the area by plane or by car. Plus, we’ve found the best places to eat, drink, and shop — and where to kick back and stay awhile.
So many homes and businesses in Shenandoah are packed with history and heirlooms, much of which eventually end up in antique and vintage shops. Why not take a bit of that history home? Searching for the perfect walnut blanket chest or a collection of Elvis vinyl record albums is another great way to explore the Shenandoah Valley’s towns and hamlets.
What constitutes an antique? The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol requires items to be at least 100 years old to be exempt from import duties, so that is the general bar that separates antique from vintage finds.
Some Shenandoah Valley antique dealers set the bar much higher, such as Vilnis Vitols of Vilnis & Co. Antiques in Strasburg. “There is a place for it all around here, but vintage is vintage, and I specialize in true antiques,” he says. Since 1975, Vitols’ shop has been stocked with fine, high-style, handcrafted furniture and art from all over the world, some dating back to the 1700s. Similarly, Scotland-based owners Robin and Lorraine Murray of the Red Schoolhouse Antiques in Millwood specialize in curated pieces shipped specifically from the British Isles and continental Europe.
In contrast, Tony Tahan, owner of Royal House of Modern & Retro in Front Royal, carries a swanky collection of vintage patio sets, uranium and Murano glass, and pieces from the best designers and brands in midcentury-modern furnishings, including Milo Baughman, Adrian Pearsall, and Hans J. Wegner. “Here, it’s all about the clean lines, low-profile, sexy style of the 1950s through the 1970s,” says Tahan.
Long Valley Traders in Winchester is a great resource for fans of high-quality, Shenandoah-made Henkel Harris furniture, along with a huge collection of antiques, clocks, rugs, lawn statuary, and art. The best source of authentic Virginian handcrafted goods, particularly blanket chests, storage cabinets, and primitive pottery, however, is Burt Long Antiques in New Market. “The people of the Shenandoah have a history of strong material culture, taking great pride in and care of their belongings,” says Long. “Some of the pieces in my shop are more than 200 years old, mostly coming from homes right here in the Valley.”
For a diverse mix of antiques, vintage, and collectibles, Neatoville Eclectic Finds in Boyce is a must-visit, especially for those searching for toys from their youth or vintage business signage. Not far away, in an old mill in Berryville, Hip and Humble Antiques and Interiors specializes in antique and repurposed vintage furniture and home decorations, but its attic full of architectural salvage sets it apart from other shops.
Labels aside, the thrill for most antiques and vintage-shop hunters in Shenandoah is scoring a distinct item that is better crafted and made of higher quality materials than anything new in retail stores. “It’s great fun and a bargain, too,” says Julie Ashby of Hip and Humble. “What could be better than that?”
Stop at These Great Shops
Antique stores are listed from north to south in the Shenandoah Valley.
BERRYVILLE
Hip and Humble Antiques and Interiors
401 E. Main St.
BOYCE
Neatoville Eclectic Finds
12043 Lord Fairfax Hwy.
The Fox & Pheasant
114 E. Main St.
MILLWOOD
The Red Schoolhouse Antiques
1014 Bishop Meade Rd.
WINCHESTER
Blue Peacock Antiques
116 N. Loudoun St.
Long Valley Traders
563 N. Cameron St.
STEPHENS CITY
Black Shutter West Antiques & Vintage
5395 Main St.
STRASBURG
King Streat Flea Market
327 N. Massanutten St.
The Strasburg Emporium
160 N. Massanutten St.
Vilnis & Co. Antiques
329 N. Massanutten St.
FRONT ROYAL
Ole Timer’s Antiques & Collectibles
220 E. Main St.
Royal House of Modern & Retro
1207 N. Royal Ave.
WOODSTOCK
Spring Hollow Antiques
322 S. Main St.
EDINBURG
The Flea Market in Edinburg
164 Landfill Rd.
SPERRYVILLE
Copper Fox Antiques
7 River Ln.
LURAY
Mama’s Treasures
22 E. Main St.
Endless Deals
405 E. Main St.
NEW MARKET
Burt Long Antiques
3455 Old Valley Pk.
Shenandoah Valley Flea Market
3549 Old Valley Pk.
Simple Tymes
9471 S. Congress St.
ELKTON
McGuire’s Country Store
189 W. Spotswood Ave.
PENN LAIRD
Valley View Antiques
4469 Spotswood Trl.
HARRISONBURG
Rolling Hills Antique Mall
779 E. Market St.
VERONA
Factory Antique Mall
50 Lodge Ln., Ste. 106
Verona Antiques
307 Lee Hwy.
STAUNTON
17 East Beverley Antiques
17 E. Beverley St.
Eclectic Retro
6 Byers St.
O’Brien’s Antiques & Art
14 Byers St., Ste. 1
Staunton Antiques Center
19 W. Beverley St.
Feature image of Neatoville Eclectic Finds by Jill Devine
RELATED STORIES:
- Where to Shoot the Best Foliage Photos in Shenandoah
- Find Fine Dining at These Shenandoah Restaurants
- 5 Charming Small Towns to Visit Throughout Shenandoah
- Drink Local at Shenandoah Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries
- Take a Foodie Road Trip on Route 11
- Where to Stay on a Trip to Shenandoah
- Ride the Rails with the Virginia Scenic Railway
- Explore Underground Wonders in the Shenandoah Valley’s Caverns
- Insta-Worthy Rentals for Your Stay in Shenandoah
- Fun Awaits at these Fall Festivals in Shenandoah
- Your Guide to Hiking Shenandoah National Park
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
