It doesn't take much money to have a home with style: it just takes time, patience and a keen eye. Sometimes you can buy amazing pieces at a garage sale, but sometimes you can spend hours in an antique store and walk out with nothing. What's the secret then? Experienced antique collectors say that to be successful, you have to know what exactly you are searching for and how much you are willing to spend.
Our photo-essay series the best antique stores in Vancouver with more than a dozen pictures for each location, so you can get a glance at their selection for inspiration. The first two posts in the series featured the eclectic Salmagundi West and Uniques, and Vancouver's true mid-centrury furniture store, ReFind. Now let's have a look into the third best place in Vancouver where each item has a tale attached!

Baker's Dozen Antiques

Address: 3520 Main Street
Phone: 604-879-3348

A little like a higher-end version of Salmagundi West, Baker's Dozen in the heart of Vancouver's antique district on Main is another shop renowned for its impeccable collection of unique and peculiar vintage items. This store is a bit pricier, and many of the wares are behind glass or locked doors, but it is still a welcoming place for browsing, perusing, and investigating. The staff are knowledgeable and can help you find what you're looking for, whether it's antique furniture, some old oddities, or some truly vintage tin toys.

Bakers Dozen Antiques - Storefront

The store specializes in 19th and early 20th century furniture, jewellery, and art. This commitment to the truly retro accounts largely for the steeper prices.

I spoke to store manager Drew to ask him what he thought set Baker's Dozen apart in a neighbourhood known for it's vintage stores. "Well, we're a bit of a destination shop. We've been here for over 30 years, so people know us. We also specialize in antique toys, which is a bit different from your typical store. How to sum it up? We're an eccentric array of everything," he explained.

Dragon

Taking up multiple storefronts, Baker's Dozen still manages to be cramped full of antique goods as well as some new items. The juxtaposition of old and newer toys with some truly weird and creepy decorations makes for a pretty interesting atmosphere.

Given the steeper prices, this store might be more appealing to collectors and real retro aficionados than to your run-of-the-mill shopper. If you want something to distinguish yourself from your neighbours, you'll find it here.

Entering the Store

Funny Magnets

The store specializes in 19th and early 20th century furniture, jewellery and art

Would you buy this blood-thirsty taxidermied fox?

Unusual Early 20th Century Collectible Walking Sticks

Various Little Treasures

The Masks

Bakers Dozen Antiques

The Giant Buddha Head on Display

Bizarre Taxidermy Combinations

The shop is an eccentric array of everything

Old and newer toys with some truly weird and creepy decorations

Meet The Photographer: Kevin Eng

Kevin Eng

Kevin's passion for photography has encouraged others to see the splendour and beauty of nature right at their doorstep, as he captures the sights of the day, and colours and mystery of world while it sleeps. Many of the subjects of his work are based locally in his hometown in Vancouver, B.C., where he first discovered his fascination with night photography. Kevin is currently working as a music teacher, music director for his church, and landscape photographer.

DSKEDT