Signs along Adams Avenue in San Diego\u2019s Normal Heights neighborhood mark an area known as Antique Row. However, due to gentrification, the street has gone from hosting over 25 antique stores in its heyday to just one today.<\/p>\n
In the age of Etsy and eBay, antique stores will likely populate shopping districts less than in the past, but there is still one place old-school antique buyers can go and browse through aisles of vintage treasures \u2013\u2013 La Mesa. As of now, there are eight antique stores in La Mesa, most of them on La Mesa Boulevard and located near the Village.<\/p>\n Frances Settle, co-owner of Antiques at the Village, said La Mesa\u2019s small-town charm makes it an ideal place to attract antique shoppers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just a little slice of America here and it\u2019s the only little village left in Southern California,\u201d she said, adding that antique collectors often come to La Mesa because of the concentration of shops.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always good to have neighbors that are in the same line of business,\u201d she said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a draw.\u201d<\/p>\n Settle joined Antiques at the Village in 1998 and credits the store\u2019s staying power to its location and a landlord who sees the value in keeping happy tenants.<\/p>\n She also loves the convenience of operating a business in La Mesa. The retail hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Village allow the shop to operate without having to hire extra help.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a mom-and-pop, you got to have that, otherwise you work yourself to death,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The rising cost of rent for retail space is one of the main reasons that districts like Adams Avenue\u2019s Antique Row have seen stores closed and replaced by more lucrative businesses like restaurants, pubs and salons.<\/p>\n \u201cProperty values are a little bit more affordable here than in San Diego,\u201d said Marie McLaughlin, owner of Antique Mall, a large antique center that houses 40 spaces for dealers to set up unique displays of merchandise. Although rent is cheaper in La Mesa, McLaughlin said it has still doubled in the last 10 years.<\/p>\n Another challenge for antique shops is the changing value of vintage items due to changing tastes of buyers.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople aren\u2019t collecting like they used to,\u201d McLaughlin said. \u201cWhen they see values are down, they just aren\u2019t as intrigued as before.\u201d<\/p>\n McLaughlin pointed to items like collectible ceramic figurines called Hummels that are worth \u201chundreds less\u201d now. Other items she\u2019s seen a drop in demand for include vintage cookie jars, salt-and-pepper shakers, and other household items. But there are some hot items that are always in demand.<\/p>\n \u201cI place ads on Craigslist and all they want are the toys,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n When it comes to online sales, McLaughlin puts a few items up on eBay, but prefers to stay old-school and sell her antiques in the store.<\/p>\n \u201ceBay is a tremendous amount of work and this is a lot more fun,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople like to touch what they buy and know what they are getting.\u201d<\/p>\n Not all stores are averse to utilizing online retail services to sell antiques. Michael Moore of Park Estate Co. said the Internet is just beginning to shake up how the antique business is done.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the first year we are seeing a huge effect,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just have to learn how to work with it more. At least half of the buyers are going to online retailers, so it is necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n Park Estate is already adapting and does \u201ca tremendous amount\u201d of online sales, Moore said.<\/p>\n La Mesa\u2019s demographics also give the retailer a more traditional boost to sales.<\/p>\n![\"Antique](\"https:\/\/lamesacourier.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/IMG_6324webtop.jpg\")
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(Foto por Jeff Clemetson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>