More and more people are taking up the hobby of “picking”—looking for unique goods that add character and charm to our lives. Antique shops and thrift shops are generally the best places to search for these finds because we pickers love looking for vintage pieces that have a story to tell. If you enjoy searching for one of a kind goods then you’re going to love the picking options in Cape Girardeau!
Downtown Cape Girardeau alone has over 10 antique shops and even more shops that sell antiques as part of their business. Some even refer to it as an antique district due to the large number of shops within walking distance of each other.
Annie Laurie’s tops the list for many area pickers, and has been named the #1 Antique Shop in Cape Girardeau for 11 consecutive years. You’ll find great prices, funky pieces and an eclectic/free-spirit vibe throughout this popular shop on Broadway. I’ve picked up furniture, vinyl records, new and vintage clothes, vintage fabric bolts and plenty of interesting home accessories within the walls of Annie Laurie’s.
Another popular antique shop, Spanish Street Mercantile, is what I like to refer to as the perfect place for “man-tiquing.” Don’t get me wrong, I’ve found plenty of things that I love there too (including several milk glass vases for my wedding), but this place is a man’s dream—you’ll find antique tools and industrial pieces for days! It’s also a great place to find architectural salvage. When you stop in, make sure to pop into their ice cream shop that’s connected. They make their ice cream onsite using an antique ice cream maker!
If you’re looking for variety, Pastimes Antiques and Brick Street Gallery are great places to check out. Both are filled with booths that are all stocked by different individuals renting the spaces. Somewhere in Time Antiques is my favorite place to go for vintage jewelry, although Pastimes has a nice selection of estate and costume jewelry as well. Back Porch Antiques and Riverfront Antique Mall have the best selection of vintage glassware. Riverfront Antique Mall is one of my husband’s favorite places to browse; he recently found an old wooden icebox there that he plans to use in his future speakeasy-themed bar. If you’re looking for whimsy, Judith’s Antiques is the place to go. Judith has the most creative window displays and has antiques upon antiques in her large space.
There are so many places to go and “pick” here, so I’ve provided a list of downtown and local shops worth checking out below.
List of Antique Shops Downtown
- Annie Laurie’s
- Back Porch Antiques
- Brick Street Gallery
- Early Era Shoppe Antiques
- Judith’s Antiques & Gung Ho Militaria
- Pastimes Antiques
- Premiere Antiques and More
- Riverfront Antique Mall
- Somewhere in Time Antiques
- Spanish Street Mercantile
Other Places that Sell Vintage Finds Downtown
- Soulful Home
- Mother Earth
- Annie Em’s at Home
More Antique Shops
- Garden Gate on Independence in Cape Girardeau
- Unique Treasures on Rte K right outside of Cape Girardeau
- Benton Antique Mall off I-55 exit for Benton, MO (about a 15-20 minute drive from Cape)
- St. Mary’s Antique Mall in St. Mary’s, MO (about a 40 minute drive from Cape)
- 531 Washhouse and Country Charm Emporium in Uniontown, MO (take 61 for a scenic 30 minute drive from Cape)
Local Thrifting
You can also find great items at local thrift shops. I personally love going to the Teen Challenge Thrift Shop in Cape to look for thrifted furniture, and Goodwill and the Safe House for Women Thrift Store are great places to look in Cape as well. It’s worth mentioning that the Goodwill in Sikeston, which is only a 30 minute drive south, is widely known as one of the best places to thrift for clothes as well.