AG Antiques — Attraction in Houston

my friend and I came to this store on recommendation looking to buy some costume jewelry. Upon entering I smiled at the woman working the front desk, I only received a stare in response. Thinking none of it (maybe she just had a late reaction or didn’t process it) we continued on. Didn’t exactly find what we were looking for but thats okay, there was a lot to look at and we found some other items that were nice. Made a quick stop to look at some vintage Pyrex on the way to check out and seemed to catch the attention of the front desk lady as she kept staring at my friend and I. Then she proceeded to storm over and without introduction or asking if we had any questions insisted on taking our items and holding them until we were ready to check out. Now I work retail, and I know exactly what this means: she thinks we’re going to steal. Before coming up to us several of our (white) counterparts had walked right past her with items as well, i’m not understanding why this was not an issue for them but exclusively for us. This event had ruined our mood so we proceeded to checkout, where when I asked if I could go ahead and pay and if they excepted card she looked at me like I was speaking another language. There was a young man with her who answered all my questions instead, and I felt she only became nice to us and initiated in conversation (or attempted to) when my card went through. This event has left my friend and I with very hurt feelings as we were so excited to look at the collection, and had heard amazing things about the store. I hope the staff here learns to do better and really consider who...

After my first visit to find a dining table back in 2006, I became a dealer here so am biased but can offer an inside perspective. About 4 dozen dealers showcase their items in their own spaces and work tirelessly to keep their areas well stocked, clean and inviting and to sell each other's pieces. There are always 4-6 dealers working as sales personnel seven days a week to assist shoppers and open cases. This is not a consignment store - each dealer owns their own merchandise and some have specialized expertise. My own area is Mexican folk art and all things hand made in Mexico in the way of art. Half of my items are antique and about half are newly made by well known artisans of Mexico. A bright blue Mexican closet is always stocked with hand woven & hand embroidered blouses and textiles. I am a collector of Mexican folk art so also buy collections and for this reason, had to also start selling. Many of the dealers are collectors. One dealer specializes in items from France because she is French; another offers beautiful geological specimen; one offers an old fashioned dime store type experience selling lots of little things; several offer mid-century furniture and decor; and one dealer has antiques from Europe which he shipped back by containers over the years. So there is lots of variety and varying expertise. I don't know of any other such shop where there are so many dealers waiting to help you and such variety from which to choose. There is always free...

I was excited to visit this antique store for the first time, hoping to find a special Mother’s Day gift for my Mom. The store has a huge selection, and I easily lost track of time browsing all the unique items. Unfortunately, my experience took a disappointing turn when I unknowingly stayed past closing time.

There was no announcement that the store was closing, so I wasn’t aware until an elderly male employee walked past and abruptly stated, “The store is closed!” I acknowledged this, but he continued in a rude tone, saying, “I’m going to turn the lights off on you!” And then, he did.

Rather than being given the chance to finalize my purchases, I felt rushed out in a way that was unprofessional and unwelcoming. While I understand store hours must be respected, a simple, courteous approach would have made all the difference. Unfortunately, this experience has ensured that I won’t...