San Diego Antique & Unique — Attraction in San Diego

A Treasure Trove of Wonders

I recently visited this place for an Classifieds pickup and was utterly astonished by what I found. This place was no ordinary shop; it was a veritable museum of the extraordinary, deserving of an admission fee. The owner, with an uncanny knack or incredible luck, sources unique items from estate sales, creating a collection that boggles the mind.

Among the marvels, I discovered a baby giraffe skeleton, a replica of a whale's vertebrae, rib, and tail, and an exquisite Chinese cabinet from 1800, crafted from rare wood only the imperial family could work with. The assortment didn't stop there: skeletons, shells, stones, jewelry, mirrors, and statues from Africa, South America, Asia, Japan, Indonesia – a global mosaic of history and art.

The beauty of this store is in its chaotic organization, almost like a warehouse where wonders are stacked and waiting to be discovered. I spent hours exploring and still feel like I've barely scratched the surface. I'm already planning my next visit.

The owner is super friendly and helpful and combined with reasonable prices, makes this experience not just fascinating but also welcoming. This store isn't just a place to shop; it's an adventure into the annals of history and the corners of the world. A must-visit for anyone with a curiosity for the unique and the...

While exploring San Diego in May of 2024, my wife and I visited San Diego Antique and Unique on the last day, just a few hours before our plane flight would depart.

We truly didn’t intend to purchase anything, but within a few minutes, we found some items we couldn’t live without, lol!

The problem is that some of them were quite big and heavy, and we weren’t sure how to efficiently get them to our home in Las Vegas.

Paul, the owner, is the most genuine and professional person you can imagine.

He clearly loves his work, and he absolutely went above and beyond to work with us on our budget and make special arrangements to have these items delivered to us in Vegas, a 5+ hour drive!

We are now so happy to have these fantastic pieces in our “unique” home.

I cannot rate this business highly enough. 5 outta 5, 10 outta 10, etc.

Even if you don’t plan to buy something, visit and have a look around at the fascinating collection, full of surprises.

But be warned: you might just find something YOU can’t live...

It would be easy to become overwhelmed by all the amazing and unique things in this space, but the owner has done a wonderful job grouping like items into their own little areas. One huge plus to this shop is the owner, Paul. I asked him about a kind of random metal weight I’ve been in search of for years, and not only did he know what I was talking about, he walked right over to a display case with a complete set. (Yes, I bought it). Usually antique store employees are like, “I don’t know. Just go dig around.” Hunting for treasures can be fun, but when you need something specific, it’s soooooo nice to encounter someone who really knows their stuff. Finally, if you need a mirror, this place has ALL THE MIRRORS. Big, bold mirrors. Small, delicate mirrors. Seriously, all the mirrors. I found the most beautiful vintage mirror for my bathroom...