Antique Emporium of Asbury Park — Local services in Asbury Park

I went in yesterday with my partner, and really wanted to like this place because I love antique stores and collect vintage books, earrings, and fashion pieces. Initially had a super positive experience, my partner and i were just browsing and an employee asked me if i wanted to try on an item in their bathroom which was super nice of her, so i tried it on. unfortunately it was too small. she offered some solutions, i said i’d think about it and she called the dealer that was selling the dress and got me a discount (super nice, but she already knew the dress didn’t fit). she then proceeded to find my partner and I in another part of the shop to ask if i had decided and further try to sell this dress, which was too small around my ribs (which can’t really shrink), and went so far as to tell me maybe i could “shave off a few pounds” and “not eat as much” and then commented about my chest size. I’m a size 4-6. i’m a small person. she also continuously commented about my budget (which i never told her), and overall made our experience deeply uncomfortable, and we didn’t stay for much longer after. we do both believe she was well intentioned, but it really still was not at all appropriate. So overall i’m appalled and will probably never be going back. Normally I’m not the type to leave reviews, especially negative ones, but an experience like this could be incredibly harmful to others. I did still get a book which was really cool, but the experience was probably one of the worst and most uncomfortable i’ve ever had. i’ve only ever worked in customer service, i get needing to make a sale, but unsolicited, unwarranted comments about a total strangers body and finances when they haven’t told you literally anything and you’re just making assumptions is way too far. it’s honestly...

As is my problem with many antique stores… Yes, alright, racism etc is part of history. But what kind of person buys racist antiques to put in their homes? They probably arent buying it for a museum. I would not want to cater to the type of customer to do that and it makes buying from this store (like many others) difficult. Not to mention both times I went in here it felt like every single time I looked up the same staff member was walking up and down the same aisle we were in following us around. Maybe she thought we were teens looking to steal but I’m around thirty and a mother, I dont need to be followed around a store. And as again with other antique shops… Many things to find and go “huh, I saw that in tjmaxx a couple months ago” or many pieces of jewelry that are definitely just pieces from current trendy stores (like hot topic, not actual jewelry stores) that arent worth their price tag. I am unsure how they get the items they sell and maybe thats on the customer to know what theyre looking at before they buy it but it rubs me...

Great items! This place is awesome! Prices are a little high but if there's owner about you can haggle. I can understand why$$. I used to have an antique booth myself in PA. There's a delicate balance of what its cost to buy, rarity, booth rental, if your a collector/decorator,condition and emotional memory the item brings. I say this because most people browse while walking down memory lane w/o a purchase. **Just a suggestion when visiting a place like this bring a list of colors, measurements and pictures of what you're looking for. There's only upsides to shopping in places like this : supporting many local businesses at one time,recycling and upcycling and truly loving your one of a kind item or at least very rare. It's a great place! I'm going back for a lamp and vintage wall art; fingers crossed they are still there. But that's the gamble when you...