The Antique Gallery — Local services in Philadelphia

I was in town from MD visiting with my fathers who is having medical issues. After my visit with him, I decided to take a walk down Germantown Ave in Chestnut Hill. I came across The Antique Gallery as it caught my attention. A Caucasian man (owner perhaps) that was sitting at a desk just inside the store asked me if I was fully vaccinated and I told him that I was. All went well as he seemed to be very nice. I made my purchase of a beautiful necklace and earrings and went on my way. This was last Wednesday. This Saturday, my family came to Philly and I was telling them about The Antique Gallery and we all decided to go to go there. I was very excited to take my family to the gallery. We walked in and was asked the vaccine question. We are an African American family going about the normal way of exploring the gallery to find what appealed to us. Suddenly, we all heard the owner speak loudly to someone on the phone that there were just some "lookers" walking around. We were all shocked and insulted by what we all heard as we were in separate areas of the gallery. There was a Caucasian woman in there as well and she also heard the comment. Needless to say we left without making any purchases, A few minutes later, we saw the woman that was in the gallery outside. She expressed to us that she was also shocked by his comment. I still had the jewelry that I purchased a few days prior in my purse. There was absolutely no way I could wear this jewelry without remembering this man's rude comment. Of course I returned my purchase and will not shop...

This fabulous shop has a curiously low rating for a reason. No one who treats people - nevermind CUSTOMERS - the way I was and saw them treat others should be in business. But between their locked door on a bustling pre-Christmas Saturday and horrendous attitudes, I don’t think they want to be. Reading their years of reviews here and elsewhere, there’s a very clear theme. I’ve NEVER been so outrightly mistreated and disrespected while trying to shop in my life. I actually thought it was a joke because two people being so rude didn’t make any sense, like a caricature it was so bizarre. I didn’t know people like that existed and it’s sad to see that energy being so heartily passed on to the son or grandson because it was both of them. I don’t know who was worse, as if they were secretly competing with each other for some “despicability prize.” The future is bleak for people who think and behave that way. It’s too bad because, as a long time jewelry collector with special concentration on old things visiting from Oregon, what I briefly saw was one of the most thrilling and accessible collections I was excited to peruse. In a way I’m grateful and comforted to know the experience I had was not in my head. But mainly I’m disappointed, sad for them, and grateful to know that energy is quickly going extinct. Dated and out of style, I suppose an “antique gallery” is exactly the right place for it to sit,...

The man running the shop was extremely rude; I went into the shop with not a clear picture of exactly what I was looking for as most people do not when antique shopping. His first question was “Are you vaccinated?” In which I replied I was and offered to show my card.

After some browsing, he very rudely asked if I have something specific in mind and I told him I had my eye out on jewellery boxes and he accused me of not having picked any up—after I had spent a good 15 mins going through some!?

He then proceeded to kick me out because he apparently does not want people browsing??? I understand we are still in a pandemic but both of us were wearing mask and I am vaccinated. I was actually about to spend money on a few things right before he kicked me out. Perhaps one should have a sign that says “By...