Antiques and Collectibles — Local services in Saint Augustine

A Disappointing and Unsafe Experience – Proceed with Caution

As someone who enjoys supporting small businesses and exploring antique shops for their charm and history, I was deeply disappointed—and frankly unsettled—by my experience at Antiques and Collectibles on US-1 in St. Augustine.

Before even stepping inside, the first impression was already soured: the overpowering smell of cigarette smoke lingered in the air as the woman working there sat outside visibly smoking. While everyone is entitled to their breaks, the sight and smell didn’t align with what one would expect from a welcoming and customer-focused establishment.

Upon entering, the atmosphere grew increasingly uncomfortable. We were greeted not with a warm welcome, but with a terse and abrasive question: “Are you looking for something?”—which, when answered, was followed by a harsh warning not to touch anything. The tone wasn’t simply cautious or protective—it was accusatory, as if we had already done something wrong. Her words: “I’ve already had three expensive things break, so I repeat—don’t touch anything” were delivered with such hostility that it created an instant sense of distrust and tension.

This confrontational energy persisted throughout our brief visit. The woman closely monitored our every move, staring in a way that felt invasive and suspicious, as if waiting for a misstep. Rather than fostering an environment of curiosity or appreciation for the items, it felt like being policed in a booby-trapped museum.

Ironically, the store itself is disorganized and hazardous. There were items scattered across the floor, creating multiple tripping hazards—especially concerning considering this store is reportedly frequented by individuals with mobility issues. The very person issuing stern warnings against touching or bumping anything had a walker visible in the back, which raises serious questions about why the layout isn’t more accessible or safer for all visitors, including herself.

Things became even more alarming when we wandered into the back room. There, we noticed a leak and were casually warned that there might be live electrical currents in the area. This room was dimly lit and cluttered with fragile china and other breakables placed haphazardly—some even on the floor. It was both unsafe and negligent. It gave the impression that if something were to break or someone were to get hurt, the customer would be blamed for what seems like intentional neglect.

From a customer service standpoint, the experience was dismal. Beyond the hostile attitude, there was no effort to offer help or product knowledge. The woman working there seemed disinterested, dismissive, and unaware of the very items being sold. In fact, you’d likely get more useful information from a quick Google search than from interacting with staff.

Final Thoughts: This store is a textbook example of how poor customer service, lack of accessibility, and hazardous conditions can completely overshadow any value the inventory may hold. It’s disheartening because antique shops should feel like a step back in time—inspiring nostalgia and curiosity—not anxiety and discomfort.

I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this business to anyone. Not until they reevaluate their customer service approach, safety standards, and store layout. This isn’t just about one bad interaction—it’s a structural issue that reflects poorly on the...

I’ve all ways wanted to stop here driving to the beach and we finally did… I was so excited….unfortunately just to find out how poorly the male owner treats customers….

The lady (one of the owners) and the guy worker that is placing items on the property helping the owners here were very nice…

The male owner with the dog on the other hand was very rude and inconsistent with the prices he’s giving. If he’s not happy with what you’re buying because it’s nothing too expensive he will over charge after stating what price he wants.. the lady will say one price he says another way more expensive..

After all the confusion with what the price is, he proceeded to tell us as we’re disgruntled and about to leave that we wasted his time… WHAT???!?! Not willing to sell for a reasonable price!!!!

(Another note when we were in the other room the worker told the owner that he needed to drop the price on some items an he refused saying he’s not giving it away for free and the worker said I’m not asking to you give it away for free just sell for a more reasonable price…) maybe take his advice and try to keep your customers returning! My family will not be returning to these sellers...

I have this rule that my dad and I live by while traveling, especially on road trips: if we are driving along and see a cool looking roadside stand, farmers market or antique looking place, there’s no debate. We drive off the road and stop to see what we can find.

That’s how we found this place, and it’s wayyy bigger than it even looks from the road. There’s a main house filled with little trinkets and antiques, along with a backyard that has two garage/ farm houses full of things too.

The backyard featured many different metalworks- signs and yard decorations or to use on a deck, balcony whatever. There were these little metal vans that were just so adorable and I wanted to take home all of them, haha.

We met the workers who I also assume are the owners, and they were nice but a little odd. At times I felt like they were watching us suspiciously, as if we were going to steal something but maybe I was just over analyzing. Either way, there was some really neat stuff to be found here. The only other issue I experienced was a lot of the trinkets I looked at inside the house didn’t have price tags, so I didn’t even know the ball park for how much each...