This story is from the summer/autumn edition of Eat Play Stay Blue Mountains and Western NSW.
Love a treasure hunt? We've discovered some wonderful shops where you'll find an endless variety of vintage, collectible and pre-loved gems.
Mid Mountains Vintage is in the old Woodford service station at 80 Great Western Highway.
Owner Matt Ward invited other dealers he knew to join the store and it's blossomed into an antique centre with 20 dealers.
"With so many dealers curating their individual spaces it means we have a great variety of stock from all different styles and eras. It also means we have new stock arriving every day, which keeps it interesting for everyone," Matt said.
"You'll find vintage furniture, homewares, lighting and kitchenware, as well as records, paintings, ceramics, art glass and cabinets full of curiosities. There's also a broad and carefully crafted soundtrack to enjoy while browsing."
Victory Theatre Antique Centre on Govetts Leap Road at Blackheath is in the Arcadia Picture Palace which was built in 1915. Now it hosts more than 50 antiques and collectables dealers over two levels.
"Inside our centre you'll find a vast array of items from fine Georgian ceramics to vintage electric shop signs and everything in between," centre manager Wayne said.
"Other items include Australian pottery, Roman coins, clocks, vintage jewellery, retro furniture and more. With so much to see, it's best to allow plenty of time to visit us. On arrival, you'll enter the building through The Victory Café, which offers tasty meals with breakfast and lunch menus, as well as in-house and takeaway coffee, of course."
Mr Pickwick's Fine Old Books has been serving antiques fiends and book lovers for 25 years from its impressive double-storey building at 84 Katoomba Street.
"Customers come specially to our store from far and wide, including from overseas, attracted by upwards of 3000 antiques and collectables, and our carefully sectioned 40,000 second-hand and antique books," Guy Weller (aka Mr Pickwick) said.
"One professor from England comes all the way out every year specifically to buy several boxes of books from us, which we then ship by sea-mail. He claims Mr Pickwick's is the best bookshop in Australia, and perhaps the world."
The Velvet Fog at Katoomba caters to music lovers and vinyl collectors with a huge selection of records, rare albums and more. Store owners say if they don't have what you're looking for, there's a good chance it's in storage or they can source it for you.
SalOn is utopia for fashion lovers.
"We create a space for women to come together, connect, feel seen and rediscover their personal style," SalOn owner Sal Isaksen said. "The boutique is a unique combination of warmth and soul. Racks are packed with divine one-off pieces and each piece tells a story."
Sal's vision is to create sustainable change, not only by selling pre-loved and vintage fashion, but also by encouraging us to re-wear and restyle what we already have. You can find SalOn in Katoomba Town Centre Arcade.
This story is from the summer/autumn edition of Eat Play Stay Blue Mountains and Western NSW.
