Antiquities in Sonoma County: Two Great Stores

Antique Society in Sebastopol, CA. (Maxine Salvador The Puma Prensa)

By Maxine Salvador, business manager and Rebecca Almendra, staff writer

History is scattered throughout Sonoma County: in the grand houses in the McDonald Mansion neighborhood, along train tracks long lost to rust and grass, and even tucked within high schools and parks. As new people move in, the old moves out, leading to the dynamic communities we know today. However, even as we sell old varsity jackets or wooden tables, know that these items are not decrepit waste left to the rats and dumpsters, but treasured time capsules of a bygone era, sentimental memories, and nostalgia of our past. Do a little digging, and you uncover our local stories.

The first place to look on your adventure is local antique stores, which are one of a kind and key holders to local history. Sebastopol’s 20,000 square foot Art Deco warehouse shop called the Antique Society is most definitely a time capsule from years past. As you find yourself wandering through the mystical halls of this store, you’ll probably catch yourself being captivated and intrigued for hours. Founded in 1989, the store has formed a well known identity among antique lovers of Sonoma County and for a very specific reason. The store has a wide collection from over 120 dealers from which it acquires its treasures, often from local residents. You can find maps of local rivers and water species drawn in 1910, a local newspaper covering D-Day, and an 80s letterman jacket from Santa Rosa High School: the time range is expansive.

The store itself is massive in size, and might even be a bit overwhelming with the amount of items in it. However, it’s conveniently well organized to find just what you’re looking for, sectioned into time periods and items. The east side of the store mainly consists of larger pieces of furniture and light fixtures, filled with archived masterpieces of artisanal woodwork. While the west side has clothing, smaller decor and trinkets of sorts, you might just come out with a pristine 1970s fur coat or 1950s comics of Captain Marvel, Jr. You can find a mid-century modern space with geometrically shaped walnut wood furniture, and within just a few feet, a classical Americana space filled with retro homemaker magazines and knit table covers stands.

It’s robust and hearty with its various caverns of hidden gems, almost actively maintaining bits and pieces of history. If you're simply bored on a slow weekend day in need of something to do or perhaps an antique enthusiast, stopping by here wouldn’t hurt. The Antique Society is a genuine historical treasure for Sonoma County, explore it if you get the chance.

If you can’t make it to Sebastopol, Whistle Stop Antiques in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Historic Square District has established itself as one of the best antique stores in town. In business since 1973, the store’s long tall display windows have continued to show off as five decades have passed. Year after year, Whistle Stop Antiques continues to be named the “Best Antique Store in Sonoma County” by the Press Democrat and North Bay Bohemian. The store speaks for its title as it indulges you in a great moment of nostalgia and intrigue, even if unfamiliar. There’s an extravagant Time magazine collection (possibly one of the largest ever), a massive toy and model car collection which has its own model car engineer expert at hand, and an endless supply of glasses, pots, furniture, and jewelry. It certainly is a time travel warp from the moment you step foot inside. For several years, Whistle Stop has gotten their goods from just over 30 consistent dealers.

Joyce Lampert, manager of Whistle Stop Antiques, proudly speaks for the unique goods that this antique store has to offer. “We have lots of variety; we cover the gamut.” In addition to the diversity of products sold within the store, Lampert highlights the variation of customers that Whistle Stop Antiques has gained. “We have lots of regular clientele. Many of our customers from Marin ride over on the SMART trains just to visit us. We also have customers from Lake County, Central Valley, and out of state that come back to see us.” Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) travels through Sonoma and Marin counties to provide easy public transportation.

Their inventory range is quite wide ranging from Victorian to Mid-Century. Whistle Stop Antiques also receives collectible items from sellers, though they try to avoid collectibles in order to maintain the status of a traditional antique store. As trends come and go, and supply and demand can only go so far, their price range also varies. However the store dealers do try to keep this in mind and aim to sell from a wider variety. Within the 10,000 square foot of the two story building lies the survival of a business preserving elements of American history and culture.

So why choose antiques? Ultimately, they’re going to be better than anything you could newly purchase at Target, Ikea, or Pottery Barn. There’s a reason these pieces from the past are still with us today. The artisan work, durability, and craftsmanship placed in these goods are like no other item you can buy today. Quality manufacturing cannot compare. Although some antiques may seem pricey for a used good, it’s good to look at them like an investment. A $200 arm chair from Crate and Barrel will certainly not last the same amount of time as a $200 oak wood arm chair from an antique store. They’re classically timeless. Not only will pieces age well in trends and build, but they provide an easy sustainable shopping alternative. Consumerist buying habits following fast furniture trends that will eventually dissipate within a couple of months can be reduced by buying long lasting pieces of furniture from an antique store will prevent such items from ending up in a landfill. In addition to that, shopping for antiques can be a fun activity to do with family and friends. There’s nothing better than walking into a large antique store not expecting to buy anything, then finding an item that you fall in love with and just need to have. Guaranteed, Whistle Stop Antiques and the Antique Society do a fantastic job at fostering this same feeling.

Lampert pointed out that several new customers had no idea of the store’s presence at the Railroad Square even though they’ve been in business for 50 years now. Since the emergence of fast fashion consumerism and retail malls, the presence of the Santa Rosa Plaza opened nearby in 1983, and appreciation for antiquities diminished. However, in more recent years, a new renaissance and appreciation has come for these goods. More than ever, people are looking for more ways to be sustainable and find long lasting pieces for their homes.

As fast fashion dies down and retro pieces pick up, stores like the Antique Society and Whistle Stop Antiques will flourish once more in their beautiful artifacts, frozen in history.