6 great antique and thrift stores Down the Shore

At the Jersey Shore, the beach isn’t the only draw. Visitors can explore farmers markets, coffee shops, and a variety of stores, including those specializing in vintage furniture, china sets, and rare coins.

Perusing antique and thrift stores is a part of the Shore experience, said Christine Boardman, owner of Handlaget Design store in Ocean City.

These stores, stocked with second-hand furniture, clothes, kitchen supplies, knick knacks, and more, not only offer a respite on cloudy or scorching hot days, but are also a chance to score a nifty item to take back to the city.

“It’s just another fun thing to do — and sometimes you come home with something that feels beachy and one-of-a-kind,” said Boardman, who also helps budget-friendly summer residents looking to furnish their Shore rentals.

Whether you’re searching for a fun activity or a special second-hand find, there are plenty of antique and thrift stores with treasures to be found Down the Shore.

Almost everything inside Jeanne Hermann’s Cape May store is under $50. Out of the Past Antiques’ offerings range from vintage clothing, magazines, and books to small furniture and sewing supplies, spanning from the 1700s to the 1980s. Hermann, a former librarian, began collecting items at public sales in Lancaster and built her collection from there. “[There are] interesting things that you would want to take home from vacation,” she says.

📍394 Myrtle Ave., Cape May, N.J., 08204, 📞 609-884-3357, 🌐 outofthepastantiques.com

Step into this family-run bookstore in Atlantic City and find shelves lined with antique books. Princeton Antiques BookShop’s offers a selection curated through book deals and library sales, featuring works from 1850s to 1960s. The inventory of about 50,000 titles include children’s books, Jane Austen and other classics, comics, and more. Limited editions, including signed copies from William Faulkner and Amelia Earhart, range from $30 to $4,000. Books on the sidewalk are priced at $10, and browsing books go for $10 to $50. Owner Bob Ruffolo’s selection even drew actress Shirley MacLaine, who’s new movie, People Not Places, will feature the store’s interior and exterior.

📍2917 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City, N.J., 08401, 📞 609-344-1943, 🌐 princetonantiques.com

This co-op store in Cape May features booths with various vendors offering new and used items. At Antiques Emporia, you can find artisan jewelry, clothing, china sets, nautical figurines, books, wooden spoons, rolling pins, marine figurines, and more. The store’s merchandise changes daily, with items priced from $1 to $500 with “something for everyone,” said owner Pam Patrick, who also runs a tea shop with over 350 varieties inside the store.

📍 405 W. Perry St., Cape May, N.J., 08204, 🌐 facebook.com/antiquesemporiaw405

Venture into this 46-year-old Ocean City store and find rare coins from the 1700s to 1900s. Display cases feature Morgan silver dollars from 1878 to 1921, Walking Liberty half dollars from 1916 to 1947, and Indian head pennies from 1859 to 1909. Owner Elliot Arking collects coins from around the world, including the U.S., England, Mexico, Australia, and Switzerland, with prices ranging from $1 to $100. Have a rare coin to sell? Call to make an appointment.

📍506 E. Eighth St., Ocean City, N.J., 08226, 📞 609-398-8739

Handlaget Design specializes in refurbishing furniture collected from estate sales and thrift stores. The Ocean City shop, open for seven years, offers vintage dressers, tables, chairs, custom artwork, and more for $25 to $425 and up. Customers can purchase items at thrift stores in Ocean City, like Second Chance Thrift and Oh Sea Thrift, and have them delivered to Handlaget Design for refreshing. The store offers delivery in Ocean City during peak season and beyond during the off-season. Have some items to refurbish? Call or text the store for services.

📍744 Central Ave., Ocean City, N.J., 08226, 📞 609-741-5212, 🌐 handlaget-norwegianforhandmade.com

For over 20 years, The Arc Makes Cents Ventnor Thrift Shop has offered everything from kitchen supplies to clothes to books. All proceeds from this donations-based boutique-style store go toward The Arc of Atlantic County, which provides support and services for people who live with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You can score $3.99 T-shirts and purses up to $400.

📍 6409 Ventnor Ave., Ventnor City, N.J., 08406, 📞 609-485-0800, 🌐 thearcatlantic.org/thrift-shops