A beach day is great, but not every Shore memory has to come with sand in your shoes. When you need a break from the sun — or you're simply looking for something different to do — the Jersey Shore has plenty of antique stores, thrift shops, and vintage markets where you can browse everything from century-old books and rare coins to beachy décor, furniture, clothing, and one-of-a-kind finds. Whether you're decorating a Shore house, hunting for collectibles, or hoping to bring home a unique souvenir, these 11 spots are worth adding to your itinerary.
Antique Emporium of Asbury Park
One of the largest antique destinations at the Jersey Shore, the Antique Emporium of Asbury Park packs more than 20,000 square feet of vintage finds into a multi-dealer marketplace on Cookman Avenue. Browse booth after booth of antique furniture, artwork, jewelry, books, clothing, glassware, collectibles, and home décor, with each vendor bringing a different style and specialty. Whether you're searching for a statement piece or simply enjoy the thrill of the hunt, it's easy to spend an afternoon exploring.
Cape May Antique Center
With more than 70 dealers under one roof, Cape May Antique Center is the largest antique mall in Cape May. Browse thousands of square feet of vintage furniture, estate jewelry, coins, glassware, toys, sports memorabilia, trains, and home décor, with new finds arriving regularly. If you enjoy the thrill of hunting for hidden treasures, this is one of the Shore's best places to wander.
Days of Olde Antiques & Collectibles
Just a short drive from Atlantic City, Days of Olde Antiques & Collectibles is one of South Jersey's largest antique malls. More than 21,000 square feet of vendor booths are packed with antique furniture, glassware, china, vintage décor, collectibles, memorabilia, books, and one-of-a-kind finds, making it the kind of place where you can easily spend an hour or two wandering.
Handlaget Design
If you've ever found the perfect thrift-store piece but wished it looked a little fresher, Handlaget Design can help. The shop specializes in refinishing vintage furniture sourced from estate sales and thrift stores, while also selling restored dressers, tables, chairs, artwork, and other home décor. Customers can even have pieces purchased elsewhere in Ocean City delivered for refinishing.
Jersey Shore Rare Coin & Jewelry
Collectors will find coins from around the world at this longtime Ocean City shop, which has specialized in rare currency for more than four decades. Highlights include Morgan silver dollars, Walking Liberty half dollars, and Indian Head pennies dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Prices range from around $1 to $100, and the store also buys collections by appointment.
Maryann's
Whether you're shopping for a special occasion or simply love vintage treasures, MaryAnn's Contemporary & Estate Jewelry is worth a stop on the Washington Street Mall. Opened in Cape May in 1998, the longtime jeweler specializes in estate and antique jewelry alongside modern fine jewelry, with everything from vintage rings and necklaces to collectible coins and unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Even if you're just browsing, it's an easy place to admire jewelry with decades of history.
Out of the Past Antiques
Almost everything inside Jeanne Hermann's Cape May shop is priced under $50. The former librarian has filled Out of the Past Antiques with vintage clothing, magazines, books, sewing supplies, small furniture, and other treasures dating from the 1700s through the 1980s. It's the kind of place where you're just as likely to leave with an antique cookbook as a beach cottage keepsake.
Princeton Antiques BookShop
Book lovers could spend hours browsing this family-run Atlantic City shop, whose roughly 50,000 titles span children's books, classics, comics, and limited editions dating from the 1850s through the 1960s. Signed copies by authors including William Faulkner and aviator Amelia Earhart are among the highlights, while bargain books outside start around $10. The shop has even attracted actress Shirley MacLaine, whose film People Not Places features the store.
Second Hand Wildwood
If you enjoy the thrill of never knowing what you'll find, Second Hand Wildwood is worth a stop. This small, owner-operated thrift shop stocks an ever-changing mix of clothing, home décor, artwork, kitchenware, accessories, and vintage treasures, with shoppers praising its fair prices and well-kept selection. It's an easy place to browse for a unique souvenir or a bargain to bring home from your Shore trip.
The Arc Makes Cents
Shopping here supports a good cause. This nonprofit thrift store has spent more than 20 years selling donated clothing, books, housewares, furniture, and accessories, with proceeds benefiting The Arc of Atlantic County, which provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prices range from budget-friendly basics to higher-end designer finds.
TreeHouse Antiques
Housed in a bright yellow, early 20th-century home just outside downtown Cape May, TreeHouse Antiques feels more like wandering through a beautifully decorated house than a traditional antique store. The multi-dealer shop specializes in fine antique furniture, stained glass, china, artwork, jewelry, pottery, vintage books, and garden décor, with thoughtfully arranged rooms that make it easy to picture pieces in your own home. The inventory changes regularly, making it a favorite stop for serious antique hunters and casual browsers alike.
Antique Emporium of Asbury Park
One of the largest antique destinations at the Jersey Shore, the Antique Emporium of Asbury Park packs more than 20,000 square feet of vintage finds into a multi-dealer marketplace on Cookman Avenue. Browse booth after booth of antique furniture, artwork, jewelry, books, clothing, glassware, collectibles, and home décor, with each vendor bringing a different style and specialty. Whether you're searching for a statement piece or simply enjoy the thrill of the hunt, it's easy to spend an afternoon exploring.
Cape May Antique Center
With more than 70 dealers under one roof, Cape May Antique Center is the largest antique mall in Cape May. Browse thousands of square feet of vintage furniture, estate jewelry, coins, glassware, toys, sports memorabilia, trains, and home décor, with new finds arriving regularly. If you enjoy the thrill of hunting for hidden treasures, this is one of the Shore's best places to wander.
Days of Olde Antiques & Collectibles
Just a short drive from Atlantic City, Days of Olde Antiques & Collectibles is one of South Jersey's largest antique malls. More than 21,000 square feet of vendor booths are packed with antique furniture, glassware, china, vintage décor, collectibles, memorabilia, books, and one-of-a-kind finds, making it the kind of place where you can easily spend an hour or two wandering.
Handlaget Design
If you've ever found the perfect thrift-store piece but wished it looked a little fresher, Handlaget Design can help. The shop specializes in refinishing vintage furniture sourced from estate sales and thrift stores, while also selling restored dressers, tables, chairs, artwork, and other home décor. Customers can even have pieces purchased elsewhere in Ocean City delivered for refinishing.
Jersey Shore Rare Coin & Jewelry
Collectors will find coins from around the world at this longtime Ocean City shop, which has specialized in rare currency for more than four decades. Highlights include Morgan silver dollars, Walking Liberty half dollars, and Indian Head pennies dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Prices range from around $1 to $100, and the store also buys collections by appointment.
Maryann's
Whether you're shopping for a special occasion or simply love vintage treasures, MaryAnn's Contemporary & Estate Jewelry is worth a stop on the Washington Street Mall. Opened in Cape May in 1998, the longtime jeweler specializes in estate and antique jewelry alongside modern fine jewelry, with everything from vintage rings and necklaces to collectible coins and unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Even if you're just browsing, it's an easy place to admire jewelry with decades of history.
Out of the Past Antiques
Almost everything inside Jeanne Hermann's Cape May shop is priced under $50. The former librarian has filled Out of the Past Antiques with vintage clothing, magazines, books, sewing supplies, small furniture, and other treasures dating from the 1700s through the 1980s. It's the kind of place where you're just as likely to leave with an antique cookbook as a beach cottage keepsake.
Princeton Antiques BookShop
Book lovers could spend hours browsing this family-run Atlantic City shop, whose roughly 50,000 titles span children's books, classics, comics, and limited editions dating from the 1850s through the 1960s. Signed copies by authors including William Faulkner and aviator Amelia Earhart are among the highlights, while bargain books outside start around $10. The shop has even attracted actress Shirley MacLaine, whose film People Not Places features the store.
Second Hand Wildwood
If you enjoy the thrill of never knowing what you'll find, Second Hand Wildwood is worth a stop. This small, owner-operated thrift shop stocks an ever-changing mix of clothing, home décor, artwork, kitchenware, accessories, and vintage treasures, with shoppers praising its fair prices and well-kept selection. It's an easy place to browse for a unique souvenir or a bargain to bring home from your Shore trip.
The Arc Makes Cents
Shopping here supports a good cause. This nonprofit thrift store has spent more than 20 years selling donated clothing, books, housewares, furniture, and accessories, with proceeds benefiting The Arc of Atlantic County, which provides services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prices range from budget-friendly basics to higher-end designer finds.
TreeHouse Antiques
Housed in a bright yellow, early 20th-century home just outside downtown Cape May, TreeHouse Antiques feels more like wandering through a beautifully decorated house than a traditional antique store. The multi-dealer shop specializes in fine antique furniture, stained glass, china, artwork, jewelry, pottery, vintage books, and garden décor, with thoughtfully arranged rooms that make it easy to picture pieces in your own home. The inventory changes regularly, making it a favorite stop for serious antique hunters and casual browsers alike.