It was closed even though Facebook hours said open! We should have called ahead. Drove 30 minutes…read moreto not get in and have lunch down the street.

Vintage 71 is a fun store. I originally discovered them on Facebook and started following them…read more Unfortunately for me, most times when I was in Edwardsville, they were closed. Lucky for me, yesterday I was having lunch in E-ville, so I made a point to stop and see what they had to offer. OMG! If you need silly fun yard decor or if you are into Farmhouse decor for your home, you've got to shop here. There is stuff everywhere and it's all rustic and vintage looking. The creative side of my brain was working at warp speed trying to figure out where I could use many of the items. The couple working were a true mom & pop team. I may have walked out empty handed today, but there were many garden items calling out to me. So I know I will be back. When: April 22, 2021 Why: Browsing for the garden

The Trendy Cottage is a wonderful place to look for a treasure or two! It's only open the first…read moreweekend of every month...at least for now. They have a facebook page so you can check when they are open. They have lots of lovely vintage finds. It's a friendly place to spend a bit of time. They also have a few handmade items like pretty pillows. Lots to look at for sure. The prices are reasonable too!

This place is great! We always enjoy coming here. They have really wonderful, unique and high…read morequality things. If you are there on-the-hour, they have the clocks synchronized to chime simultaneously. Beautiful! If you are looking to plow through piles of junk, this isn't your place. If you are looking for really great antiques at reasonable prices, go here! Some prices may seem high, but if you are knowledgeable about the pieces, you will find their prices to be fair. The guys that own the place are very knowledgeable, and fun to work with. We came away with several great items today. Very happy with our finds!

I don't know else to but WOW. This place is a must must see…read more Your typical antique shop is dank, musty and dusty with things sort of scattered about in a seemingly random pattern of mostly generic stuff you've seen a dozen times. The Alton Antique Center is the antithesis of this! Its fun and bright as soon as you hit the doors. It smells fabulous inside and is like walking through a luxurious museum of the most amazing things from around the world. I was literally taken aback by how gorgeous it is inside. Their inventory is so far off the beaten path that even if you aren't in the market to buy antiques you should stop in and see the beautiful treasures they have brought together. The do have some new items as well, again things I've never seen like fake crabs and fish!! The owners are super nice and friendly as well.

You know those places that make you smile before you even get out of the car? The Pink Elephant…read moreAntique Mall is one of those places. My brother and I stopped during a Route 66 road trip expecting to grab lunch, browse a few antique booths, and continue on to St. Louis. Four hours later, we were still there. The giant pink elephant and fiberglass figures outside immediately grab your attention, but that's only the beginning. Inside the former Livingston High School, you'll find 30,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, vintage treasures, Route 66 memorabilia, toys, advertising signs, home décor, and enough nostalgia to keep you wandering for hours. One of my favorite things about Pink Elephant is that it appeals to far more than antique shoppers. Even if you don't buy a thing, there are countless photo opportunities, fun roadside attractions, a retro diner, and a fantastic candy and fudge shop. We had lunch at the Twistee Treat Diner, where I enjoyed a burger, onion rings, and a salted caramel milkshake that was worth every calorie. The diner has a fun retro vibe and was packed during our visit. Before leaving, we stopped by the Mother Road Fudge Factory and Candy Shop. The homemade fudge was fresh, creamy, and some of the best I've ever tasted. What truly makes this place special, though, is the Pickerill family. Owners Tonia and Wayne clearly love what they do. Their enthusiasm, friendliness, and passion for creating a memorable experience are evident throughout the property. You can tell they genuinely enjoy meeting travelers and sharing this unique Route 66 destination with others. As a photographer, I left with over 100 photos. As a traveler, I left with great memories. As a Route 66 enthusiast, I left knowing this is a stop I'll recommend to everyone. Whether you're traveling Route 66, looking for a fun family outing, searching for antiques, craving homemade fudge, or simply want a memorable roadside adventure, Pink Elephant Antique Mall is absolutely worth the stop. My advice? Allow much more time than you think you'll need.

If you are on the historic Route 66 and see a pink elephant on the horizon, you are not drunk or…read morehallucinating. In addition to the elephant, you'll see a tall Trump, Ken doll and Alvin & the Chipmunks. Plus, the Red Barons plane, Shoney's Big Boy, a huge globe and two vintage police cars. It's junky, but don't let that discourage you from entering the mall. Once you walk past a miniature Lincoln Memorial and enter the mall, you will be overwhelmed. There will be aisle after aisle of shelves filled with clutter and treasures. You'll have to be patient to look beyond all the clutter to find those hidden treasures. I have no patience, so went into the other room and did all my shopping there. In the room to the right, you'll find fudge, mugs, caps, stickers, magnets and bulk candy. You know, all the typical souvenir junk. It was a fun area to browse after dining next door at, Twistee Treat Diner. I wear a lot of caps and found a Route 66 themed one to wear while we all celebrate its centennial. I also got a couple Route 66 lapel pins to add to my collection. I meant to buy a Route 66 mug, but I set it down to look at another item and forgot to pick it up, again. I'm bummed, I really liked the mug. The service in the mall retail area was not as good as at the diner next door. It was still decent, but it was minimal at best. The young girl who rang me out was on her cell phone when I walked up to the register. She laid it down to process my sale and I could see that she was face timing with a gentleman. She didn't even hang-up, she just had him wait. Beware, the mall is very MAGA and they do not hide it. If that bothers you or if you prefer not to support a MAGA business, you may want to skip shopping here.

A little place tucked in between the dollar store and Honey baked ham. I've been coming here for…read moreyears. I never find a lot of stuff, but every once in a while I will stumble upon a treasure. This place has the little booths; one for each seller. The lady behind the counter is always friendly and makes you feel welcome. To me, it's mostly garage sell stuff, but it's a fun place to just look around if you have some time. You never know what you may find. The hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00 to 8:00 and Sunday 10 to 5. Over 50 vendors.

Such a cute little place tucked away by the dollar store. They rent separate booths to each vendor,…read moreso everything is different no matter where you are looking! Every time you stop by, you're always going to find something new and exciting! If you love vintage and antiques, I highly suggesting sipping in here for a look!

I've found some really good finds here. Some is not antique but wow some of the booths are awesome…read more I've been welcomed in both times I've come into the store and have found so many cool items for myself and as gifts for people. Definitely worth checking out!

I wanted what appears to be a deck of classic Pokemon cards, the originals from 1999, it was…read morelabeled as partially sealed with a firm price of $69 ($74 out the door) and when the woman came to help me at the locked cabinet she asked what I wanted and I told her the box of Pokémon cards from 1999, which was wedged between boxes of newer, bigger sets of the cards which I'm not interested in. The label said partially sealed (it was opened once but had the torn plastic wrap on it still) I asked her how I would know the cards are in the taped up bag/ box and she told me to shake it so I did, she said the sound I heard was the cards in there. She took it to the register and told me to meet one of the other ladies at the counter who could help me. The woman at the register asked what I wanted and I pointed saying "the trading cards she just put on the counter" in reply the woman at the register raised her voice a bit to where the other 5-6 customers in the store at the time could hear her saying "Pokémon trading cards!" She then charged me up and removed a tiny white tag (about the size of a dime) from a string on the bagged box and placed the tiny tag behind the counter. Once I paid $74 at the register I opened the box while going out the door and immediately turned around through the entry door because it was not filled with Pokémon cards, but clear empty plastic sleeves and a crumpled up piece of paper! I went right back to the counter and even though the box has a large sticker on it that says it's a deck box of original WOTC(original printers of the American cards), one of the ladies pulled up the tag they removed that specified card sleeves, contrary to the huge tag provided to me in the photo. This labeling is intentionally misleading and the only right thing to do would be a full refund in exchange for the originally mislabeled product but they refused, even though I hadn't left yet and they thought they were cards too! I am extremely upset at the fact that the staff was unable to do what would have been ethical.

This place was fun! There was so much to see and all the vendors were friendly. I was able to pick…read moreup a comic for a reasonable price. This market is only open on the 3rd weekend of each month. Food and drinks were good. Bathrooms were clean. Overall a nice wY to spend the day.

A great place to treasure hunt! Don't worry about getting there early, I've already been there!…read more ;-)

What an adorable little antique shop!…read more The women working there were so nice to us when we came in, and very friendly. There were booths full of all sorts of things. Everything from dinnerware to clothes, to jewelry and toys, and books and craft supplies and cradles and kitsch. We could have spent so much time digging around in here. We weren't looking for anything specific, just spending a lazy day wandering town. I ended up buying a super cute Halloween cookie plate for a steal at $5. This is a hidden gem of a spot, and I'd definitely visit again if I'm ever in Alton again.

I love antique stores and this store for me is the perfect kind! Lots of different booths and…read moreareas, large variety of items and friendly welcoming staff! I am always looking for rotary phones and not only did they have a beautiful one in perfect condition, it was incredibly reasonably priced! It made my whole day it was such a good find. I will always come back here every time I'm in Alton!