This place is just so fun & curious & strange. Everything is grouped in a way that makes some sort of beautiful, manic sense. It feels like walking through a dream of your grandmothers house and seeing all of her life's collected things. Boxes of vintage glass Christmas bulbs, telephones, orange & brown ceramic mushroom doo dads, pink 60's housecoats, bizarre old promotional vinyl records, cocktail stirrers... The owner is a bonafied local expert and an absolute delight. read more

) it is real vintage and nose goes BUT thet did have multiple fans AND a list of things to do so hush and the sale man added new things to do in the city And gave me his menu so be nice or go somewhere else read more

Very disappointing all around. Had some questions about a few pieces in the shop, and I was met by an angry store owner. All I was doing was asking questions, yet he treated me like I was insulting his mother. I was interested in a lamp, that was out of my price range- and his reply went something like this " Well, I dont want you buying it anyway. People who ask questions, present problems. " I was dumbfounded. And when I came on here, and found the 1 other review of this place, I was not surprised. When you treat customers/potential customers so nasty- how do you expect to earn any business, or stay in business for that matter? I am a business owner myself, and treat people how I would want to be treated. Apparently this store owner does not share the same philosophy. High prices, nasty owner, will not be coming back and DEFINITELY wont recommend this place to anyone. read more

I was a bit confused after going to Sweet Lorain. I should have listened to Cara! So many rave reviews made this shop sound not only sweet, but absolutely delectable... unfortunately it was simply not so. When I go to an antique shop I'm not simply looking for things that are old or used, I'm looking for something that is quality - furniture that is crafted by passionate carpenters or decor that symbolizes that beauty of times past. I'm not looking for old crap and dusty trinkets or dingy, out-of-style clothes. I would go to a thrift shop for those things. Perhaps my expectations of Sweet Lorain were simply not fair. Maybe this is exactly what it wants to be. If that's the case, I stand corrected. So, if you want to know what you WILL find at Sweet Lorain, here's what I saw: lots and lots of old clothing (admittedly some odd stuff that might be useful for costume parties or Halloween), lots and lots of vintage porn, old records, old low-quality kitchen wares, random trinkets, low-quality 70s and 80s prints, and a wall of colored glass vases. I'll admit that the colored vases were quite nice but the prices on those items were more along the lines of what you'd find in a high-end furniture shop than in a dirty antiques/thrift store. I was disappointed with my visit here because I had read so many incredible reviews. I have a feeling that many of those reviews reflect the nostalgia of what this place used to be rather than the current reality. read more

This place has the coolest inventory and I don't mind the clutter but the prices are extremely outrageous, especially for how much inventory they have. I've been to tons of great vintage stores and will barter with the workers which is the norm at these kinds of stores, but I've spent hundreds of dollars at this place and never received the slightest discount. The pieces are cool and it's a great selection but unless you want to spend $50 on a dress with missing buttons, holes and stains you should take your business elsewhere. read more

There are a lot of negative reviews about Sweet Lorain which makes me sad. I have been traveling to Sweet Lorain (former Suite Lorain) for the past 3-4 years and it's always been a wonderful experience. Now with Red owning the place it's become even that much more special of an vintage shopping adventure. Every time we visit Red always says, "Welcome Home!" and is so warm and helpful and full of jokes! There is a new Tiki section that I am enjoying along with the more organized and better lit clothing departments! I love Sweet Lorain, Cleveland doesn't know how lucky they are to have this gem in their city! read more

Slightly overpriced, but one of the most organized antique shops I have ever been to! They also have quantity, so if you are looking for sets of plates/glasses/ anything to match, you can definitely find it here. We went here on a date and it was a total blast! read more

Sweet Lorain - Antiques Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

See all

I received poor service at this place today. I was displeased. I'm not going back. Big mistake on their part.

WOW! This is a must for anyone wanting/experiencing some serious nostalgia! This store is over 8,000 sq ft of everything from your childhood, your parents childhood and everything you ever remember seeing at your grandparents house. Not only that - it's all in mint condition. I purchased Christmas items from the 1960's brand new in the box (for like, $7) because let's face it, they don't make/sell things now-a-days like they used to. Furniture, toys, clothes, jewelry, dishes, Tupperware, CHRISTMAS GALORE, shoes, furs, magazines, the list goes on and on. My only piece of advice is to plan to go and spend all day because you will want to - then take your parents. It's pretty special the things that you/they will find that will trigger memories and stories. read more

Amazing selection of fun vintage and novelty toys and games. The staff was helpful and friendly. Can't wait to go back!

Be careful if you are looking to purchase any clothing from here. There's a lot of stains and tears on the items--you really need to examine every inch. Very little of the clothing is "near mint" or "mint". I saw a polyester dress with a huge tear and a stain with a huge price tag. The owner, whom I spoke with once, seems paranoid. There were also some not-so-secret shoppers that kept following us around, arranging merchandise in a random way. This happened in the shoe section and also the hat section. There is a lot of good kitchenware here, but again, not mint or anything (think scratches, chips and rust). Also quite overpriced. I did purchase a few items, but on the whole, I do better on etsy.com and at the thrift stores. Really, the clothing I saw was in just horrid state. You can do much better at flowerchild. You will also, unless you wear a ladies' size 5N shoe, be quite unlikely to find shoes at Sweet Lorain; which is sad because that's where some of their best items were. Some of the good things are just that-too good to be true! Don't even get me started on their furniture and lamps...one sofa was broken and still priced into the stratosphere. read more

Too much stuff! Dusty. Piles and boxes sitting everywhere. Prices are ridiculously high. Higher than some of the very well-known vintage stores in Haight Ashbury- in San Francisco, that I visited earlier this month. Perhaps they are catering more for movie sets, with that much stuff and high prices? Staff and manager were not very friendly. I felt like I was in their way. I was so excited to stop by to browse this huge store. In and out in 20 minutes. Zero purchases. read more

Sweet Lorain has lost something since the new owner took over. Though, he is doing a great job of finally getting things organized. Things are now organized by era and type of dress. All the plus size dresses are marked, which is great. If you are a plus size gal looking for vintage pieces, you're going to find more here than anywhere else in Cleveland. Their prices are definitely on the high side for the quality of garment you are typically going to find. A lot of garments are stained or ripped, so make sure you examine each piece carefully. Most of the records in the record section are unplayable due to scratches. The housewares & knick knack sections are really the reason to come here. Well organized and somewhat decently priced. If you are interested in dress making, there is a great selection of vintage fabrics and patterns. And the menswear section is impressive. Despite the not-so-secret shoppers making browsing a bit awkward, I do like to come here and browse, and occasionally I do find a treasure. read more

Sweet Lorain - Antiques Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

I love, love, love this place. I have brought my mother, sister and friends here and everyone had the same reaction-pure giddiness! This is a treasure of a store in CLE and a place you can spend an afternoon. The store is layered and layered and well organized considering how dense it's merchandise is. Amazing figurines, dish ware, clothes, purses and hats, jewelry and tchotchkes! The owner is so kind and helpful and I would recommend to anyone who loves a little bit of history with a twist! Merchandise of all price points and just a really happy store! read more

well let me say this is not the same place at all. Prices are way to high and the new owner is kind of a jerk if you want to know the truth. Clothes were stained, ripped, in poor condition and he would not even negotiate on price. He followed me everywhere and it made me really uncomfortable. This is really not the same as it was a decade ago, and the new owner is running the place down. Will not return. read more

The prices are high making the atmosphere "stuffy.". It's not like it's Antiques Roadshow stuff. So, there was that disappointment.

One of the best vintage shops in Cleveland! The owner is so sweet and pleasant to talk to! The clothing aisles can be overwhelming, but I have found amazing, one of a kind pieces here. You just have to dig for a while till you strike gold. The quality of clothing is totally justified by the price. read more

I'm pretty torn about Sweet Lorain these days. It's definitely not the same since it changed hands, but there's still a lot of great vintage things to be found, provided you have the time and patience to paw through it all. Not having a dust allergy would probably help, too. You can find old glassware, records, magazines from bygone eras, furniture, and, of course, vintage clothes. The clothing prices are eye-poppingly high in some cases ($60 for a polyester nightmare of a dress from the 70s? Really?). That said, it's still a fun way to kill an hour on a Saturday afternoon. You never know when you're going to find that button from the Eisenhower campaign you've been dying for. read more

The new owner Redwin is a blast! Great guy and aims to please. Countless hours must be invested when touring this establishment as there is so much to see. I like to think of it as a treasure hunt but I have no idea what I am hunting for until I see it! Just a wonderful place today, stuck in a wonderful time of yesterday. The prices are reasonable and some are even better. If you consider that some of the stuff you are looking at cost more on the West Coast, you would come to understand the value of living in Ohio. LOL read more

Disappointed- too much stuff crammed into this space - not all that appealing. Was looking to sell a few items - Woman was very friendly & helpful -- the owner, not so much! read more

What can I say, I'm a loyal customer who visited this amazing store back when the owners were women & now with the new owner, Redwin Lewis. I must say, regardless of whose owned this store, I have always found it interesting and enjoy the unique inventory. Price wise, I don't see much of a difference between Sweet Lorains, Flower Child or Etsy.com. But I recently visited on 01/12/13 and feel that the staff & the owner himself went above & beyond! I was searching for a wedding dress but didn't expect to find anything on my first visit. Not only did I find a beautiful gown but Redwin searched his store until he found some beautiful vintage jewelry that he felt would be a good match, he even found 3 tiaras and made numerous suggestions to improve my big day. Redwin & his young employee behind the counter said that 100's of girls have tried on my dress but know one could fit into it, so they both waited until I exited the fitting room...I ended up dancing with Redwin, he wanted me to see just how big the dress truly is as he twirled me around. His co-worker helped me search through their glove selection and they even found the perfect pair of matching earrings for me. They both loved my wedding theme (Eco-friendly/vintage) and had pictures taken with me while in the dress. And for just $200.00 I got a unexpected Eco-friendly conversation piece -can guarantee there's no other bride out there with a dress like mine :) The only real issue I could see anyone having is that they are still going through the stores products & trying to organize them & that some things are a little over priced. But I've read the other reviews on here & don't think enough people have done their homework, the prices they offer are pretty average. And let's face it, it's vintage- so stop whining about finding tears & holes in the clothing! Keep in mind things are priced based on uniqueness, demand, and quality; things were hand made back then - not the cookie cutting crap that's spit out in stores now. You should try looking at each imperfection as a part of a wonderful story & grab inspiration from that piece not b**ch & moan. read more

I've never been to any type of resale/thrift/antique shop that was this well organized. If you're looking for something specific, it's very easy to find! Fun to browse, too! read more

I walked into this place, and thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! The amount of vintage clothing in here could clothe a small country. The clothes are arranged by decade as well as summer, cocktail dresses, bathing suits, sweaters etc. After I started filing through some amazing clothing racks I realized I'd never pay any of these prices for these clothes! It's vintage, and I appreciate that, but it's not vintage Gucci. $45 for a dress that probably has a stain on it is sadly out of my budget! And there's so much of it. It doesn't appear as though these clothes are moving. Either go being fully ready to throw around some cash or leave your wallet at home and go for the free experience! I still wish I could to shop here. read more

A friend recommended that I had to check out Sweet Lorain. I was not disappointed. It was much larger than I expected and had a lot of mid-century clothing, furniture, bar ware and other items. Compared to many vintage stores I have been to it was very well organized. I thought the pricing was very fair. If you are going to be in Cleveland, this is definitely the first vintage store to check out. read more

I heard about this place from a co-worker, and from what they said it seemed just up my alley. When he told me they had a big selection of records the vinyl junkie inside me just had to check it out. When I stepped inside I was blown away by the massive amount of records they have. The vinyl isn't in perfect order by no means but that is half the fun of it. Each time you flip through a record you don't know what your going to come across next. Then suddenly you find the diamond in rough. I could spend hours there just digging through the crates. I highly recommend this place for vinyl junkies who don't mind getting down on their hands and knees and digging through some dusty bins. This is a place I will come back to. read more

This vintage store is super fun, although I have to agree with some of the recent reviews - it's not what it used to be. Things used to be organized better - I don't really know how to describe it, but it seemed like more care was given to the place. I still love to stop in to check things out every time I visit Cleveland. The prices are decent for the quality. read more

Very neat store filled to the brim with delightful bits of culture from much of the 20th century. I've enjoyed visiting and buying there a few times over the years. However, my most recent visit became unpleasant, and I won't be patronizing the store again. When I asked the manager a completely neutral, judgment-free question about the price of an item, the response was rude, aggressive, and condescending. Chill out! read more

I love Sweet Lorain! And I love the owner! I am not sure why there are so many negative reviews of this place. The selection is amazing! You can get lost in there for hours and hours. I have always found quality items. I do feel the prices are a bit on the high side, but take a look at the stores on West 25th and I believe he is on par with them. As far as cleanliness, I am very allergic to dust and have never suffered so much as a sniffle while inside. Please give Sweet Lorain a try! It is a real gem in our town. read more

Slightly overpriced, but possibly the best selection of items of all eras in Cleveland. Pam (forgive me if it's Pat) has a fab haircut and was appropriately attentive and even encouraging. Whatever the man's name is who handles the retail transactions is a snarky so and so, but whatevs. This place is definitely worth a trip! read more

I absolutely love this store. I was blown away by the variety, style, design, and attention to detail for just about every item I stumbled upon. And the store is so organized!! I found some true gems, and they were priced very reasonably considering the condition and quality. Must see for yourself! read more

Wonderful Store! Fantastic Selection of everything Vintage. I can never leave without buying a treasure. Helpful Staff. Definately worth stopping in!! read more

Really cool place but do not ask for a lower price on an item. I felt really stupid when I asked if a lower price on a stained item would be considered and was told prices were given great consideration and no. Every single resale place I've been to has always negotiated. I was made to feel ashamed for asking. I probably will not return even though it is a nice place. I did buy an item that had no price on it, but felt ok about the price I was quoated on the spot. read more

Prices trend toward the high side, inventory sits forever. I space out my visits to about every 6 months, but even then, I see the same old stuff when I go there, not much new is coming through the doors. No haggling over prices under $100 - which is why all their crap is still sitting there a year later. I've found a few mislabeled/misidentified pieces that were consequently underpriced, so those were scores, but the scores are fewer and farther between! read more

I have been collecting old furniture and housewares for over 20 years. Sweet Lorraine was a breath of fresh air when I relocated here from Detroit. To be correct, this is not an antique shop. Rather a vintage clothing, furniture, housewares and collectables shop. Greaser's paradise for sure. They have amassed a huge fortune in great merchandise from the thirties through the eighties. The one owner will spy on you asking you if she can help you find anything. Truth be told, you don't go in there looking for anything. That thing will find you instead. I could spend a hundred dollars every Saturday in this place and I would still not have enough. Lots of cool lamps, vases, ashtrays, furniture and vintage everything. Located on the very edge of Detroit Shoreway /Gordon Square- its easy to find with plenty of parking. A must stop while visiting Cleveland. Take a ride to Happy Dog when you're done! read more

Been checking out the local thrift/retro/vintage stores in the greater Cleveland and Akron areas. Generally, I have found the owners of these shops to be quite friendly. If they don't have what I'm looking for, they point me to another shop. They answer my questions. Not so at this location. I went to look at a specific piece, only to discover it was hidden behind couches and racks and racks of furniture. When I asked to see the piece, it was almost as if I were bothering the salesperson. I didn't like the vibe (or the store, which was dirty), so I left. I decided to give it another try. Disaster. The owner was in the processing of kicking some woman out of the store. Crazy. No thank you, Sweet Lorain. I'll stick the places that actually want my business. read more

Amazing selection, well organized. I had an afternoon to kill in Cleveland, and thought I would go antique-store-hopping. Once I found Sweet Lorain, I didn't have to hop any more. I was told that the merchandise here is for sale on behalf of many owners. Usually, I find places like that are a hodge-podge, and a warren of over-crowded little "shop-ettes" in no apparent order. SL has things organized by the kind of thing you might want to buy. Furniture, lamps, men's coats, vintage ash trays - the works. The vintage women's clothing is organized by decade! I wasn't shopping for that, but the intention of the organization is commendable. I found the prices to be on par with other reputable places. I bought a few things - nothing qualified as "a steal", but this is an ongoing business with overhead and a tremendous amount of merchandise. It isn't an estate sale where everything gets sold by 5 PM or it goes into the dumpster. The owner knows a lot about much of the merchandise and manufacturers, which makes it fun to browse and shop. read more

Do not go here expecting to find antiques. It is a 'vintage' shop, not an antique shop. But, do go here expecting to have fun. it is like time travel going back to maybe the 1920s, 1930s,1940s and especially the 1950s. Go there when you have a couple hours to look and enjoy. You will find things that you like. read more

owner was snive, bad feeling about him and was right! didn't want to pay fair price! for my vintage stuff! tried to take advantage 0f me!!!! he made a remark about the prices he offered and said well this is a Cleveland store! so what!!!!!!!! retail value! dude!!!!!!!!!! shop or sell elsewhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

This is my all-time favorite vintage store! Everything is wonderfully displayed and Christmas? Wow! Yes, some of the items are a bit pricey but look at the inventory. If you can't find something that's "you" you're not looking hard enough. The owner is knowledgeable and personable. More importantly, he's honest. Anything you buy will be exactly what he says it is. read more

Sweet Lorain is not just an AMAZING vintage DEPARTMENT store it's an otherworldly experience. Set aside a large amount of time when you do visit because chances are you will not want to leave. We've been to SL many times and can also say the owner is constantly finding new treasures in all categories ranging from clothing, furniture, glass, records, kitchenware, books, fabrics, jewelry, and house hold items that are all strictly vintage. Among the many items we have purchased from SL by far our favorite is a matching pair of fabulous Milo Baughman chairs from the 60's with nectarine colored cushions upon shiny chrome bases. We absolutely treasure these chairs and would never have found them had it not been for the owner's constant efforts at scoring great merchandise. I'm quite confused by previous reviewers complaints about cost. I always find the prices reasonable. I wonder if these reviewers just don't understand the difference between an excellent, enormous collection of vintage merchandise and the Salvation Army store to which they are more accustomed. During one of my visits I met a collector who had flown all the way from Japan just to shop at SL. Don't let that intimidate you, you certainly don't have to be a collector to frequent this amazing store, there is something for everyone at Sweet Lorain. read more