Inside Avenue Antiques

This place has so much stuff! Deposits the huge space it occupies, it’s very well organized. My bf and I spent a couple hours here browsing through all the items.
They have everything from furniture to jewelry, art to collectible toys. I find that items are on the pricy side, but they have the best selection of antiques in the city.
Fun place to visit, even if your just looking.

Inside Avenue has the best showcase of antiques and collectibles I’ve seen in Calgary. This place is amazing. Not only is it spacious, but it’s very well organized, especially for the insane amount of items they are carrying. I only had 20min to walk through because I was on my way to a meeting and couldn’t drive past without stopping. For a thrill-​seeking thrift shopper and vintage items lover like myself, Inside Avenue definitely scratches an itch. I absorbed as much as I could in my rushed situation and items of interest seemed reasonably priced. If it were closer to my house, I’d probably be here every week.
There were less than a dozen customers in the store, which made my browse and dash completely hassle free. I’d expect it to be very busy on the weekends but really have no idea and will try to avoid weekend shopping at all costs, just in case. They currently have a piano for sale and a patron was working those keys like nobody’s business. It was awesome and made my first visit even better.
When I return, I’ll be sure to give myself at least an hour to shop and I can’t wait to bring some of my out-​of-​town family here.
Review 14 of Unilocal’s 30 Day Challenge — Nov 2012

A great store with constantly changing items. You have to check often as items change all the time. I’ve purchased many items from an art deco bed frame, art, and glassware. A variety of eras.

I’m new to antique shopping, and I prefer newer, mid century, retro stuff, so I can’t comment on the quality of the older antiques. I came to Inside Avenue looking for furniture and home accessories. Near the front of the space they have a great section of 50s, 60s, and 70s pieces.
The space is organized into separate areas, each stocked by different collectors. There is a good variety of items, and I like that it is organized into areas dedicated to each collector because each collector seems to have their own niche. One of the staff members informed me they get new items every day.
I also liked that the pieces are generally collected from around Alberta. I found a few rotary dial phones with the area code 403 stamp still on them. If only I still had a home phone line!
As the previous Unilocaler noted, the power lines that run over the parking lot are eerie. They were messing with my radio reception in my car!

I love road side signs for two reasons. The first reason — the one and only time I was ever challenged to throw empty beer bottles at road signs in a moving vehicle, I hit 3 outta 5 signs. First. Time. And the other reason is the best deals often start with a road side sign.
Off Blackfoot Trail, there is a (extremely large) road side sign. «Antiques Mall (arrow arrow arrow arrow arrow)» We took the bait, because we’re big adventure seekers and took the road less travelled.
First and foremost, Inside Avenue Antiques has a funny parking lot, right underneath some very active, potentially sensitive power lines. Like — the hair on my arms vibrating and my shins felt weird. Ewwy.
The front door makes a bold proclamation that states, very concisely I’ll admit, «Vintage Browsers Paradise». And they are true to their word. Essentially it’s a warehouse that rents out permanent stalls to antiques dealers from around Southern Alberta. Surprisingly and not surprisingly there are tons of deals and treasures to be found. Some of it priced the way antique dealers from small towns price stuff for city folk. And other stuff is cute, quaint and affordable.
As far as selection and variety — well! Lots of your standards, glass jars, old typewriters, sewing machines and glass jars. But then there was the vintage comic book stall complete with dirty magazines. ScandeLOUS. Another stall was decked out in army paraphernalia. Another stall had a signed that informed me their clocks were politically correct. I have no idea what that means.
It’s no Antique Road Show but they live up to their word — it’s a vintage Browser’s paradise.