Best Antiques:
Salmagundi West
321 West Cordova Street
604-681-4648
@salmagundiwest
Best described by boutique owner Anne Banner, Salmagundi West is the house of “nothing you need and everything you can’t live without.” Located in the historical heart of Gastown, the unassuming, narrow entranceway (that you might easily pass by and sadly miss) leads to a world of curiosities that surely could never all be taken in with one quick visit.
Whatever you’re into, Salmagundi has something unique to pique your interest. This two-level seemingly small shop is big on wonder and surprise; with every nook discovered, a new collection of oddities is revealed. Boasting the city’s best antiques, novelties, local art and vintage clothing and accessories, it’s no wonder the boutique is coveted by location scouts and often rented out to the film industry, most recently Supernatural and Once Upon A Time. This hidden gem is definitely a sight to be seen and not to be replicated.
Banner, the second owner of the shop, has been at the helm since 2012 after acting as the manager for three years prior; when the original owner lost her battle to breast cancer, Salmagundi was left to Anne’s loving hands to keep the history going. Since taking over the shop, Anne has seen a significant change in the neighbourhood with intense gentrification - most notable with the location across the street from her that used to house a well-known vintage clothing boutique recently being taken over by Versace Home, a far cry from the neighbourhood’s bohemian roots.
While remaining true to the spirit of the shop, Anne has brought some new facets to the business since taking over. In addition to the collectibles Salmagundi is so beloved for, visitors can now also find a stronger element of local art and artisanal goods, natural crystals and even a tarot reading room tucked away in a stunning cave-like nook on the lower level. Workshops are a new addition to the offerings as well, currently Vision Board workshops are underway and up next are classes in the art of making dream-catchers. Another new element to the shop is the conversion of the previous storage room into a rented studio space, currently occupied by Amanda Bullick and her line of found artifacts, bones and crystals turned into delicate yet dark artworks called Brutally Beautiful.
With a clientele as diverse as it’s offerings, everyone walking through the door of Salmagundi West is usually seeking to discover something they haven’t before. This is the place where you will definitely find just that.
