Mass-produced mall-bought holiday gifts are nice, but often lack the imagination and individuality of a vintage find. Fortunately, the First Coast has plenty of antique, thrift and collectible shops that are perfect for browsing and buying. We grabbed breakfast in Jacksonville and then hit the road to Amelia Island to see what gems we could find along the way.
[ Breakfast ]
Southern Roots Filling Station
1275 King St., Jacksonville, southernrootsjax.com
This vintage-inspired café in Riverside is the ideal spot for lingering over a creative vegan breakfast dish and a pour-over coffee before beginning my journey. The spicy pinto beans topped with winter squash and cheese curry sauce sounded incredible, but I opted for a thick slice of Village Bread avocado toast. My pour over was a Bold Bean Coffee Roasters custom blend, with hints of chocolate and berries. Robust hunks of chai cake, cornbread and blueberry cardamom beckoned to be adopted from countertop glass cake dishes. I chose the vegan peanut butter cookies, hopped into my car and headed north toward Yulee.
[ Foodie Finds and More ]
Old Flood Store Antiques
463085 State Road 200/A1A, Yulee, oldfloodstore.com
This railroad-facing shop has been in owner Francis Flood’s family since 1932. His grandfather operated a general store until 1963. The building took on different lives until 2004, when Flood opened up an antiques store that brims with furniture, jewelry and household goods. You’ll find beautiful cassoulets, crockery, spice racks, vintage waist aprons and matching old dish sets for the home cook enthusiast. I couldn’t resist the salt and pepper shakers, each $10, stamped with my hometown of Cleveland.
[ Vintage for Kids and Collectibles ]
Antiques and More
463146 State Road 200/A1A, Yulee, facebook.com/Antiquesandm
Just a 2-minute drive down the road brought me to this one-story blue-colored shop. Every square-inch, apart from tight walkways, is spoken for inside. Vintage furniture (think German grandfather clocks and mahogany dressers) and old gas station collectibles share real estate with handmade items, white wicker pieces and shabby chic country furniture. There are sections of handmade baby clothes and a lovely vintage metal doll house waiting to be gifted to a child.
[ Keepsake Boxes and Statement Pieces ]
Country Store Antiques
219 S. 8th St., Fernandina Beach
Owner Rick Asberry specializes in restoring furniture, so most of his two-story 1879 shotgun house is dedicated to pieces that are dated between 1800 and 1920. He also fashions gorgeous file and memento boxes out of cigar boxes. There’s a small display of costume jewelry he’s rescued from his friend’s mother’s estate, as well as a smattering of restored door hinges and handles. Be sure to check for store hours, because they are somewhat limited, although this stop is definitely a must. “I have 2,400 square feet of stuff in a 1,200-square-foot house,” Asberry says.
[ Lunch ]
Arte Pizza
109 N. 3rd St., Fernandina Beach, artepizzafernandina.com
This bustling downtown pizza shop serves up some of the best pizza around, with handcrafted pies made from Old World recipes and imported ingredients. A wood-fired brick oven exports pizzas heated to 700 degrees. We chose the 10-inch Calabresa, with mozzarella, Italian sausage, onions and cherry peppers. We asked for boxes in advance, but did not end up with leftovers.
[ Unique and Ecclectic for Inside and Outdoors ]
Pickers Market
201 Alachua St., Fernandina Beach, facebook.com/The-Pickers-Market-111580002289334/
This charming pale yellow and cornflower blue establishment offers rooms and rooms of antiques. I particularly loved the European dough bowl, the size of a wooden child-size bath tub, and a “very rare” Russian enamel ladle. An outdoor patio has lots of decades-age iron planters, plant stands, bird houses and trellises for nature lovers.
[ Rare Finds for All ]
Eight Flags Antique Market
602 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, facebook.com/Eight-Flags-Antique-Market-120660731307306/
Booths of vintage treasures are on display among multiple aisles within this store. From hulking French armoires, to doll-size crystal dishes, Civil War relics, Native American pottery, man cave knick knacks, costume jewelry, or handmade early dolls, there is something for everyone here. Of note are the majestic 19th-century violins, hanging from within a weathered cabinet. An 1890 E. Martin violin set is a remarkable find, but will set you back $2,500.
[ For the Rock ‘n’ Roller ]
Trailer Park Collectibles
702 Centre St., Fernandina Beach, trailerparkcollectiblesfl.com
Furniture, kitchen items, yard art, coastal decor and sports paraphernalia populate the floor space, but the real draw is the shop’s vinyl record collection. Rows of Rock ‘n’ Roll 33 1/3 LPs are organized by the artist’s name.
[ Tasteful and Timeless ]
Plantation Shop
4828 First Coast Highway, Fernandina Beach, palmettowalk.com
The Plantation Shop, set back from First Coast Highway in the bucolic Palmetto Walk shopping village, is spread among three separate side-by-side properties. Here, antique furniture occupies the first and second floor of the buildings, with prices in the three- to four-digit range. Items include an antique barley twist dumbwaiter, 1900 English painted chest, 1880 French pot board server, and a 19th-century commode. A leather-bound book in Danish, at $9.95, makes for a fabulous stocking stuffer.
[ Dinner on the Water ]
Singleton’s Seafood Shack
4728 Ocean St., Atlantic Beach, facebook.com/SingletonsMayport
We conclude our shopping adventure with a ride on the St. Johns River Ferry over to Mayport, and debark at this low-key river-facing restaurant. The horizon is coaxing the sun lower into the sky, as I sip on a glass of white wine and sate my hunger with the water’s bounty, in the form of a platter of blackened shrimp, blackened scallops and triggerfish. This is a holiday shopping excursion at its best.