Ever wonder ’bout the big pink building on Central Avenue next to Ferg’s? Perhaps you were intimidated by its giant size or the Pepto-Bismol paint job, or perhaps you assumed that since you don’t collect antiques, Gas Plant Antique Arcade isn’t a practical place to shop. Whatever your preconceptions, we suggest a trip straightaway. Gas Plant is an antique outlet with a blessed lack of pretension, its four vast floors and 33,000 square feet of space housing more than 150 dealers and consigners. The employees are genuinely happy to serve and won’t try to upsell you on some other priceless [insert luxury item here] to go with whatever you’re already buying, nor will they hover around and make sure you’re not touching any of the vast array of merchandise. Among the offerings is an abundance of antique furniture – armoires, dressers, dining sets, heavy carved wooden chairs, headboards, chandeliers, wardrobes and the like – as well as retro furniture, stained glass, pop culture and war memorabilia, toys, fine china, pottery, cases upon cases of jewelry (fine and flash, vintage and fun), knickknacks, baubles of all varieties, fine art, scarves and much more. Prices range from super cheap to exorbitant, but the majority of dealers are currently offering discounts on some or all of their stock, which means plenty of opportunities to get fair prices on one-of-a-kind gifts.
Gift this: Set of five hammered metal Christmas tree ornaments (xxxx) circa 1982, 1983, 1984, 1989 and 1990 by Wendell August Forge of Grove City, PA. $10 original; $7 with 30 percent discount.
Gas Plant Antique Arcade, 1246 Central Ave., St Petersburg 727-895-0368.
Check out other stops on CL’s Indie Holiday Shopping Spree here.
This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 2, 2008.