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Salmagundi West
Categories: Shopping Antiques Event Planning & Services Cards & Stationery Shopping Arts & Crafts Cards & Stationery Shopping Flowers & Gifts Cards & Stationery Shopping Jewellery Antiques, Cards & Stationery, Jewellery [Edit]
321 Cordova St WVancouver, BC V6B 1E5
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
(604) 681-4648
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10:30 am - 5:30 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
8 reviews for Salmagundi West
8 reviews in English
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Review from Bobbin W.
9/19/2011
At the top of Salmagundi's staircase on a rickety mannequin drapes a lace dress with a headpiece attached - a skullcap of sorts with bunny ears. The entire get-up reminds me of the dream-like bunny suit from Donnie Darko except a feminine, Victorian version. It would make a great Halloween costume.
But it's not for sale!
So I bought some antique cigar boxes and a book of grotesque Halloween postcards instead. -
Review from Evilyn T.
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ain't no villians in this store, but there sure is a lot of retro goods. Its like hanging out in your grandma's cluttered attic filled with strange objects of desire. Ain't no party like my Nana's tea party... hey... ho! For example, they had a light hanging when you first walk in and the chandelier around it just happens to be a trumpet! Whoever had to wire that shit up deserves some recognition. They also had some cool crow skulls (not real ones) that you could buy as necklaces, funky stationary, and oversized old-school-looking scissors that could probably cut your fingers off. These were obviously just invented so people could tell us not to run with them, but sometimes I like to live on the wild side.
The store is kinda cramped, so its probably a good thing I'm skinny, and there are some awkward stairs that you can take to go downstairs where there are more bizarre old things. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, its kind of fun to stop in and just look at stuff, cuz there's just so much of it! -
Review from May B.
Vancouver, BC
1/18/2011
I LOVE this shop. I could (and have) spent a couple of hours in this place. There's just so much to look at.
They have everything from antique and vintage compasses, postcards, printing press blocks, military buttons, cameras, lock and keys, peacock feathers, jewelry, beads, and reading glasses to new gag gifts, music boxes, wind up robots, and toy trinkets. Everyone says check out the chinese chest - do it. You honestly never know what you'll find in each drawer.
The shopkeeper is also super chill. If you have a dog, feel free to let him or her wander around the store, cuz she keeps her pup behind the desk too. -
Review from Christine R.
New Westminster, BC
9/1/2008
On the surface, this store looks like your average antique store. It's situated in that building that comes to a point where Trounce Alley and Cordova Street meet, and the windows are filled with old china and silvery things. But come inside and make your way down the stairs to the basement, and you will find a wonderful selection of old-fashioned cards and wrappings, retro wind-up toys, and all kinds of gifty things.
The really special thing about Salmagundi is the giant antique Chinese chest along one wall. It has, literally, over 100 little drawers, each filled with delightful novelties, toys, candies, and soaps. I can easily spend over an hour down there, looking in all the drawers and playing (gently) with cool tin toys that look like the ones we used to have at Grandma's house.
If you're needing a unique last-minute gift for someone, this is a good place to find it. Prices do seem to me to be a little steep for trinkets, but nobody said nostalgia was cheap. -
Review from Dave B.
Vancouver, BC
10/20/2011
I just basically left the shop about 5 minutes ago. I have to say I have never had a more unpleasant experience ever of being in any store. The owner of the store was just the most unpleasant, unhelpful and rude person i have ever encountered. Just totally unreasonable and yes, very rude. She shows complete contempt and lack of respect for her customers and people in her store in general. I will also add that the store is barely antiques, mostly is a knick-knack and gift shop that sort of look like antiques. This is not the issue however. The incredible rudeness of the shop owner is. Avoid this place if you can help it. Plenty better options to chose from.
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Review from Victoria R.
BC
1/27/2009
Did you know that the original meaning of this quirky word comes from an English 17th Century salad made up of seafood, vegetables, meat, flowers, nuts, leaves, vinegar and oil? Yumm-o! Apparently the importance to this dish was in the presentation or geometrical shapes they made out of it..so it's only fair that this antique stores utilizes space accordingly.
Once down the stairs, the hidden treasures add a sense of joy and play to your next purchase. Tiny toys, gadgets, gifts, postcards, instruments, old typewriters and dolls fills large antique chests for your viewing pleasure. -
Review from Anne B.
Vancouver, BC
6/14/2009
Salmagundi is a unique collection of antiques and curios. You have to take the time to get over the visual overload in order to take in the infinate charm of the indefinate articles. Discover the real magic of Salmagundi....down the wooden stairs and into the basement...
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Review from J G.
Vancouver, BC
10/3/2008 1 photo
What a quirky and eccentric collection of oddities this store is! It's crammed full of the mysterious and the unusual. You'll find things like vintage postcards, very old Underwood typewriters, musical instruments, old-fashioned dolls, quirky stamps and toys, teacups that your granny might have had and just about everything else you could imagine. One of the specialties of this store is the chest of drawers, each of which contains an unpredictable selection of trinkets that will surely tickle your imagination. This place is absolutely worth a stop and you may find yourself spending an hour or more browsing and delighting in all the interesting items to be found here.
