Gristmill Antiques in Beach City is located in Ohio’s Amish Country.

Antique malls and shops are like treasure troves. You never know what you’ll find in one, and you will almost always find something that reminds you of your childhood, or something that you or someone you knew had once upon a time.

I have spent quite a bit of time (and money) in antique malls over the years, building up a number of collections like root beer mugs and soda bottles, coins, pocketknives, 1960s Matchbox and Hot Wheels diecast cars, record albums from the 1960s-70s, old hardback books, advertising signs, postcards, matchbooks and other ephemera, and quite a few other items that have struck my fancy at one time or another.

Ohio’s antique malls were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-2021, since many people could not (or chose not to) go to brick-and-mortar businesses and instead went online to feed their collecting bug. I’ve done the same, but there’s nothing like the thrill of the chase when it’s done in person. There is just not as much excitement in clicking a mouse button and adding an item to your cart. It’s really serendipitious to find something you’ve been looking for sitting in a vendor’s space waiting for you to pick It up.

Since that low point, antique malls and shops have been rebounding. They are mostly small businesses, and actually they are much more than that since malls rent spaces to vendors to sell their wares. An antique mall might represent from 30 to hundreds of individual entrepreneurs.

Many antique malls are located in small towns, where you can also find great restaurants, ice cream shops, coffee shops, book stores, brewpubs and wineries nearby.

Where are the best towns for antiquing in Ohio? For volume, Springfield has got to be number one because of several huge malls located there as well as the monthly Springfield Antiques Show & Flea Market held at the Clark County Fairgrounds. Waynesville and Mount Victory both have good reputations as fertile grounds for antiquing with many shops in both historic villages. Zanesville, Norwich and Cambridge along US 40 are also great places to visit. Berlin in Amish Country has several large antique malls located close together.

So if you have never ventured into an antique mall or shop, you’re in for a treat. If it’s been awhile, it’s time to come back and have fun exploring again. Here are a number of malls and shops in Ohio, but this is by no means a complete list. (An asterisk – * – is placed in front of locations that the author has visited.)

AAA 1-76 Antique Mall – More than 400 vendors and 50,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles. 4285 Lynn Road, Ravenna (330) 325-9776.

*Antique Mall of Marietta – This shop is packed with everything from lamps, signs, glassware and Indian arrowheads to furniture, home décor and much more. Locally owned for more than 20 years. 135 Second St., Marietta (740) 376-0038.

*Antiques Trading Post – Great selection and convenient location near hotels and restaurants in Berlin. 4761 TR 366, Berlin (330) 893-3520.

Antiques Village – More than 350 unique vendors under one roof. 651 Lyons Road, Dayton (937) 291-5060.

Avenue Antiques – Family-owned antique and vintage resale store. 3838 Cleveland Ave. NW, Canton (330) 492-2991.

Auglaize Antique Mall – Three stories and 25,000 square feet of antiques, books and collectibles. 116 W. Auglaize St., Wapakoneta (419) 738-8004. Connect on Facebook.

*Barnesville Antique Mall – Three full floors of quality antiques and collectibles in a small-town, historic building. 202 N. Chestnut St., Barnesville (740) 425-2435.

*Berlin Antique Mall – Berlin Antique Mall offers 13,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles on one floor. Located in the Schrock’s Heritage Village shopping complex. 4359 SR 39, Berlin (419) 893-3051.

*Berlin Village Antique Mall – Largest antique mall in the area with 26,000 square feet of antiques and collectibles on two floors in the heart of Berlin. 4774 US 62, Berlin (330) 893-4100.

Black Cat Vintage – Antiques, collectibles, home décor, vintage clothing and more in 8,000 feet of space on two floors and more than 55 vendors (formerly Penny Court). 637 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge (740) 995-8370.

Broadway Antique Mall – Unique antiques and collectibles from furniture and glassware to quilts, toys, décor and more. 15 S. Broadway St., Lebanon (513) 932-1410. Connect on Facebook.

You never know what treasures you might find in an antique mall.

Brothers Antique Mall – Huge assortment of antiques and collectibles, flea markets held seasonally. 6132 Wooster Pike, Medina (330) 723-7580. Connect on Facebook.

*Coshocton Antique Mall – Continuously operated for more than 25 years with more than 50 vendors on two floors. 315 Main St., Coshocton (740) 622-7792.

Country Bits & Pieces – Décor, clothing, collectibles and hobby supplies. 700 Wheeling Ave., Cambridge (740) 432-7241. Connect on Facebook.

*Delaware Antique Mall – Downtown antique mall with 8,900 square feet and 70 dealers. 17 W. William St., Delaware (740) 369-4963.

*Eclectiques Antique Mall – Not an ordinary antique mall, longtime modern vintage shop features more than 60 vendors who rebel against convention and an age of cheap copycats. 3265 N. High St., Columbus (Clintonville) (614) 447-2242.

Field of Memories Antique Mall – In business since 1996, this shop has the best in antiques and collectibles; near Sauder Village. 5115 N. US 66, Archbold (419) 445-6255. Connect on Facebook.

*Greater Columbus Antique Mall – Enjoy exploring five floors packed with antiques and collectibles in a vintage house. 1045 S. High St., Columbus (German Village) (614) 443-7858. Connect on Facebook.

*Gristmill Antiques – Located in an historic mill in Amish Country, two floors of antiques, furniture, décor and more. 516 Redwood St. SW, Beach City (330) 756-4802.

*Heart of Ohio Antique Center – “America’s Biggest and Best Antique Center,” this is truly a superstore with 122,000 square feet, more than 800 vendors and approximately 1,450 booths and showcases and a café area. 4785 E. National Road, Springfield (937) 324-2188.

*Heritage Square Antique Mall – Columbus area’s largest antique mall comprising 53,000 square feet and more than 450 vendors with quality antiques and collectibles. 1865 Channingway Center Drive (Brice Road and E. Livingston Avenue), Reynoldsburg (614) 864-8722.

*Jeffrey’s Antique Gallery – A mega-mall with 350 dealers under one roof, convenient to I-75. 11326 CR 99, Findlay, (419) 423-7500.

*Logan Antique Mall – More than 100 vendors and always changing supply of quality antiques and collectibles in the Hocking Hills area. Located near other shopping and Olde Dutch Restaurant at 12795 SR 664 S., Logan (740) 385-2061.

*Mathews Antiques – A beautiful shop full of treasures from the past. Located next door to White Pillars. 7527 E. Pike (US 40), Norwich (740) 872-3514.

Maumee Antique Mall – 110,000 square feet and more than 250 vendors with quality antiques and collectibles. 1552 Reynolds Road, Maumee (419) 893-2468.

*Medina Antique Mall – Offering more than 500 dealer spaces under one roof full of antiques, collectibles and home furnishings. 2797 Medina Road, Medina (330) 722-0017.

*Mid-Ohio Antiques Mall – A local antique shop filled with great finds. 155 Cline Ave., Mansfield (419) 526-3712. Connect on Faceboook.

*National Road Flea Market – Great selection of antiques, collectibles, furniture and home décor located in large log building at I-70 Norwich exit, across from Ohio Pottery. 8645 E. Pike, Norwich (740) 605-8685. Connect on Facebook.

Norwich Antiques & More – Located in historic Baker’s Motel, 8855 E. Pike (US 40), Norwich (740) 255-0852. Connect on Facebook.

*Ohio Valley Antique Mall – Cincinnati’s largest multi-dealer antique mall with more than 550 vendors in 85,000 square feet of space. 7285 SR 4 (Dixie Hwy.), Cincinnati (513) 874-7855.

Old Tin Cup Antiques – Great selection of antiques and collectibles in an old-fashioned downtown storefront in quaint village. 125 S. Main St., Mt. Victory (937) 354-6037. Connect on Facebook.

Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall is indeed located in a former shoe factory in Lancaster.

*Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall – Located in a former shoe factory, this antique mall has 60,000 square feet and more than 200 vendors. 310 Forest Rose Ave., Lancaster (740) 687-1760.

Peninsula Village Antiques – High quality selection of antiques in the heart of the picturesque village of Peninsula. 1685 Main St., Peninsula (440) 241-0470. Connect on Facebook.

*Pottery City Antique Mall – This antique mall and gallery has everything from vintage clothing, old jewelry, gems, pottery, glassware including Fiesta, Fenton, Hall, Mosser, etc., and more. 409 Washington St., East Liverpool, (330) 385-6933. Connect on Facebook.

*Powell Liberty Antique Mall – This mall has an extensive, ever-changing array of antiques, specializing in jukeboxes, Nickelodeons and music boxes. The shop originally opened in Clintonville in 1968. 22 N. Liberty St., Powell (614) 855-5588.

Riverview Antiques – For over 30 years, Riverview Antiques has been buying and selling American and Continental antiques, including glass, china, furniture, silver, postcards, letters, books, Oriental objects and rugs. 102 Front St., Marietta (740) 373-4068.

*Rockbridge Antiques Arts & Collectibles – Located inside the Ohio Bicentennial Barn at Hocking Hills Market. Selling antiques, hard to find items, local arts and collectibles. 26778 US 33, Rockbridge (740) 385-6330. Connect on Facebook.

*Sandusky Street Antiques and Design – Two floors of quality antiques, furniture and home decor in an historic building in the heart of downtown Delaware. 30 N. Sandusky St., Delaware (740) 363-1405.

*Springfield Antique Center – 700 dealers in two buildings, convenient to I-70 just east of Springfield. 1735 Titus Road, Springfield (937) 322-8868.

*Spring Street Antique Mall – Over 120 dealers in a 12,000 square foot building, selling primitives, furniture, pottery, Depression glass and much more. 26782 US 33 (Hocking Hills Market) Rockbridge (740) 385-1816.

Starlight Antiques and Gifts – Small, family-owned shop open since 1987 in a circa 1900 storefront. 66 W. Jackson St., Millersburg (330) 674-5111.

*Strasburg Antique Mall – Diverse variety of antiques and collectibles. 1020 N. Wooster Ave., Strasburg (330) 878-7021.  

The Rustic Birdcage – Outstanding and eclectic variety of antiques and collectibles in a compact space. You’ll find petroliana, signs, toys, architectural, shabby chic and more. View a nice overview of this shop at Everyday Adventures with Jim at YouTube. 13 E. Park St., Columbiana (330) 506-6650.

Village Antique Emporium – Housed in a hardware store that dates to 1873, this store offers a wide variety of antiques and collectibles. 113 W. Jackson St., Millersburg (330) 674-0510.

Village Mercantile – A shop of 80-plus vendors, with a wide variety including primitives, glassware, crafts, mid-century modern and more. 24 E. Main St., Centerburg (740) 625-4005.

*Vogt General Store – Don’t let the name mislead you; this is a general store, established in 1888. But for many years it’s been an antique shop in the heart of Amish Country that is full to the brim with dusty, rusty gold. If you come here, put on old clothes, gloves and get ready to dig. 6501 SR 515, Trail (330) 893-2544.

*Walnut Creek Antique Mall – Antique shop just around the corner from Der Dutchman; 11,000 square feet with great prices on antiques and collectibles. 4872 McKinley Place Drive, Walnut Creek (330) 893-4010. Connect on Facebook.

*Waynesville Antique Mall – Wonderful selection of antiques, collectibles and vintage goods. 69 S. Main St., Waynesville (513) 897-6937. Connect on Facebook. There are many other antique shops in Waynesville, learn more here.

White Pillars Antique Mall is located on historic US 40.

*White Pillars Antique Mall – Full line of antiques and collectibles including lamps and lamp parts, established in 1984. 7525 E. Pike (US 40), Norwich (740) 872-3720. Close by are White Pillars Christmas House, Zanesville Pottery and Mathews Antiques. Connect on Facebook.

Worthington Antiques & Collectibles – Offers an intriguing blend of old and new. Formerly Peacock Lane Antiques, with many continuing vendors as well as new vendors. 615 High St., Worthington (614) 505-0199.

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