Antiques by the Bay Offers a Large Antiques Market with a View

Antiques By The Bay, the monthly extravaganza of all things not of the new-and-improved variety, has grown from a mostly-local show in Alameda to a nationally recognized event and an international tourist attraction.

“We grow every single year. We’ve never really flattened out, even in the weaker January to May period,” explains Betsy Goldman. Goldman, along with her husband, Jerry, and Allen and Sandy Michaan, are owners of Antiques By The Bay.
The show, held monthly at Alameda Point, has grown from 600 booths to more than 800. “We have room for 1,000 booths, and I can definitely see that happening,” Goldman says.

Goldman attributes the show’s success to a unique blend of qualities that are rare in antiques shows: “We attract visitors because of the high quality of our show. That’s combined with the chance for a bargain, which is pretty unique.”

To ensure merchandise is high quality, Goldman says that nothing newer than 20 years old is allowed in the show, and that that rule is rigorously enforced. Reproductions are not allowed, either.

That guarantee of quality, combined with an openness which welcomes everyone, has made the show a success. “We have everyone from a dealer offering a $15,000 lamp, to someone emptying out Grandma’s garage,” she explains. “Knowledge of what you are looking at is power, and if you know what to look for, there are some great bargains out there.”

Goldman says many vendors shop early in the morning, purchasing under-valued items before many people arrive, and then reselling the item for several times the original price.

But the event is definitely not for professional antique dealers only. “The public comes, too, and that makes it exciting,” Goldman says. “It opens up inventory to items that have been held by families for 60, 70, or 80 years. And people like it because they don’t just see antique dealers — they see regular people selling older items,” she says.

The popularity of the show has increased, and attendance now averages around 10,000 people. Visitors from Maine to Florida to Nevada to Alaska descend on the market each month. They also descend on other Alameda businesses, purchasing food and gasoline, shopping for other items, and staying in local hotels.

Tour operators are also bringing groups to the show. “We had a tour bus of Japanese tourists come in recently. The tour operator wanted to find something a little different, something unusual,” Goldman says. Another operator brings visitors from Sacramento regularly.

The show is also starting to get national press. Lucky, a magazine focusing solely on shopping, recently highlighted the show, providing it with additional national exposure outside of the antiques world.

Goldman is already looking forward to breaking more records with their next show. (Shows are always held the first Sunday of each month.) “People are looking for different venues, and this is pretty unusual,” she says.

To learn more about Antiques By The Bay, visit antiquesbybay.com, or call 522-7500.