ALFIE'S ANTIQUE MARKET
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Alfie's Antique Market will entrance any antique-lover who steps into the maze of twentieth-century collections. The market dazzles customers with knick-knacks, elegant and bold mid-century modern furniture, and a large variety of vintage items. Located on Church Street near Regent's Park, it's worth stopping by to enjoy browsing all of the unique items this market holds. Alfie's is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm. All five of Alfie's floors offer many opportunities to get lost in the items, lost in oneself, or lost in general. The floors are confusing and laid out in a way that some steps don't lead to a new floor but instead to another area of the same floor. In the building's center is a mirrored, open space that cuts through all the floors and, when followed down, takes one to a koi pond. The sounds of the water feature echo inside this hollowed-out space to create a separate world inside the chaos that is Alfie's.
GROUND FLOOR
On the ground floor of the antique market, a lovely woman named Beth sells china and other decorative objects. The glass and crystal items on the walls of her stall sparkle while eyes drift over the intricate patterns and designs. Whether someone is interested in filling their cabinets with beautifully decorated plates or is simply looking, Beth has an incredible ability to rope customers in with her charm, maybe striking up a conversation: "Where are you from?" "What brings you to London?" Chatting with her is effortless, however, it can be difficult holding a conversation because the items she sells are attention-grabbing and eye-catching. Items Beth had to offer included what one might believe to be a gold martini glass but was actually a classic candy dish, and a tea set from the 1940's that made her eyes crinkle as a smile raised her cheeks.
FIRST FLOOR
In a corner of the first floor sits a heart-warming man named Geoffrey Robinson. He sells all sorts of knick-knacks that are from throughout the twentieth century. Geoffrey's stand is perfect for a quirky birthday or Christmas gifts for friends and family, or even as a treat to oneself. Amongst the abundance of objects he sells, there is a sleek, golden set of salt and pepper shakers from the forties. A statuette of a pig with overalls dances with a wide smile above the shakers and to the left a wine bottle opener shines. The worth of the items might be debatable but taking the time to look through Geoffrey's corner is certainly worthwhile
SECOND FLOOR.
Another notable vendor at Alfie's is a man who goes by Lord Robert. His stall is located on the second floor and displays an eclectic collection of art, from ceramic hands to paintings that the man created decades ago. Robert isn't only at Alfie's to sell his things; he likes to get to know the crowd that walks the halls of the building. Lord Robert will not only call every state in America "New York" but will also ask questions like, "What are you doing with your life?" to get customers to have an existential crisis. He also brought up the infamous Donald Trump, as almost every Londoner does when they have a conversation with an American. "Tell Donny to send me some money from that Palm Beach mansion of his," Robert says. A dream everyone wishes to partake in, Robert.
Several parts of the market consist of timeless furniture, most of it dating from the 1950's to the late 70's. These mid-century modern pieces catch the eyes of anyone who imagines themselves in an aesthetically appealing apartment. Dark wood dining tables circled by chairs with circular backs create daydreams in the minds of any interior designer. Intricate chandeliers with modern shapes and colors decorate the ceiling, creating dancing rays of light across every piece of furniture. Even if someone doesn't fancy interior design, the dog that roams the second floor surely makes stopping on this floor worthwhile.
"IN-BETWEEN" FLOOR
There's another platform that sells colorful glassware somewhere between the second and third floors. Walking up a half-flight of stairs here takes one into a glass paradise, where a man looked up and down, very obviously nervous about persons walking around his fragile products. When asked if this entire floor is his, crammed wall-to-wall with plush furnishings and attractive glass, he proudly said that it was and to "Please be careful walking around with your backpack." Some items of his included a large, golden, rhinoceros, and there were many items such as lamps and ashtrays that featured the motif of a made-up, female eye.
THIRD FLOOR
Because of the overwhelming nature of the first floor and the decadence of nearby glossy rooms, it is difficult not to notice the strange sparseness amidst the third floor, where room after room is locked with their lights dimmed, signs taped to their windows that say "CLOSING" or that they're going out of business. Although phone numbers on the signs are left to call for inquiries, the goods beyond the locked doors are piled and crammed in such a way that discerning any individual item is nearly impossible. One room housed books that any book-lover would have enjoyed looking through, but their old spines were too far away to discern their titles. However, when asking other vendors about this "ghost town" floor, it was explained that other vendors from a nearby antique store will be moving their wares to this floor in Alfie's. Other rooms on this floor seemed like extra space for the vendors selling expensive pieces of furniture; these rooms were also kept locked, but the signs taped to these windows asked that for inquiries please go elsewhere on the floor to speak with the vendor.
FOURTH FLOOR
The topmost floor of Alfie's is a café that offers both inside dining and a rooftop seating area. It boasts seasonal dishes made fresh daily and there is a wide range of coffee and espresso options. The café is a nice, open area with plenty of seating so that, after making it through the entirety of Alfie's, shoppers can take a breather and take inventory of their purchases. And, if the weather cooperates, they can also enjoy a bird's-eye view of surrounding area outside.
Vendors at Alfie's do not hesitate to answer any questions about the merchandise they offer, for most of them know when the object was made, where they got it, and a little history behind it. Some vendors specialize in one sort of item, their interests evident in the things they choose to invest in. For example, one stand is overwhelming with silver cutlery and plates and bowls and candelabras, mirrors, and magnifying glasses and small medical instruments, all practically spilling from the seller's stand. One man sat among a massive collection of artwork, from large canvases to small prints standing tall in mountains around him, having little space to display. In this, there is reassurance that every vendor selling at Alfie's has the knowledge and experience to properly explain their products and their history. This is by far Alfie's best quality.
Being able to engage with the vendors, haggle prices, and coming to understand what it is exactly that one's looking at is important to any shopper, but especially for those dealing with antique items with incredible histories and peculiarities.