Antique Alley has sold vintage TIME magazines, records, costumes and colorful dishware at 706 State Street for 33 years. It closes on December 27. Owner Alan Howard told the Santa Barbara News-Press that he has decided to retire and that the building is on the market.
Four blocks up, a department store built in 1920 has just reopened as a home for dozens of vintage dealers and makers.
The two stories belong together. This fall, the biggest retail news on State Street has been secondhand goods. Siteline put it this way on October 7: "The big news on State Street continues to be the influx of resale shops." The new shops share a business model too. Most fill their shelves with goods from many sellers, so one storefront ends up holding dozens of small businesses and a lot of neighbors' closets. As a single-owner institution like Antique Alley winds down, the businesses moving in are built around many sellers sharing one space.
The anchor at 1105 State: one roof, many shops
State Street Trading Post opened this October at 1105 State Street, between Anapamu and Figueroa. According to Edhat, the building went up in 1920 as Andrea's Department Store and has had only three owners in more than a century. Store manager Nicole Roehrig told Edhat, "It's not lost on us what a privilege it is to hold a piece of Santa Barbara history in our hands."
The setup is the important part. The company describes the 10,000-square-foot space as "a shop within shops," where each vendor has its own dedicated area. Its pitch to sellers, in Edhat's article, is "a physical storefront on State Street without the crushing overhead of commercial rent." A small maker who could never lease a State Street storefront alone can rent a corner of one here.
The vendor list keeps growing. Siteline counted 27 vendors across two floors on October 7, including Parker Clay and Westward General, and described that as "just phase one." By October 16, Noozhawk was reporting more than 30 vendors selling furniture, clothing, artwork and home accessories. Owners Angela and Todd Hartmann plan to add a contemporary menswear area, an apothecary and their own children's line, Little Outpost.
The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The official launch celebration is set for Saturday, November 7.
At 801 State, your neighbors stock the racks
The Trading Post gives makers shared space. Neighbor Neighbor does something similar for the clothes in local closets. Taiana Giefer opened the consignment shop as a pop-up at 801 State, next door to Milio's Pizza, in March. It has since become a permanent store. On Siteline's visit, the shop was busy with people dropping off items and shopping. Each tag lists the name of the item's previous owner, and one shopper was trying to track down everything a particular consignor had brought in.
Because of that setup, the stock comes from the people who live here. If you have a closet to clear out, the shop's own terms look like this:
- Payout: consignors earn 40% to 65% of the sale price, depending on the price tier.
- Store credit: worth an extra 10% if you would rather shop than cash out.
- Payment timing: about every two to four weeks, by Zelle or check.
- Drop-off: walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed.
- What they want: natural fibers, designer pieces, everyday basics, distinctive items and some vintage.
- Time on the floor: accepted pieces usually stay about three to six weeks.
The shop is open Tuesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. For shoppers more interested in labels, Renaissance Fine Consignment, three blocks up at 1118 State, carries luxury designer apparel, handbags and accessories.
At 400 State, the home version that funds housing
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County runs the same donate-and-resell loop for the house. Its ReStore opened at 400 State Street with a ribbon cutting on the morning of August 26. The Santa Barbara Independent noted how different it is from the warehouse-style ReStore in Goleta, which appealed to dedicated bargain hunters and was forced to close during the pandemic. The new store has high ceilings, good natural light and clear signage. Donated tables, couches and chairs fill the main floor, and the back room holds tools, appliances, fixtures and construction materials.
According to the Independent, all proceeds go to Habitat's work to produce, preserve and protect affordable housing in southern Santa Barbara County. Siteline measured the store at 8,000 square feet and said it is worth a look for anyone working on a house or hunting for furnishings.
ReStore Santa Barbara is open for shopping Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Donation drop-off is Wednesday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., using the rear driveway off Gutierrez Street. Check Habitat's list of acceptable donation items before you load the car.
The 600 and 700 blocks: one shop returns, one says goodbye
Between the ReStore and Neighbor Neighbor, two blocks show the change most clearly.
Punch Vintage used to share Domecíl's space at 1223 State. It is coming back at 631 State, between Ortega and Cota, with the same mix of vinyl, art, lighting, apparel, accessories, jewelry and furniture. Siteline said it was expected to open before the end of October.
One block up, Antique Alley is in its final months. It sits in a short stretch of secondhand shops. Thrifty Beaches opened as a vintage shop at 710 State in July 2025, and The Closet Trading Company, which deals in secondhand clothing, bags and accessories, is listed at 714 State. When Antique Alley closes on December 27, the newer shops on the block will carry on. They will not replace the shop's 33 years of collected stock. If something on its shelves has caught your eye over the years, this fall is your last chance to buy it.
Your State Street resale walk, south to north
The whole route covers about seven blocks and makes an easy Saturday. Mind the hours, because most of these shops are closed on Mondays.
| Stop | Address | What you'll find | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReStore Santa Barbara | 400 State St. | Donated furniture, tools, fixtures, building materials | Wed–Sun, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Punch Vintage | 631 State St. | Vinyl, lighting, apparel, jewelry, furniture | Opening expected late October |
| Antique Alley | 706 State St. | Vintage magazines, records, costumes, dishware | Closing Dec. 27 |
| Thrifty Beaches | 710 State St. | Vintage | Check before visiting |
| The Closet Trading Company | 714 State St. | Secondhand clothing, bags, accessories | Check before visiting |
| Neighbor Neighbor | 801 State St. | Local consignment, designer and everyday pieces | Tue–Sun, noon–6 p.m. |
| State Street Trading Post | 1105 State St. | 30+ vendors, vintage and independent makers | Tue–Fri 11–6, Sat 10–6, Sun 11–5 |
| Renaissance Fine Consignment | 1118 State St. | Designer apparel and handbags | Check before visiting |
If you are heading toward the water afterward, Loveworn at 11 Anacapa Street in the Funk Zone sells vintage denim, vintage clothing and cashmere alongside handcrafted apparel.
Fall market dates
Shared-space selling extends outdoors too, at a few markets near downtown between now and the holidays:
- Saturday, October 31: Farmer & the Flea at El Presidio, 123 E. Canon Perdido, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1: Día de los Muertos Market & Craft Day at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Mujeres Makers Market vendors.
- Saturday, November 7: State Street Trading Post's launch celebration at 1105 State.
- November 20 to 22: the Santa Barbara Antique Show at Earl Warren Showgrounds, 3400 Calle Real.
- Saturday, December 19: Farmer & the Flea returns to El Presidio, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Every Sunday, the city's Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show sets up local artisans along Cabrillo Boulevard between Stearns Wharf and Calle Cesar Chavez, from 10 a.m. until dusk.
Our team furnishes and cares for homes across Santa Barbara, so a good find at 400 State and a well-worn chair from a neighbor's closet are things we notice too. If you are setting up a guest room, refreshing a rental or deciding what to keep before a move, Samantha Ireland is happy to share which local spots have worked for us. Let's Connect.