Make Your Road Trip Vintage

This time of year we’re all ready for something different, whether it’s the weather, the scenery or things to do, it’s time for a change. So why not hop in the car and get out of town? It doesn’t have to be far and there’s amazing vintage to be found in a short day trip, or extend it to a couple days if you’re up for an adventure! Head East. Not far from Kalamazoo is The Burgess Antique Center, in Galesburg, MI, open every day and offering vintage from antique to midcentury furniture and clothing. Its two stories and filled with beautiful treasures. If you want to continue east you can stop in Jackson, MI at All Things Retro and the

Jackson Antique Mall. They each offer hundreds of high quality vintage clothing items, furniture and décor. And if you’ve built up an appetite after all that shopping make sure to hit the Roxy Café, an iconic 1920s diner that serves up classic breakfasts and lunch with a kitschy décor. Next up is Lansing, MI with the Mega Mall Antiques and Collectables, the largest antique mall in MI. This has a wide range of items and prices, from antiques to flea market types of finds, there’s something for everyone! Continuing east is Detroit, MI. There is so much happening in Detroit, you could find vintage and thrift stores for days! To name just a few, there’s Flamingo Vintage, Old Souls Vintage and the Vintage Eastern Market that all offer an array of vintage clothing. For some old school bowling visit Bowlero Lanes & Lounge in Royal Oak. This bowling alley and cocktail lounge underwent a $1.4 million retro ‘70s themed renovation in 2019 and hosts live music, DJs and entertainment, no cover charge. Maybe you’d rather head north toward Grand Rapids… There’s lots of vintage to be found and you can easily make a day or two of treasure hunting. Right off Interstate 131 is Lost and Found Treasures of Old. Open 7 days a week this large warehouse has everything from vintage clothing to mad midcentury furniture and home décor, with new inventory constantly coming in.

Next, you can hit Elevated where you’ll find an array of vintage clothing, furniture and home décor from a variety of vendors. I’ve gotten some of my favorite 1970s jeans from this spot, thanks Love Charles Vintage! Reverie Vintage Collective opened in 2022 and has some amazing vintage vendors who offer one-of-a-kind clothing and items for the home. There are a few smaller vintage shops that have been around for a while and offer high quality and unique vintage at great prices. Two that I love are Flashback on Leonard Vintage and I.C. Hair & Vintage. Both specialize in vintage clothing, great for everyday wear, costumes or events. Ready to move around? Clique Lanes Bowling Alley has a great old school atmosphere and décor with a good food and beer selection.

Since you’re halfway there, why not check out a few places in Muskegon, MI? It’s just 45 minutes north- west on 96 and you end up right on lake Michigan with great shops and restaurants to choose from. One of my favorite spots is Pine Street where you can easily walk to all the great vintage shops. Vintage Deluxe and Minty Vintage are two businesses that have very recently combined stores to give you the best of vintage clothing and midcentury modern furniture and home décor. There’s also Pine Street Mercantile and Brass Moon Vintage who carry everything from antiques to midcentury items for the home with vintage clothing mixed in. Just down the street is Capone’s Speakeasy & Restaurant. Tucked into a back hallway, it’s worth the hunt to experience their hand-crafted cocktails and wonderful food. Across the street is a sweet Italian restaurant, Napote’s Italian Kitchen. They offer home cooked Italian dishes and a full bar, friendly and comfortable atmosphere and service, one of our favorites.

So, whichever direction you decide to travel, happy vintage trails and enjoy the ride!

Jayne Gulliver J-Bird Vintage