Antique District Orlando

The antiques inside are even cooler than the exterior of this antiques store.

Just north of downtown, spread along both sides of Orange Avenue, is the area that has come to be called the Antique District. The oldest establishment in the area is also the largest, A&T Antiques, which was started back in the seventies by Doug Toler. Today, one of the coolest and nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, his son Greg Toler and Greg's brother-in-law Lance handle the day to day operations in this store that, among other things, is known for their stained glass windows which they have been importing from the UK for over two decades. I have bought several there in the last few years. The prices and selection are terrific. Another category with huge choices is the chair area upstairs. The store has been specializing in furniture repair, refinishing and stripping throughout its existence and is one of the premier locations for that kind of work in central Florida. Over the years, other antique, collectible and furnishing stores began gravitating to the area and by the mid eighties, it became known as The Antique District.

Greg Toler in his office at A&T Antiques.

Antiques and the staircase lead up to the stained glass section of A&T antiques.

Packed full with antiques, the stain glass selection is enormous.

The White Wolf Cafe is a place for great food and a little antique shopping.

The inside of the White Wolf Cafe includes a sign that says 'we're always interested in buying antiques'.

I'll never forget stopping in at a little antique store that had just opened here in the late eighties. In one small corner there was an area for serving ice cream and coffee. There was a line to buy those items. The owner said "I wanted to do something different from the restaurant business, so I opened a little antique store. I figured serving coffee and a few sweets would help with the cash flow 'til we get going." Sandwiches soon followed, then soup, salads and more. The White Wolf Cafe never really became a location for antiques, but the lines to get a table for lunch or dinner can be prodigious. It's a fun and hip little place to meet friends and then maybe go for a little shopping down the street. Other restaurants of note in the area are The Greek Corner overlooking Lake Ivanhoe, Brian's, serving typical diner food and the polar opposite, Ethos Vegan Restaurant. All three are quite popular in their respective categories.

A really cool bed and other antinques inside Wasburn Imports.

Cool selections inside Washburn.

More inside of Washburn Imports

Among the other top draws are Washburn Imports, where John Washburn and his charming staff show the niftiest Indonesian, Indian, Thai and Chinese furnishings. John makes frequent buying trips to the orient and has a great eye for the unusual and the beautiful. A few doors up, Rock 'n Roll Heaven has a rich assortment of retro-vinyl, new and used cds and cult posters that span the entire music spectrum with a particular emphasis on the last fifty years. And just to broaden the mix, Galactic Skate Shop , in the next block adds a whole other element. The one thing that the fifty or so shops here have in common is that they are cool, urban and bound to entertain. Neither the mercandise or the proprietors disappoint in their ability to beguile you.

Not to be missed and just one block east of Orange Avenue on Alden Road is the fabulous Elephant Walk Shop. The owner, Endor, hails from Turkey and he has an eye for fine European Antiques that he uses on his frequent trips abroad. Designers from all over the southeast depend on Endor to provide them with that something special that will make their commissions stand out. And, like so many others in this part of town, he is a genuinely nice person, totally warm, friendly and extremely knowledgeable.

A trip to Antique Row in Orlando is definitely worth a half day sojourn. And its proximity to other cultural attractions found around the corner in Loch Haven Park, make it an ideal location to combine with a visit to these nearby institutions. Loch Haven is home to the Orlando Museum of Art, Mennello Folk Art Museum, the Civic Theaters, the Shakespeare Festival Theater and the Orlando Science Center. Less than half a mile away is the outstanding Leu Botanical Gardens. And silly you, you thought Orlando just had theme parks. For information about these and a myriad of other outstanding arts and cultural destinations, stay tuned for future blogs!