People’s Bazaar

I do not understand these whiners who say this place is over priced – cheap skates. I got a beautiful cherry book case for 95 $. Please! The owners are sweet, and very helpful. Yes, the store is packed to the ceiling – literally! But I will be back. I saw art, statues, clocks and other furniture I want to get. A great place to wander around for an hour.

When you first walk in they tell you, «Yes it’s crowded, but inventory moves through very fast.» LIES. I’ve seen the same furniture blocking the doorway every time I go. Why? Because their prices are TOO HIGH. They’re ridiculous. I saw some cheap, misaligned kitchen tongs priced at $ 15. I wouldn’t pay a buck for them, new they’re about $ 5. Some of their items are interesting, but who can afford it? HEY PEOPLE, YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY SELL SOMETHING AND CLEAR AN AISLE OR TWO IF YOU LOWER YOUR PRICES. I’m surprised the fire department hasn’t closed this place yet.

My first time there was last seen and I really enjoyed it. It is overcrowded but a lot of fun, good prices, nice people and definitely worth the drive. I found a couple neat treasures I’ll be giving as gifts this year.

It’s like visiting your grandma who’s a hoarder if she had tons more space to store her collection of stuff. Unbelievable amounts of vintage junk mixed in with the occasional cool antique artifact. You have to walk sideways down narrow aisles piled high with chairs cabinets knickknacks and breakables, clutching your bag close to you so you don’t knock anything over. If you are claustrophobic, better not go here. The owners are sort of good cop bad cop. You might get a friendly greeting or you might get a disapproving reprimand. It is definitely a Berkeley institution.

I love hunting for vintage items so this place is a total treat! I used to work near this shop and would often drop by to browse. This shop is literally packed from floor to ceiling with furniture and random knick knacks. I don’t know how the workers do it, but regardless of what you’re looking for, they know where to find it in the store.
I have to admit though, the times that I have been in the store, I was slightly scared that an earthquake would happen and I would get smooshed under all of the furniture. I have found that the owners are very friendly, knowledgeable, and are willing to negotiate.

Overpriced. Wont negociate. store is over crowded and you can’t get through it.

I live in the heart of the Berkeley antique district and I can easily say this one is my favorite.
This place is packed to the brim with tons of beautiful old victorian furniture and international treasures.
Every time I’m looking for something (even if I’m not sure what I’m looking for) I find it at People’s Bazaar.
The store owners are wonderful people (a rarity these days it seems) and very accommodating.
They promptly delivered the furniture I bought and even took a trade in for some of the same items a year later when I had to downsize and make space. Who does that???
( — – These guys — — )
:)

I feel like Alice in Wonderland in this shop. It’s truly a marvel. Go there, get lost in the aisles, watch you’re step, and perhaps leave a trail of breadcrumbs so you can find your way out again. Talk to the staff, they’re as fascinating as the beautiful things they’re selling. Be wary of Rabia though, a truly gifted saleswoman, she’ll have you walking out of there with more things than you can carry, (you may also end up hugging her and wishing she was part of your family.). Good people, dealing in lovely forgotten things.

This place is awesome! And a nice break from the midcentury Scandinavian crap that everyone has a boner for. Although things are precariously balancing on other things, the furniture are all in mint condition. It used to be a meat market! The delivery is real cheap (20 bucks!) And it smells nice.

This place has too much stuff for it’s own good! It’s actually hard to get around and impossible to see everything, but that’s part of the fun. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

I love this place. As others have said, People’s Bazaar is owned by friendly and knowledgeable folks. The prices compared to most antique stores were more than fair. Today I returned here after more than 30 years (stayed nearby on a visit to the Bay as a teen), and immediately found TWO chests of drawers I loved out of several to choose between. The owners helped me decide and gave me a wonderful price. Then they delivered the large piece to me in San Leandro for next to nothing. I will be back soon!

This is a cute, unique shop near the Ashby BART that has an amazing selection of attractive, well-​maintained antiques and novelties. Not novelties like a Hallmark store, but real novelties. For instance, today I noted a few things I would like to return for with my car including a hand-​cranked coffee grinder, a wood barrel for making beer mash, and other nifty, unique finds. Definitely a must-​check if you’re ever near Ashby BART. The only reason it’s not five stars — Berkeley prices.

This place is fantastic! I love the fact that it is a jungle of antiques, from wall to wall, with nooks and crannies to get lost in. The owner is very friendly. The downside is that because there is so much inside the store, it is difficult to find things and there is a smell that just hits you at the door.

A great shop! They’ve been a South Berkeley staple for over 36 years. An amazing little shop you can get lost in for hours! Don’t bring any huge bags or strollers because it really is a tight squeeze in there.
Lots of different aisle ways filled with treasure in various forms. The owner, Sam, is a great guy who is very knowledgeable about his collection and antiques in general. Lots of Victorian, Art Deco and other 19^th and 20^th century items. Amazing furniture, knick knacks, jewelry, dishes, lamps, vases, random statues. A bit rich for my blood but, hey, that’s just me.
They have this cool Goose lamp I’ve been eye-​balling for a long time. I better get my butt down there and see if I can get it now that I posted a review! But seriously there are so many treasure in this shop! If you’re into that kind of thing, you’ll love this place!

I love People’s Bazaar and think that their selection and quality is superb. The other reviewers moaned about the lack of «mid-​century» or deco selection – too bad. This place does not purport to carry and/​or specialize in that period nor do they cater to it. Frankly I feel a lot fo mid-​century stuff is way overpriced right now and if you want that, go to market street in san francisco, or valencia street for that matter. or goodwil :)
if you love dark woods and/​or mahogany and victorian, edwardian, georgian and furniture in that vein, then you will enjoy this place. This is a marvelous place that I recommend…

The other reviewers are right. This antique shop is packed from top to bottom with stuff. It’s hard to get around, and it’s true – lots of traditional furniture that I don’t care for! We like mid-​century furniture and this store has few such pieces. But look hard enough and you might find some gems. We found two art deco night stands that have worked well in our home. 2 for $ 250. It’s true, it’s not as cheap as the flea market, but it’s way cheaper than going to some other fancy antique stores in Petaluma, etc. Anyway, minus two stars for the lack of organization and for prices that are not as cheap as they could be. But all in all, a decent place where you might just find some shiny gems if you’re willing to look hard, be patient, and walk through a pile of junk!

Places like these give me crazy ideas, like covering an entire wall with glass washboards, or buying a curio to display dishes I’ll never use beacuse they can’t go in the microwave or dishwasher.
Packed to the hilt with forgotten antique goodies that very well may become your lares and penates, this shop has enough perusal points to keep me browsing for years. For the most part it’s a glorious haphazard jumble of dusty tcotchkes, china, furniture, art, homestuffs and jewelry. While the selection of midcentury modern and art deco is lacking, the traditional is well represented. And though the prices will have me dreaming for the Alameda flea market, those with a penchant for the old will have a field day.