Row upon row of French and English antique china cabinets, dining tables and beds…booths stacked with nostalgic toys that bring back childhood memories…fashion jewelry just right to complete your outfit…the perfect statue or painting to add pizazz to your newly decorated room. Over 500 vendors in 90,000 square feet of space make Relics Antique Mall in Springfield, Missouri, the state’s largest store of its kind. In fact, Relics is so large that it’s a destination in itself, complete with a tea room so you don’t even have to leave for lunch.
When I walked into the shop, I was blown away by the size. Housed in a former factory building, the aisles seemed to go on forever, vendor booths stretching in both directions farther than I could see.
Relics Antique Mall history
Beverly and Matt Robb opened Relics Antique Mall just five years ago, but they aren’t newcomers to the business. They began collecting antiques when they were college students and shopped at auctions to furnish their first apartment. To get rid of extra items, they rented a few shelves in an antique mall. Over the years, their business grew to selling at antique shows before they opened their own mall in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
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When they returned to the Springfield area to take care of elderly parents, the Robbs sold the Dallas-Fort Worth antique mall and opened one in Mount Vernon, Missouri, which is still in business. They expanded with the Relics Antique Mall in Springfield in 2010. Two years later they opened a tea room within the antique mall.
Shopping at Relics Antique Mall
Relics is divided into two sections. In the Antiques Section, vendors must sell at least 90 percent antiques and collectibles. In the Bazaar Section you’ll find new and used furniture and home décor items.
We found several fascinating items while we browsed, like this booth that sells old trunks, suitcases and briefcases. Can you imagine traveling with trunks like these today?
Many of the vendors’ booths showcase items much the way you would display them at home, so you can gather some great decorating ideas.
If I had the time, I really could spend an entire day browsing the booths at Relics Antique Mall. However, on our recent visit, our schedule only allowed a short shopping time and lunch.
Lunch in the tea room
Skip and I joined Beverly and Matt Robb, Springfield Mayor Bob Stephens and Susan Wade of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau for lunch in the tea room.
Beverly told us the most popular items on the menu are the Relics Quiche Florentine, served in a little puff pastry tart, and the Chicken Waldorf Salad, which is served on a croissant. However, we wanted to save room for dessert, so Skip and I both ordered salads. I had the Apple Spinach Salad with apple honey vinaigrette, and Skip ordered the Shrimp and Avocado Salad, a new menu item, which is served with grapefruit vinaigrette.
Dessert was a tough choice with delectable items like Intense Chocolate Flourless Torte, Caramel Apple Pie and Hawaiian Carrot Cake on the menu. In the end Skip and I chose a slice of Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake to share and tasted Susan’s tangy Candied Lemon Peel Tart. Both were great choices, but then, I don’t think you could go wrong with any of the menu choices.
The tea room isn’t simply a convenience for a quick bite while you shop. Rather, it’s a great lunch destination whether you plan to shop or not.
If you go
The Relics Antique Mall, located at 2015 West Battlefield Road in Springfield, Missouri, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Visit the web site for further details.
Disclosure: My visit to Relics Antique Mall and Tea Room was hosted by the Springfield Missouri Convention and Visitors Bureau and Relics Antique Mall, but any opinions expressed in this post are my own. Photos by Skip and Connie Reed.
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