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Step into the Syracuse Antique Exchange, and you’ll see many oddities on sale — from vintage records like a 1970s Partridge Family album, decades-old H&M sweaters and even a human skeleton.

“No matter what you’re into, you’ll find a dealer here that is also into that,” Matthew Pastore, co-owner of the store, said.

The Syracuse Antiques Exchange is a four-floor antique mall located near the Lakefront neighborhood in Syracuse, making it the largest antique mall in central New York, Pastore said. The store prides itself on being open seven days a week, with regular hours from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exchange rents space to around 70 antique dealers, who bring in products like furniture, jewelry and other novelties.

Being open every day and having consistent hours was a top priority for Pastore, as people travel from all over the state and country to come to the store and see their collection. That wide customer base comes from the diverse products offered by multiple dealers, unlike most antique stores which only feature a single collection, Pastore said.

Clothing racks covered in a range of collectables and everyday basics dominate the fourth floor. Walking through the racks, interested customers can find old military uniforms, vintage knitted sweaters and SU merch from the past century, right next to second-hand books and odd jewelry.

“We really focus on unique items in the store,” Pastore said. “We have a criteria with our dealers that that’s what we’re looking for them to stock, as opposed to some places that just want to rent to anyone to fill the space.”

Collin Snyder | Staff Photographer

The Syracuse Antique Exchange offers a wide range of antiques across its four floors. Items in the shop range from vintage records to decades-old H&M sweaters.

Steven Phillips, one of the dealers, has been an antique enthusiast for much of his life. After retiring from owning his own business, Phillips became a full-time dealer.

He discovered his love for vintage items while buying them for himself, then trading up as he found replacements for the pieces he already owned. Eventually, David Jenks, the prior owner of the Syracuse Antiques Exchange, encouraged him to rent out a section of the building for his items.

“It’s a real rush to be able to find treasures and then either flip them or do some work on them and turn them into something with value,” Phillips said.

Olivia Ruggiero, a Syracuse University junior, said that the Syracuse Antiques Exchange has been one of her frequent off-campus shopping destinations since she began exploring the city. It’s a sustainable shopping option for her, which is a major selling point.

“Buying second hand is cool because you get to buy something that has a second life to it, or a third or a fourth or a fifth,” Ruggiero said.

As an antique dealer, Phillips spends most of his time searching for items and doing the work to flip them. He’s grateful for his partnership with the Syracuse Antiques Exchange, because he gets to do the hunting but doesn’t have to sit there for 40 hours a week selling the pieces. It’s a win-win for him.

In his searches, he looks for slightly weird or quirky items.

“I sell all types of unusual taxidermy,” Phillips said. “Those oddities are what people love, and the stranger the better.”

Collin Snyder | Staff Photographer

The Syracuse Antique Exchange is an outlet for sustainable shopping in the community. For antique dealers, it’s a chance to enjoy hunting for items without the hassle of maintaining a storefront.

Ruggerio enjoys feeling physically connected to history. Seeing historical pieces in person is more meaningful to her than just learning about events through books.

As a student, she sometimes felt trapped on campus. When her friend introduced her to the Syracuse Antiques Exchange, she was happy to find somewhere that was welcoming and easily accessible to her. Especially as a college student, she believes it’s important to find communities within your state to connect to.

Ruggiero has purchased many things from the store, including early editions of her brother’s beloved books, trinkets for her living space and sweaters from the fourth-floor racks.

“The store covers such a broad definition of what antiques and vintage are to people,” Pastore said. “It really is more than just something to buy.”

Published on February 4, 2025 at 11:42 pm