Yes!! This is what happened to me and Home Goods. At first I was in love, what's not to love?!?!? Fabulous finds in every color, shape, price imaginable. I never left empty handed. And then something changed. Me? I dunno. But I never feel the call to go to Home Goods now. I recently went with a friend and left empty handed and unimpressed. Yep. Something happened.

One more thought.... I also don't enjoy browsing antique stores or flea markets like I used to. I think I'm over browsing the smalls. They all look the same. However, I rejoice with all of you when you find that perfect large or small thing for which you have searched.

Oh, yes! There are several places that come to my mind, mostly antique malls or stores containing individual sellers' stalls that I once absolutely loved to frequent and nearly always walked out with a purchase. I hadn't been in a very long time and recently had the opportunity to visit a couple of them again, and I was completely underwhelmed. I actually left one of the antique malls feeling like I wanted to go home and take a shower. :-(

But isn't that partly just the difference in what the malls carry these days? I'm pretty amazed at what is considered an antique anymore.

Yes, writersblock, that's so true. I have been amazed at the outright junk that people are trying to sell in the antique malls today. This is about the caliber of much of what I saw ...

Yes, and it's really depressing to think that all the uninspiring junk being sold new now in the stores will be the next wave of that.

I have to agree about both Home Goods and antique malls. Although I still find something at HomeGoods from time to time, it is not like it used to be. Overall it has become humdrum. Even when I was not out to buy or on the hunt for something, it used to be more fun to hit the antique stores. My last couple of visits to antique malls, I have left empty-handed and was bored- found nothing unusual, or in good condition to even inspect. I find that the prices are high too lately. At least that is how it is for me, but OTOH my daughter, who lives in another area, has made some great purchases lately.

Maybe our pleasure is influenced by our stage of life. At this point, I am more fussy because I already have stuff and trying to pare down.

Paring down. Yes. That's where I am, as well.

I agree. There were a couple of small but nice decorating shops in town but I think they have gone out of business. And same thing TR said about antique malls. I used to enjoy browsing some of the local ones, but most of the booths had pretty much the type of thing TR posted. Imagine finding a lot of Corning Ware cornflower cookware in a couple of stores recently! Hey, I'm still using that! And the prices on it makes me glad I'm still using it.

Felt the same way, in the last few years, about the antique and "junk" stores I used to love to frequent. Until...my daughters started furnishing their own homes. Have found some recent bargains for them both.

One particular bargain was a nice, big and round, Regency looking coffee table...solid wood...for a mear $45. In near perfect condition and had the original brass wheels. It made DD and SIL's living room! Goes well with their low couch and wide upholstered chair left by the former owner of their new house. :) Such a great bargain that I did not even haggle. That's the name of the shop.

Now anytime DD needs something, we look at the "old" before the new. Been there for over 40-50 years. I have several items of furniture and accessories from the store. It's funny, though. I still see some of the same items that I did back when I shopped 25+ years ago.

I think whats happening is "antiques" aren't selling like they used to. It's all about "vintage", shabby, mid century modern. People just don't want the dark, heavy items so the booth owners are just putting our what is selling.