Waco Antique Stores: Your Guide to Vintage Shopping Near Baylor

Waco has one of the most underrated antique scenes in Central Texas, and most Baylor students have no idea it exists. Within a couple miles of campus you'll find a dedicated antique corridor on LaSalle Avenue, a two-story downtown mall packed with 40+ vendors, and neighborhood shops where you can furnish an entire loft apartment for a few hundred dollars if you know when and where to look.

Whether you're hunting for a vintage lamp to hang over exposed beams, a farmhouse dining table that fits your 19Eleven floor plan, or just want a fun Saturday activity, this is your guide to Waco's antique and vintage stores.

The LaSalle Avenue Antique Corridor

LaSalle Avenue is Waco's unofficial antique shopping destination. Three shops cluster within a few blocks of each other here, making it easy to hop between venues in a single trip. From 19Eleven at 1911 S 8th Street, the corridor is about 1 to 1.5 miles — a short drive or bike ride.

Junque in the Trunk

910 LaSalle Ave, Waco TX 76706 | Wed–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm

This is the most celebrated antique store in Waco, voted Best Antique Store six consecutive years by local readers. The name captures the vibe: unexpected finds, ranging from genuine antiques and world market imports to local artisan-crafted items and industrial pieces. It's not just old stuff — the curation is better than most.

If you're a Baylor student furnishing a loft-style apartment, this is your first stop. The industrial and shabby-chic pieces play especially well with exposed beams and polished concrete floors.

Riverside Relics

1105 LaSalle Ave, Waco TX 76706 | Thu–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm

A couple blocks from Junque in the Trunk, Riverside Relics specializes in farmhouse and rustic decor — think repurposed furniture, wooden signage, and pieces with an architectural salvage feel. Hours are more limited (Thursday through Sunday only), so plan accordingly. It's a great complement to Junque if you're doing the full LaSalle crawl.

LaSalle Shoppes

1800 Austin Ave Suite 3, Waco TX 76706 | Tue–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 1–5pm

Technically on Austin Avenue near the LaSalle corridor, this multi-vendor mall stretches across 8,000+ square feet with 45+ vendors spread across seven showrooms. You'll find mid-century modern, primitive, shabby chic, and garden decor all under one roof. The sheer volume of vendors means prices range widely — budget-friendly finds sit next to collector-grade pieces. Give yourself at least an hour here.

Downtown Waco Antique Malls

Cameron Trading Co Antique Mall

618 Austin Ave, Waco TX 76701 | Mon–Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 12–5pm

One of Waco's biggest antique spaces — 36,000 square feet across two floors with 40+ vendors. You'll find dishes, barware, crystal, furniture, jewelry, and vintage clothing all here. The downtown location puts it near the Waco Riverwalk and other Austin Avenue shops. If you're looking for something specific (a particular era of furniture, vintage kitchen items, estate jewelry), Cameron Trading is your best bet for sheer selection.

Central Goods

1701 Franklin Ave, Waco TX 76701 | Mon–Sat 11am–6pm, Sun 12–5pm

Twenty-plus vendors carrying vintage clothing, collectibles, furniture, and home decor. Central Goods skews slightly more eclectic than the pure-antique stores — you'll find vintage band tees next to mid-century credenzas. It's also pet-friendly and handicap accessible, worth noting if you're bringing someone along.

How to Shop Smart on a Student Budget

Arrive early

The best pieces go first, especially at stores that rotate inventory regularly. Junque in the Trunk and LaSalle Shoppes both get fresh inventory on a rolling basis. Show up when they open, not an hour before close.

Bring cash — but know your limits

Many individual vendors at multi-dealer malls prefer cash (or may not accept cards for small purchases). That said, most storefronts themselves take cards. Bring $30–60 for a casual browse, more if you're hunting for furniture.

What to look for at 19Eleven specifically

Loft-style apartments with exposed beams and polished concrete floors work especially well with:

• Edison bulb fixtures and industrial pendant lights — Junque and Riverside Relics regularly stock these
• Metal-and-wood side tables or shelving — Cameron Trading Co has the broadest selection
• Vintage rugs — concrete floors need warmth; a layered rug situation costs a fraction of new at these stores
• Wooden crates and bookcases — good for creating storage zones in open-plan loft layouts

At 19Eleven, the loft character is already built in — high ceilings, exposed structure, industrial finishes. Vintage pieces lean into that aesthetic without looking like you tried too hard.

Check for damage honestly

Run your hands along furniture joints, check drawers for smooth slide, and look at upholstery closely under the store lighting (take a flashlight app if needed). Vintage furniture is worth buying with minor cosmetic damage; structural damage is not worth fixing for a first apartment.

Combining Antique Shopping with Other LaSalle Ave Activities

The LaSalle Avenue corridor puts you about 0.1 miles from the Waco Downtown Farmers Market at 200 E Bridge Street (Saturday 9am–1pm). A Saturday morning could start at the farmers market, grab a tamale or fresh produce, then walk over to Junque in the Trunk and work down the LaSalle strip before noon.

Brotherwell Brewing is at 400 E Bridge Street — about 0.1 miles from the farmers market and a short drive from the LaSalle shops. If you're doing a full Saturday morning, finishing at Brotherwell for a pint while you figure out what to go back and buy is not a bad strategy.

Waco Antique Stores vs. Waco Thrift Stores

If budget is the primary goal, note the difference:

• Antique stores → curated, higher-quality pieces, slightly higher prices, more decorative
• Thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army) → lower prices, higher volume, less curation, more practical items

For a first apartment, a hybrid approach works well: thrift stores for basics (dishes, linens, small appliances), antique stores for the pieces that actually make the space look good. Goodwill has three Waco locations (Franklin Ave, Valley Mills Dr, La Salle Ave). Check out our Waco thrift stores guide if you want the full picture.

The Baylor Senior Move-Out Window

Every May, graduating Baylor seniors sell off everything before their July lease ends. Facebook Marketplace and the Baylor parent groups flood with furniture at heavily discounted prices during this period. Keep this in mind: the antique stores are year-round, but for purely functional pieces, mid-April through May is the prime window for scoring cheap student furniture from people who just need it gone.

Ready to Have a Space Worth Decorating?

If you're still figuring out where you'll live, 19Eleven's loft-style apartments give you exactly the kind of space where antique finds look intentional — exposed beams, polished concrete floors, and open layouts that let you design a real living space rather than a dorm room with a door. Schedule a tour and see what you're working with.