TFA The Future Antiques

I absolutely love this place. I am not from the area, but stopped in while visiting family. I’ll certainly be back! Great finds at truly awesome prices.

First time in the store this weekend and I was amazed. I’m a mid century fanatic and their inventory was amazing. Prices were in line with what I expected. Quality of the items was the best I have seen. This isn’t a run of the mill antique store. I’m glad I found a place that specializes in my taste. The employees were fantastic and the owner was great as well. Everyone seems like family there. I will be back! Keep up the good work guys!

If you’ve ever wondered what the «F» in TFA stands for, I can tell you now. It stands for «F* the Customer». Until a couple of weeks ago I had only dealt with these guys once. The store has many Mid Century items ranging from kitschy junk to Eames grade treasures. Walking in you get the feeling you’ve stumbled upon a Horder’s Dream as there seems to be little organization. And I DO mean stumbled in since the retail store is nearly impossible to find, and the staff you may call for directions don’t really understand any compass directions. No it’s not «Just Off Chippewa street» You literally have to go through an alley.
The first time I went there it was during one of their so called sales. I bought some end tables in average condition. My wife is on their mailing list and was supposed to get a 20% discount. She had done lots of business there yet they failed to give her the 20% off. When we got home I immediately went back with the receipt. The owner made up some obscure reason why what we bought wasn’t included in the sale. Weird…
Flash forward two years later. My wife sent me a Craiglist Ad from TFA with pics of a vintage medical cabinet that would flt for an art supply cabinet. I emailed TFA that I would pay $ 40 (they were asking $ 50) if they’d take cash. In just a few minutes someone emailed back that my offer was accepted, and I needed to pick it up that day. I inquired what their hours were and got an answer back. I told them I agreed. SOLD! Right?
I got ahold of a friend with a truck and 4 hours later. I dragged him and my 8 year old son up to TFA to pay for my Craigslist purchase.
Instead I was told by a salesman offhandedly: «Oh we already sold that. Sorry. But you can look at other stuff.» As he walked away… I told him it must have been set aside for me, since I had an actual VERBAL AGREEMENT with one of their staff on Craigslist. «Oh well, we have like ten people who work for us so who knows?» was the pissy answer I got. At this point I’m ready to shove a mid-​century modern lamp up an employee’s TFA-​hole. I show another sales guy the actual messages and tacit agreement to sell me the medical cabinet if I can pick it up that day. At this point he attempts to walk away from me. Finally he admits HE is the one I talked to and his explanation is «Well, we might sell things on Craigslist, but if someone walks in to buy it then we will sell it to them». «So why the Hell didn’t you just put it on EBAY if it’s an auction?» I ask this guy. I get another blank look and he says «Well I’m sorry that’s how we do business. Next time pick it up sooner».
So be warned that if you do ANY business with these creeps you’d better get a name to hold them to the agreement, and check your receipt BEFORE you leave the store. Honestly their stuff is overpriced to begin with, particularly for the condition it’s in. They do manage to get some great stuff all jammed into one tiny obscure horder’s den though. I’ll give them that. Caveat Emptor. Because you may just end up wanting to kick over some overpriced piece of junk after dealing with these smarmy, lying TFA-​holes.

Every time I decide to visit TFA, I give myself an internal pep-​talk where I convince myself that I have misjudged this store on my prior visits and that their prices are, in fact, not that unreasonable. Then I actually go and I end up feeling like I was right at the start: prices here do seem high on the whole. They have a huge selection of mid-​century furniture, housewares, clothes and general kitsch. Most of what they carry is not so rare that you’d be hard pressed to find it at an estate sale or on Craig’s List for a lot less if you can just stand to wait a bit. If you can’t, these guys probably have just about whatever you’re looking for.

I paid a visit to this cute, unique store in November. They are packed to the rim with very cool retro items! I was very excited, because I’ve got a bit of pickers mentality in me. I quickly found several items, that I so desperately needed. BUT I could not afford. They are high in price!
They do have a clearance section, that’s much better priced. :)
So if you have the large pocket book, and love retro, mid century modern things, then you will love this store.

I visited the future antiques in September of 2015. This place has some interesting pieces. Unfortunately, their prices are too high for the St Louis market. One can easily find the same or similar items in just about any thrift store in the metro area and one would pay significantly less than what is charged here. Granted, there are a handful of truly special, pristine items and it would make perfect sense to price those exceptional items at a premium. But every item in the store? Not every item in the store is all that special. I truly wish that this store would focus on the most exceptional items and leave the thrift store junk to the thrift stores.

I stopped by TFA while I was out shopping for furniture and figured I might stop by just to check it out. I had a little higher expectations from the glowing Unilocal reviews but it’s still a classic and unique store.
First up, getting to the parking lot is kind of weird. You have to do some weird navigating to get to the back lot. Make sure you turn a street before or after depending on which way you’re coming from.
The store itself is packed to the brim with stuff. It’s overflowing! The density of «antiques» makes this feel more like a thrift store than an antique shop. There are narrow hallways with a few staged areas. Be ready to sift through hundreds of small trinkets, like bottle openers and lighters, or seek out some huge statement pieces for your home. The smaller stuff is reasonably priced but some of the bigger items come across as a little ridiculous. I’m sure there’s someone out there who will want them…

I can remember going to TFA when they were on Grand. I would always visit after school. The place is still just how I remember, filed with magic from a more elegant time. I guess I don’t remember the staff being so blah. The antiques seem overpriced for what I have experienced, but they are very organized. If its mid century obscure you will find it just expect to pay a lot for it.

Awesome little store. Picked up a pair of cuff links here that I’ve been complimented on several times. Staff is friendly and very willing to help. If you’re look for a gift for yourself or someone else you should check them out.

This is by far one of my favorite stores in St. Louis! I recently picked up two very unique step end tables. I love that this store has an amazing selection of stuff and the stories behind where the stuff comes from. The end tables I purchased were made by a man that tiled furniture until he was no longer able to live alone. I would like to think these awesome tables were made with love and found their way to a home that will appreciate them for years. I will definitely be back. If you are looking for anything mid-​century T.F.A. should be your first stop!

I have followed TFA as they moved to three different locations. I’ve been to the Grand, Morgenford, and their current Chippewa locations. I’ve recommended the store, taken visitors from out of town and spent a lot of money there over the last ten years.
I was incredibly disappointed when I went in to the store yesterday. While I was shopping my fiancé, who is a professional photographer, asked me to pause and pose for a picture. I very consciously did not sit on any furniture or touch anything. I stood next to a table with my arms at my sides. He took two pictures and we were promptly and rudely reprimanded. For. Taking. A. Picture.
Look, I understand not wanting people to sit on your furniture. I understand that there are a lot of small objects in the store so you are watching people closely. I saw the do not sit on furniture signs, I saw the no minors unless they’re holding your hand sign, I’m sorry I missed the no photo sign. We honestly wouldn’t have taken a picture if we had known. A gentle warning would have been fine but the woman who spoke to us was so rude! I don’t want to touch your mannequin man and I’m not coming into your store to make fun of the kitsch. I genuinely love mid century modern furniture and vintage clothing. There’s a reason I’ve been shopping with you since I was in high school. I was so disappointed with the way I was spoken to!
I won’t be returning or recommend this store to anyone. Rude, condescending service.
Go to Retro 101 or Ruth’s Vintage instead!

This is my favorite store in St. Louis.
I come all the way from NYC just to go here.
A breadth of options, the most helpful staff, and great prices!
As mentioned in other comments the prices here are very low for the quality of products you get. In comparison to mid-​century modern stores in other cities, the prices are a downright steal!
Materialist things aside, my favorite part of the store is the ever so wonderful staff. From helping me lug things up to the register to helping me decide what would look good in my apartment, the staff here are attentive and friendly… Over the years I’ve gotten to know everyone on a first name basis.
— My only complaint: unfortunately, the last few times I’ve been there that cute and zingy blonde haired boy has been off work (I won’t name names to keep anonymity). I heard he’s off on a trip, but hopefully will be returning soon.
Anyway, I’ll be a TFA customer for life. Those who respect quality and great customer service will love this store!

TFA is a great place to find reasonably priced mid century décor. We visit on a monthly frequency to see what’s new. They carry a range of things– it’s probably the widest selection you’ll find in Saint Louis. Rocket Century is really well curated, but trends to the higher end of the price range. MoModern can sometimes be outrageously priced and Sidney Street is bargain prices and you can hunt for things, but many of the pieces need restoration work.
TFA has 3 rooms and a great range from really high end to reasonably priced bargain. They also have a clothing room and tons of kitchen and other décor items. It’s more of a warehouse than a curated collection, but they get a ton of stuff in all the time, so coming back every month makes it feel like you’re in a new store.
Check it out.

Sorry folks, I call em the way I see um and this place has a few «issues».
I will start off telling you I was impressed. Love the retro stuff and the colors of all the plates and bowls and chairs and… i could go on and on, really cool.
It was a bit crowded when I entered the place and I saw a table right away that I loved. Pulled out my phone and took a pic only to be BARKED at by the owner in a loud tone of voice that there were «warnings» on the front door and all over the walls saying no pictures. I apologized and said I didn’t notice and he berated me in front of an awful lot of people. It was embarrassing and totally unnecessary.
I also felt like I was being watched the entire time. I’m not a thief I just took a GD picture! Then, my Aunt who was with me bought a couple of pieces of jewelry that were wrapped in a baggie with tape all over it and a sign which read «All sales final». Get home only to find out that both pieces were broken. They were only 2 bucks each but what kind of place does this? Although I love retro I will not be going back.

This is an absolute must for a fun day of shopping! The place is full of retro items that are in excellent condition. The staff was super helpful in our search for a Christmas gift, even offering to let us know if they received the item in the future. If you are looking for a fun way to spend an hour or more, this would be a good choice.

Since the move, it seems like their prices are higher for the same goods (perhaps the nicer building requires higher rent?). Far better lighting and space.
The parking, while off street, is an Olympic sport in the 50 pt turn. Optimal for compact cars.
Their selection has appeared to increased, which is nice. But the most disappointing item is the pit crew that stalks your every move. I suppose this is due to increase theft which is really sad. However, I don’t want someone breathing down my neck like I’m a criminal while I window shop.
If this increased «security» is because of a rise in theft and/​or damaged goods, I am sorry. But personal space during a shopping trip is a must!

Looking for unique high quality merchandise with class that will make jaws drop? Look no further. TFA has it all! From kitchen appliances, bar ware, telephones, light fixtures, hardware, clothing, jewelry, china, furniture, sofas, Eames, Wakefield… the list really is endless. And it’s all period specific. If it’s not from the 40’s — 70’s it’s not there. Most of their merchandise is in mint condition. If it doesn’t work they don’t sell it. The owner is Sharp as a tack and knows this biz like the back of his hand. So does the staff.
One thing you won’t find is crap made today. This stuff is the real deal and built to last. And it will. I have a houseful that stands the test of time. Best of all it’s from a time when Americans made our own stuff — and took pride in it. They don’t make things like they used to and TFA is proof. Go often and if you see something you want, don’t wait. Chances are someone else wants it too. The hands down best store in the Lou, if not the US. The buyers rock. Advice — ASK FOR DEAN!

Antique shopping is a much better idea in theory than in actuality. When someone mentions to you that they’re going antiquing, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? I’d wager to guess that it’s one of two different scenarios:
Scenario #1: Doilies… plates depicting victorians in hoop dresses… gaudy chandeliers that are only found in 1920’s silent movies… old books about stuff you’ve never heard of,.furniture that’s made to be looked at and not used… lots of paintings of dogs hunting foxes, or schooners, or lighthouses, or… zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Scenario #2: Piles of stuff stacked everywhere… nothing has a price on it… half the items have a quarter-​inch of dust on them… homemade VHS tapes…8-tracks…Time magazines from the 90’s…you’re lucky if you find anything in useable condition… and what’s the smell?
You see, when it comes to antique shopping, your choices are usually between bad and worse. You have either uppity overpriced victorian crud that no one under the age of 80 should want or grungy damaged stuff that the owner probably picked up from a curb alert on craigslist. But every once in a while you find a place that bridges the gap. A place that carefully picks their selection, has items that are older but have held up well, and were designed to last. That place is TFA.
After going into so many bad antique shops, It’s kind of hard to believe that this place actually exists. This place is literally a massive showroom of home décor produced from the 1940’s through the 1970’s. And it’s not crap either. You can tell these items have been selected with care, that the owners know what they’re doing, and what they’re selling.
This is the kind of place that you imagine being in Hollywood. A director wants a movie to be set in say, 1957. He’d be able to walk into TFA and walk out with every set piece he’d need. Full kitchen sets, complete with dinnerware, appliances, serving trays, glassware, all of the era. Living room furniture, clocks, radios, rugs, clothing, fabric, huge console TV sets (that still work!), lamps, even board games, magazines, and postcards, all here, all ready to turn your boring house into a sitcom or swinging pad. Sometimes it’s hard to believe stuff this cool is even for sale, since the only time you may have seen it was in old movies or advertisements.
Of course, coolness comes with a price. You didn’t think a place this cool would be cheap, did you? Unfortunately, most items are marked up just a little more than you may think they’re worth. It forces you to make tough decisions… I call it the «ebay gap». See, most of the stuff here can be found on ebay for about the same price or a little less, but of course you have to work for it. You have to win the auction, pay, have it shipped, and then pray that it’s in the condition that was advertised/​not a replica/​still works. At TFA, there’s none of that worry. You like something, you pick it up, you buy it, you take it home. You might pay a little more for it, but at least you know who you’re dealing with, and you can inspect the merchandise up close before you buy. To me, that’s worth paying a little extra, especially for items that are 50+ years old.
The employees are nice and helpful, and will take the time to explain things to you. I visited this store a few times in it’s old spot on Grand, and it was kind of a disaster. Stuff piled everywhere, cramped, afraid you’d knock over something breakable with each step. This location gives the merchandise space to breathe, to show off just how awesome a room can look, and it makes me feel more at ease so I can leisurely check things out.
I’m really glad that TFA has had the apparent success that it has. St. Louis needs more shops like this, and more owners who are attentive to customers and their business. Merchandise moves fast around here, so if you see something you like, grab it. It might not be there the next time you’re there. You might not be in the market to remake your entire house Mad Men-​style, but by the time you walk out of TFA, you might start questioning whether you should. My house is jealous of an antique store… I never saw it coming.

Wow, wow, wow. What a gem!
Out of every antique/​brocante/​resale/​old stuff/​whatever you want to call it store, this is easily the best I’ve ever visited, anywhere.
It’s well organized, thorough, and unlike every other store I’ve seen, it’s impeccably clean and doesn’t have that musty/​dusty basement smell.
If you visit the same type of store in the CWE, your jaw will drop at the ludicrous prices. While TFA isn’t giving their stuff away, it’s much more reasonably priced.
Some of the staff are friendly and helpful. Other staff are not. My shopping companion bought approximately $ 9.50 of knick knacks. TFA has a $ 10 minimum for credit cards, and they refused to waive this requirement for her even though she was only fifty cents short and didn’t have cash on her. Oh, I should also mention that she and her family are well known, repeat customers. I thought that a bit priggish, especially since she’s known to the store and will likely be back. What would they have done if I hadn’t been there to spot her $ 10? Refused the sale?
But! This was overall a wonderful shopping experience and if I’m ever in the market for furniture in StL, TFA will be at the top of my list!

I’ve been going to TFA for years (back when it was on Grand). I love the new, bigger location because that means more shopping. I like to look, but I buy only occasionally. In this way, TFA is very much like any other antique store. Some days you don’t see anything, and other days you walk out with something you didn’t know you needed but now are completely in love with.
I have never bought furniture, and I stick primarily to the nik naks. I’m a big fan of mid-​century modern but can’t really afford the nice pieces of furniture that I would like. So, I get things at TFA like throw pillows, dishes, coasters, and two table lamps with original shades that I could afford because they were sold as-​is and one of them was well-​loved. It had a chip on part of the base and a fraying electrical cord. But a cheap extension cord and some DIY creativity, and those are my favorite lamps (with the chip turned toward the back).
My whole family loves the place for different reasons. I like the mid-​century modern décor, my little sister loves the hipster vintage clothes and jewelry, my dad likes the friendly people and the flash bulbs, and my mom likes the games and toys from her childhood. Also, I wouldn’t say that TFA is strictly for people who like the retro style, because smaller, unique pieces (i.e. not furniture) can be used to add interest to any room or table setting. One of my friends, whose style is more contemporary, loves my throw pillows and wants some for her living room. But as antiquing goes, I haven’t seen any that I like in the same style for a while, but I’ll keep coming back to see.

I stepped in here and thought I’d found a great little under-​the-​radar place to Unilocal about. Now I feel like an idiot, because the word has evidently been out about this place for a while now, and everyone seems to have loved it as much as I did.
I was told that everything there is from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Unlike a lot of antique/​secondhand stores, this place was very clean and organized, as well as spacious. There were all these little rooms here and there, full of awesome stuff. And then in the back there’s a HUGE warehouse space full or furniture and more. Don’t be fooled from the exterior, this is not a small store, people!
They had all sorts of stuff, from kitchenware, cookware, furniture, old cameras, old board games, clothing (which I didn’t look at), and of course furniture. The furniture was all in amazing shape and very cool and unique. And surprisingly the prices weren’t as bad as I was expecting.
Even if you’re not going to buy anything, it is worth coming here just to look around. I recognized some stuff that my parents had around when I was a kid. It’s fun.

Merry Christmas to ME!
My folks were in town this weekend to get me an early Christmas gift! Awwww… They knew that I needed some furniture and were prepared to spend the day looking around St. Louis. However, I saved us all a bunch of time by heading straight to TFA.
The BF and I have had our eye on a Heywood Wakefield buffet for some time now and were crossing our fingers that it was still there. It was! AND it was on sale. Score! We were able to negotiate a slightly lower price by paying in cash too. Fa la la la la. La la la la.
TFA does not deliver, folks. So you should be prepared to pick up your items from them within a week of purchase. They will help you get it in your car, but once you are home, it’s your responsibility to get it in the house.
We are SO excited about the new purchase. The item is high quality and 100% wood, which is not always easy to find these days. Can’t wait to go back to TFA after the holidays and look for end tables!
And because it took us less than an hour to pick out the furniture, we had time to go get ice cream afterwards. Now that’s time well spent :)