SLO County just got a new vintage market. See inside
A new antique mall opened up shop in San Luis Obispo County in early August, bringing a vendor-style vintage thrifting spot to North County.
Located at 5850 El Camino Real, the Atascadero Vintage Market is a treasure trove of trinkets that will excite even the most seasoned thrift shoppers.
For store owner Crystal Bergman, vintage runs in her blood. She has worked in the thrift industry for 15 years, as a vendor at her parent’s shop, Treasure’s Antique Mall, in Morro Bay.
She adopted their vendor business model for her own rent-a-stall mall in Atascadero. Now, her own teenage daughters spend their free time working in the store, carrying on the family business model
Instead of outfitting the shop entirely with her own supply, the market space hosts about 25 different vendors hailing from across SLO County, each renting floor space to display their second-hand finds.
By offering affordable rent, Bergman was able to create a supportive environment for local vendors to showcase their treasures without breaking the bank. Vendors pay a square-footage-based rate for their stall and a 10% commission to Bergman on every sale.
Bergman prides her market on being “very pro-vendor,” which in turn lowers costs for customers.
Prices range from clothing under $50 to pricier statement pieces that could become centerpieces in a home. The commission rate was deliberately kept low to support the vendors’ businesses.
“We want to take care of the customer, because we want to have a range of products,” she said. “Everything is not $5 million here. Literally anybody can shop in here.”
With a range of vendors with varying collections and interests, from antique home items to consignment clothing, there is something for just about everyone at the vintage market. One stand specializes in displays of denim, while Bergman’s hosts quality leather cowboy hats and boots and a vinyl record collection. Others are outfitted with kitchen tools from the 1970s or ancient coin collections.
Some of Bergman’s favorite standout pieces have included a large Burgundy horse head, an ornate black mirror and an antique Italian marble sidebar.
“These people are amazing at picking,” Bergman. “I feel like we have all of the all stars of the industry under one roof.”
Bergman’s vendors represent a diverse slice of the SLO County community, including full-time workers, retirees and stay-at-home moms who all share a passion for curating unique collections. With the small rental model, vendors do not have to be onsite during open-store hours, instead spending that time hunting for more goods, and can access the building after business hours to work on their stall.
The best part of the community marketplace set-up, Bergman said, is that it allows vendors to play around with their displays and change out what items they offer more easily and frequently, leaving more room for creativity in the retail experience.
“In that creative lane, you’re constantly evolving, and that’s fun,” Bergman said. “It’s not stale or stagnant.”
The Atascadero Vintage Market is open every day of the week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays, and closing early at 4 p.m. on Sundays.
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
