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Header image courtesy of Bunkaya Zakkaten (via Facebook)
It is incredible how much power an item can hold—simply catching sight of an era-specific trinket can send you on a trip down memory lane. It is comforting to know that there are many collectors throughout Hong Kong who are keen to share their stash of rare finds. Like well-preserved capsules of bygone times, these vintage collectable shops in Hong Kong are stocked with palpable reminders of the past, and are well worth a visit.
Torch carrier to the now-shuttered shop in Harajuku, the original concept of the legendary Bunkaya Zakkaten revolves around finding unorthodox products that go against the grain. An iconic shop of “unorganised goods,” it operates under the tenet that an item “chosen by 99 people is less interesting than something that just one person has chosen.” Expect to find beautifully unique items that speak to your taste that others may raise their eyebrows at!
As its name suggests, this minimalist unit functions as a space to house and display a selection of distinctive finds. Following a theme that updates every few months or so, every visit to Storerooms is a different experience, where you can throw yourself into a variety of collectable vintage products, ranging from import Japanese garments to antique clocks produced by local brands. The excitement of never knowing what’s waiting for you at Storerooms is compounded by the serendipity of encountering something you may never see again!
Storerooms, 172–174 Tai Nan Street, Sham Shui Po | (+852) 2426 6789
Down a crooked alley in Sheung Wan, this den of retro Hong Kong paraphernalia serves as a colourful portal into the past. Here, you are as prone to come across designer label items as you are a lovingly maintained keychain that at one point was only worth a dime. In the back, the shop boasts an entire section completely dedicated to chic sunglasses amassed by shop owner Mido, as it was the item that started his foray into the world of collecting.
Select 18, 14 Tung Street, Sheung Wan | (+852) 9121 3011
Shopping vintage comes hand-in-hand with keeping an open mind. Encompassing everything its name makes a reference to, the two-storey storehouse of Good Bad Creative (雅俗共想) is a hub for collectables and memorabilia in all shapes and forms—think novelty children’s toys, scientific dioramas, and glittery popstar photo cards! What once might have been an overlooked paperweight or forgotten souvenir acquired during a family vacation has been reshelved at this unusual shop, waiting to be filled with a new life.
Good Bad Creative (雅俗共想), Shop B1, 124 Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po | (+852) 9095 3027
Having moved from its original location in Sham Shui Po, Shop Little Two (店小二小店) has been a renowned fixture in the game of vintage trinkets, stocking a selection of items that are old enough to straddle the classification of “antique.” Akin to a flea market that has been bottled up into a more permanent shopfront at their industrial San Po Kong location, visits have to be arranged by appointment—no walk-ins here! Shop Little Two is also a frequenter of pop-ups and weekend markets as well, so there’s no need to fret if you’re not big on planning ahead.
Shop Little Two, 30 Luk Hop Street, San Po Kong
A quick glance towards the iron shutter gates may have you mistaking this spot for a traditional local tuckshop, but the bright blue coat of paint and quirky tables out front should be enough of a hint to clue you in on the treasures that await inside. Aside from housing a collection of rare books, vintage prints, and toys from the olden days, You Wu Studio (遊誤工房) also provides a space for a variety of exhibitions and workshops in the arts. It is a lovely place to let time trickle by, as you revel under the soft, timeless glow inside the shop.
You Wu Studio (遊誤工房), 17 Shing Wong Street, Sheung Wan
Perhaps the main driver behind the appeal of shopping vintage is the nostalgia that comes along with it, and the concrete reminder of simpler times. Specialising in toys and Hong Kong-based memorabilia mostly from the 1960s and 1970s, this well-stocked unit in Tsuen Wan reignites a childlike delight in anyone who enters. Pristine collector’s edition figurines are arranged in position next to slumped plastic dolls that were once locally produced.
Vintage Campus, Unit F1, 5/F, Superluck Industrial Centre Phase 1, 45–53 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan | (+852) 6593 0372
966 Time Traveller was first established in Mong Kok, then branched out to Causeway Bay and later made a home for itself in the K11 Art Mall. Its name is a homonym of the Cantonese phrase “舊蹓蹓” (gau6 lau4 lau4) and this brand has grown to encompass at once a storefront and art salon, as well as a repository of unique finds. Its owner amassed his selection of timepieces, furniture, designer craft goods, and all sorts of special discoveries whilst travelling around Europe and Japan as a touring musician.
966 Time Traveller, Shop 4 of 201, 2/F, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 6276 6363
Conceived during a light-bulb moment at a fateful Christmas flea market in 2019, Store9Yea is a modest joint in Prince Edward that belies its diverse spread of items for sale. Firm believers in a circular economy—where retail therapy is replaced with conscious consumption for quality products that can “spark joy” and last for a long time—the shop stocks well-designed artefacts that show durable value. Items on sale include tabletop knick-knacks for an eclectic home, retro lamps and lighting fixtures, old glassware, purses and accessories, and much more.
Store9Yea, Shop A5, 25 Boundary Street, Prince Edward | (+852) 4620 6200
Always down for an adventure, Alisa’s general approach to life (and anything, really) is to “just go with the flow.” She believes that the most unforgettable moments are the most spontaneous ones. One thing she will always be certain of, however, is her love for the band My Chemical Romance and potato-based food.
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