our events
our events
Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting
The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce honored Cannery Row Antique Mall with a ribbon cutting, re-introducing ourselves to the business community, while sharing some of our plans for upcoming community events.
On a balmy February evening, our mall welcomed Chamber Members with sips of wine and small bites of Wild Mushroom Meatballs and Artichoke Frittata, as guests strolled throughout two floors of antiques.
Two lucky members won the raffle for $50 gift certificates to be enjoyed on a future visit. For some, it was their first visit to our historical oceanfront building, while for others, it had been quite a while since their last visit.
Halloween Haggle Day
An age-old tradition at Cannery Row Antique Mall reflected a wicked Halloween theme this year, exposing the ghosts and goblins in us all. A perfect opportunity for our dealers to be dressed as wizards, mad scientists, hippies, witches, 1970’s Cher and even an Audrey Hepburn. The dealers were there to bargain, as customers took advantage of every opportunity to “make a deal.”
The party began at the front door as warm spiced cider filled the air. Our friendly greeters offered bags of popcorn and a gift from the mall, while directing guests to the upstairs lounge, where our face painter, drawings for prizes and a “gone fishing” game would await them.
Kids came dressed in costumes and left with painted cheeks while clutching bags of candy, and even the pets were dressed for show. Our staff worked non stop, which resulted in record-breaking sales for the weekend.
We live by the seasons. Halloween is special in that it creates a giant theatrical stage from which to celebrate. And here, at Cannery Row Antique Mall, we owe our allure in part to our historical surroundings. Happy Halloween!
French Flea Market
As the dawn broke one misty morning in August, diehard antique vendors were unloading their trucks, fluffing their merchandise and adding final touches to their spaces, with only the glare of light streaming from their miner’s lights perched upon their foreheads. It was “show” day, with only 3 hours to go before the gates opened.
In these final hours, this dynamic dozen, hand-selected for this, the first of many future flea markets to come, pulled out all the stops and created with great wizardry, their own magic. In the last 60 minutes before opening time, this three-part medley of antiques, sizzling Mexican food on the grill, and musicians tuning their instruments, only added to everyone’s anticipation.
As with every event that is newly created, the fear is that no one will come. But, come they did, before our opening time, and every minute after, to enjoy this outdoor summer soiree. People with their dogs, their children, their friends and family. Enjoying the antiques, the food, the live music. And, the party continued, inside the Antique Mall, just steps away
Friendly greeters at the door served infused water of strawberries, watermelon and mint, while offering freshly baked macadamia nut chocolate shortbread cookies. Customers were then directed to 6 drawings for vintage prizes held throughout the mall. The shopping frenzy continued, which inspired cross-over traffic from mall to flea market outside, and back inside to the mall once again.
There is nothing more satisfying than watching people discovering something very special for the first time. An idea that started on the drawing board, evolved into a full-blown event, that was near perfect, creating memories of how a summer festival should feel, taste and sound.
This eclectic mix of a “French” theme, with Latin food, punctuated with jazzy bluegrass and bohemian gypsy music, totally worked, welcoming each guest to our world as they enjoyed the ride.
home and garden show
Cannery Row Antique Mall welcomed Spring in a most charming way. A Home & Garden Show, complete with live plants, garden accessories, and refreshments with a touch of fresh lavender.
Our vendors were Del Rey Oaks Gardens (native plants & orchids), the Monterey Bonsai Club, succulent arrangements and wooden crosses embellished with rusty metal roses and garden picks by Garden Treasures by Lisa, whimsical birdhouses by Barnwood Birdhouses, beautiful glass bird feeders by Jac Designs, Ivy Topiaries by Antiques by the Bay and a delicious caramel tasting by Bread & Butter Caramels.
Each vendor raffled off something from their inventory, which was a fun element for our customers. The Mall had a grand prize drawing of an iron-tiered garden basket filled with garden treasures including a birdhouse, live plant, floral garden gloves, galvanized tin container, vintage garden book, 7 seed packets of herbs & flowers, vintage hand tools and a wooden garden initial with metal bird.
The lemonade stand, posed at the front entry, offered freshly made Lavender Lemonade by dealer Donna Smith, and Lavender Honey Shortbread Cookies, by dealer Debbie Pniak. Our greeters/servers were dealers Annette, Donna, Pam & Kathy. Each server poured a glass of lemonade, offered a cookie and gave a gift of a flower seed packet to each customer. Recipe cards for the lemonade and the cookies were handed out to those wanting to make these delicious flavors in their own kitchens.
So many of our dealers honored the theme of “garden,” by bringing in live succulents, garden furniture, vintage garden gates, doors and gardening books. The Mall was alive with fresh plants and tons of energy. We are already planning for next year.
2nd annual book sale
Our 2nd Annual Book Sale made a lot of people happy. The party started upon entering, as customers were offered a sip of peach iced tea, a coconut lime shortbread cookie and a keepsake bookmark by our greeters/servers Donna, Annette, Gail and Kathy. Recipe cards were available for both the tea and the shortbread, made respectively by Donna and Debbie.
This intriguing black gift box contained a cotton book bag imprinted with our signature green logo, a Steinbeck/Cannery Row book and a complimentary wine tasting for two at Pierce Tasting Room next door. Many customers waited for over an hour just to see if their name would be called, creating a fun buzz in the mall.
Saturday was our “Meet the Authors” day. At 11am, our children’s book author, Kathleen Ambro captivated her audience with colorful artist renderings, explaining how the text and artwork worked together. She spoke to a full group of listeners, who all received from our Mall, a most charming cupcake adorned with a fondant book topper.
At 2pm, romance novelist, Shelly King, also spoke to a full group of avid listeners about her book, “The Moment of Everything,” an amusing romantic novel about a young woman finding her calling while saving a used bookstore. Shelly’s group also received a surprise cupcake topped with a fondant book.
Each book author was presented with a fresh purple hydrangea plant from the antique mall, as new fans stood in line to have their books personally signed.
Meanwhile, our outside deck was beaming with vintage, new and collectible books, as customers carried handfuls to the front counter. Not only did bargain books sell, but very expensive volumes and first editions were also found stacked at the counter, ready for purchase. Spotted among the vast selections offered by our dealers, a first edition John Steinbeck “Cannery Row,” complete with dust jacket, a full volume of Mark Twain, Horatio Alger 19th-century fiction novels and a first edition 1975 “The Greatest Muhammad Ali” autobiography.
Monterey has a history of producing some of the world’s literary greats. Our annual book sale is a tribute to that era, as we celebrate the recycling of printed works by some of our history’s most colorful writers.
1st annual book sale
Our 1st Annual Book Sale was a huge success!
Our book authors were captivating, the Root Beer Floats were overflowing, cookies everywhere, and complimentary bookmarks as a remembrance to mark the event. Thank you to so many who turned out to buy hundreds of books.
And, much thanks to Jane for hosting the book chats in her upstairs “Sea Dreams” room.
Meet the Authors:
Kathryn Gualtieri
Carmel historian and writer of mystery novels, introduced her latest book, “The Missing Bohemian.”
Frank DiPaola
cop, actor, hero & dealer at our Mall – “From Hell to Hail Mary”
Phil Bowhay
writes about the good ole days in Pacific Grove – “What Steinbeck Left Out.”
valentine food, wine & fashion event
To celebrate the most romantic of all holidays, Cannery Row Antique Mall hosted a Vintage Fashion Show and Wine Tasting paired with Small Bites.
Eight beautiful models walked the Mall dressed in vintage fashion and accessories from the collection of Sannie Sollecito, one of the Mall’s dealers who specializes in fashion and mid-century retro. Pierce Vineyards hosted a wine tasting paired to exquisite gourmet tastes prepared by caterer Mona Kelley.
Each guest received a gift from the Mall of a small silver box filled with chocolate hearts. Our grand prize was an elaborate vintage container filled with candles, soaps, lotions, vintage wine glasses and bottles of wine from Pierce Vineyards.
annual holiday event
Join us for our once-a-year Magical Holiday Sale as our Mall transforms into a Winter Wonderland of vintage collectibles.
Our dealers shop all year long for antique mercury ornaments, vintage toys, rare silver serving pieces for your holiday table, Christmas pottery and fine linens.
We serve hot mulled cider and home-baked sweet treats for you to enjoy as you shop our two floors set in historic Cannery Row. Enter our drawings for surprise gifts, take a lunch break at nearby cafes, or taste wines next door at Pierce Vineyards Tasting Room.