Vintage Hardware, voted Best Antique Store by readers, houses a collection of vinyl records to peruse.

Fifteen years ago, Becky Johnson saw a gap to fill in Astoria. The city, known for its dedication to preserving historic homes and commercial buildings, needed a place for antique hardware and other historic architectural items. This galvanized her to start Vintage Hardware in 2008.

Since then, the shop has continued to grow, becoming a destination for antique collectors and locals looking for that one perfect item.

Its location on Astoria’s Commercial Street is the old J.C. Penney building, an 8,000-square-foot space that is now home to one-of-a-kind hardware pieces, antique furniture, collectible items, vintage clothing and records.

“Vintage Hardware is kind of like a train depot,” Johnson said. “Pieces come in, and, you know, hang out for a little bit until they find their new home or their new destination.” The inventory speaks for itself, a trove of materials and decorations to make any space feel complete.

A sample of items on sale — a 1910 Thomas Edison phonograph, an old wagon bed with potential to be a bookshelf or a pair of vintage oak school desks. Velvet chairs and sofas, vintage lighting pieces and one-of-kind knick knacks line the store’s walls and floors. Sourced from Rebel Walls, the store recently received a shipment of vibrant wallpaper with an eye-catching tropical design.

“The inventory kind of selects us,” Johnson said. “It finds its way to us. We’re very blessed having so many opportunities to purchase inventory.”

Every day, Vintage Hardware gets calls and emails to look at new items. The majority of their inventory is local, sourced between Clatsop in Pacific counties. “We do like to layer in some new items,” Johnson said. Her team buys a mix of items old and new to add variation to shelves and displays.

“Sometimes people don’t want something that’s vintage or salvaged,” Johnson said. “It’s fun for us to kind of have things here and there that gives them a different opportunity.”

Many locals, Johnson said, circle through Vintage Hardware on a weekly basis to see the store’s most recent offerings. In the summer, of course, tourists stop in too.

Furniture pieces, first greeting customers from the store’s front display windows, are a top seller. Custom pieces are also part of the mix, crafted using paints and re-upholstery.

Upstairs on the mezzanine are collections of jewelry, fusion paint, rugs and vintage clothing, all sourced by local vendors. “We have 11 individuals up there with their own space, and I’m just I’m so proud of how well they curate,” Johnson said.

Since last June, some items have also been listed online, an opportunity to take a second look or check in from afar. “It’s allowed us to reach an audience beyond our county,” Johnson said. One item sought online? First-edition books.

Johnson emphasized that Vintage Hardware’s staff works to create a store environment that’s more than flipping antique furniture, but rather a memorable place for anyone who stops by. “Hopefully we curate the store where it feels like an experience,” she said.

Vintage Hardware

1343 Commercial St., Astoria

Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays

www.astoriavintage.com