Arlington is home to the Rangers, Six Flags and the Antique Sampler Mall & Tearoom. That's right, first enjoy a marvelous tearoom lunch complete with their famous mango tea. Then tackle the hundreds of vendors that offer a myriad of antiques and not-so-antique collections with contemporary service. It's also a great way to spend the day. The tearoom is open Mon-Fri 11-3; Sat 11-4 and Sun 12-3. Before you leave, be sure to stop by one of their newest offerings-a collection of original watercolor paintings matted and framed or just matted at low prices.

Antiques & Moore
3708 W. Pioneer Pkwy. Arlington, TX 76013
817 543-1060; 817 548-5931

One of the originators of the antique mall craze, expect Sue Moore to be leading the pack (rats) with the myriad of merchants who are part of Antiques & Moore. Since 1993, her ability to hand-pick a unique blend of over 175 individual dealers and put together a showcase gallery of collectibles, all within a 50,000-square-foot emporium, is testimony to her antique acumen. Stop by the Tea Room, open 7 days a week, or to arrange a more extravagant affair, room availability, menus or catering services, call The Tea Room at 817/795-3093. Bon Appetite!

Armoires & More
10745 Preston, Dallas, TX 75230
214 696-2684

This 5,800-square-foot Preston/Royal hideaway has been growing by leaps and bounds in spite of its location. With almost a decade of experience with a new owner, Libby Haynes, there is now much more to talk about besides armoires. Furniture is now an important component (sofas, dining room tables, chairs, occasional tables) and lots of smaller accents to fill in the blanks.

Cobwebs Antiques Mall
1400 Ave. J, Plano, TX 75074
972 423-8697

Weaving a web of possibilities, this 15-year-old mall can entangle you even if you aren't looking for anything in particular. Located in historic downtown Plano, just east of Central Expressway (US 75), there's something for everyone, from estate jewelry to vintage clothing. But don't miss a Miss Prissy Party Place, the home of The Chocolate Teacup. One of the oldest antique malls in the Metroplex, with over 35 dealers celebrating a decade or more in business without cobwebs in Cobwebs.

Harris Furniture Gifts & Accessories
7600 Scott St., Fort Worth, TX 76108
817 246-8400

Fort Worth and antiques are synonymous with the Harris family. Separated by real and unreal (antiques and reproductions), this wholesaler offers the real McCoy and the look-alikes, too. Since retail stores buy from them, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, right? The selection is staggering: hundreds of chairs, armoires, tables, headboards, hand-carved desks, china cabinets, leaded-glass lamps and even Chippendale items within their 445,000-square-foot showroom and warehouse. Miles and miles to go before you sleep, so you'd better get going.

Homestead
100 N. Elm, Hico, TX 76457
254 796-2510

This two-story antique building is home to antique relics reclaimed from their many excavations from commercial and residential digs. There's something for everyone from hand-carved doors and windows to wrought-iron staircases and display cabinets, furniture to hardware. Their designs are always fresh and interesting with interior design consultations available with one call, big or small. They have lots more upholstery and beds that are handmade by craftsmen at Homestead's studio on an exclusive basis.

Little Red's Antiques
10274 W. Hwy. 80, Forney, TX 75126
972 564-2200

What do you get when you open the doors to 40,000 square feet of European antiques and reproductions? Little Red's, that's what. Whatever your pleasure, whether antique or a reproduction, they've got it. Even if you don't have a cast-iron stomach for wandering down the many miles of aisles, if you're looking for cast-iron, it's one of their specialties. From majestic armoires to Majorca pottery, patio sets to old-fashioned street signs, urns to yard ornaments, sideboards to pianos, it's their outdoor lamps for $250 (wired and ready to glow) that light my fire.

Montgomery Street Antique Mall
2601 Montgomery, Fort Worth, TX 76107
817 735-9685

Here's where you'll find over 240 dealers, all wheelin' and dealin' under one roof. Besides all the antique deals and steals on everything from furniture to glass and pottery, advertising to books, porcelains, housewares, toys, sporting goods, metals and jewelry, you'll also find an area filled with reproductions and Department 56. (What is Department 56? you may ask.) Well, Department 56 is miniature houses and villages with people and bridges. And since the early bird catches the worm, you'd better get there before the 4 p.m. closing.

Norma Baker Antiques
3311 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, TX 76107
817 335-1152

Dress to impress…your table, that is. If your flatware is looking a little flat and your crystal just doesn’t have that ping, head to Norma Baker, the lady with a lot of “glass.” Shine up any meal with new flatware, or just replace all those missing in action. Accrue an entire tea set by filling in all those missing cups so all you need are the crumpets. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, Norma Baker will start the search for a small finder’s fee.

Nostalgia Warehouse
7801 U.S. HWY 287, Arlington, TX 76001
817 572-5012

If you are a fan of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, you should be in hog heaven, squealing with delight, when you take a peek at the sleek advertising signs or the full size jukeboxes. This company is the largest Wurlitzer dealer in the country. No doubt about it, if you're decorating a media room, rec room, family room, game room or bar, you'll want something from here. Trust that the real antiques are tagged "real" and you'll not be duped into believing one of the reproductions is the real McCoy.

Old Home Supply
1801 College Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76110
817 927-8004

Oh, give me a home, where architectural salvage and relics do roam, and I'll point you to Old Home Supply, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Housed in the historic Fairmont District in downtown Fort Worth (including the Tasty Bakery Building), they have loads of stuff from the good old days. Since 1985, they have occupied four corners of downtown Fort Worth, housing old home relics and architectural remains of the day. From doors to doorknobs, lighting fixtures to hardware, why not make a dramatic entrance with a new entryway?

Philbeck's Antiques & Reproductions
119 E. Hwy. 80, Forney, TX 75126
972 564-9842

So fire away and move along through the many rooms while you take a little of this and a little of that. Your eyes will be able to look up, over and through old stained glass, iron and horned chandeliers; and if you get lost, just make your way to the back where you can take cover in the warehouse amongst armoires, buffets, desks, dressers, candlesticks and chests. To be found is a brilliant selection of direct imports from Germany, England, the Czech Republic and Indonesia.

Antiques & Auctions

Antique Sampler Mall & Tearoom 1715 E. Lamar, Arlington, TX 76006 817 461-3030

Antiques & Moore 3708 W. Pioneer Pkwy. Arlington, TX 76013 817 543-1060; 817 548-5931

Armoires & More 10745 Preston, Dallas, TX 75230 214 696-2684

Cobwebs Antiques Mall 1400 Ave. J, Plano, TX 75074 972 423-8697

Harris Furniture Gifts & Accessories 7600 Scott St., Fort Worth, TX 76108 817 246-8400

Homestead 100 N. Elm, Hico, TX 76457 254 796-2510

Little Red's Antiques 10274 W. Hwy. 80, Forney, TX 75126 972 564-2200

Montgomery Street Antique Mall 2601 Montgomery, Fort Worth, TX 76107 817 735-9685

Nostalgia Warehouse 7801 U.S. HWY 287, Arlington, TX 76001 817 572-5012

Old Home Supply 1801 College Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76110 817 927-8004

Philbeck's Antiques & Reproductions 119 E. Hwy. 80, Forney, TX 75126 972 564-9842

Antique Sampler Mall & Tearoom
1715 E. Lamar, Arlington, TX 76006
817 461-3030