First Friday Festival Weekends at West Bottoms Verified listing

The West Bottoms, an industrial area just west of downtown Kansas City, MO, is quickly becoming a prime destination for bargain hunters in search of one-of-a-kind knickknacks and trinkets. This is largely due to the First Friday Festival weekends, when antique dealers open their doors to the masses once a month and celebrate antique, vintage and secondhand finds with gusto.

The warehouses in the West Bottoms were built more than 100 years ago for agricultural, freight and industrial purposes. Today, the area is a mecca for shoppers and bargain hunters, packed with one-of-a-kind, antique and vintage merchandise. Some shops are open on other weekends or by appointment, while the district's eclectic contemporary art galleries display their work daily. Most, however, are open only to participate in the First Friday Festival Weekends at West Bottoms and join the party, which includes food trucks and live music.

The First Friday Festival Weekends at West Bottoms are certainly the place to go for all things antique and vintage. The most avid shoppers arrive as soon as the stores open on Friday evenings and are guaranteed to find a treasure. There are so many shops and stalls displaying their amazing wares over these weekends that we have chosen to highlight just a few to make navigating the festival a little easier.

Probably the most promising antique shop in the West Bottoms, Bella Patina (1320 W 12th St) has three floors of fabulous antique items, retro goods, mid-century modern pieces, shabby-chic and more, including a restaurant on the top floor for on-the-spot refreshment. It is a huge store, bursting with things to take home, and the price range is more than reasonable.

Located one block from Bella Patina, Bottoms Up Antique Market (1300 W 13th St) is another area within the First Friday Festival Weekends in the West Bottoms that houses many professional dealers under one roof, ready to answer any questions customers may have and share their knowledge of their wares. It is located in the historic Stowe Hardware Building, a perfect location for these excellent vintage finds.

Across the street from Bottoms Up Antique Market, Good Ju Ju (1420 W 13th Ter.) has built a strong reputation for itself. Voted Kansas City's Best Antique and Vintage Store three times, Good Ju Ju has also been recognized as one of the "Best Antique Stores Coast to Coast" by Flea Market Style magazine. This multi-level store is the place to find one-of-a-kind pieces, repurposed furniture, vintage clothing, jewelry, primitives, folk art, Mid-Century Modern items along with a whimsical mix of fun, funky, retro, old and new.

Another great antique store is Serendipity (13th and Hickory). The owners of this store have been in the antique business for over 40 years, so they definitely know what they are talking about when it comes to used goods and the items they have curated for sale in their store. They were among the first to set up shop in the West Bottoms for this now well-established antique and market festival, so they are great to chat with for all kinds of information and stories.

A trip to the First Friday Festival Weekends in the West Bottoms would not be complete without a stop at The Dusted Attic (Hickory St), a small flea market nestled in the West Bottoms. It features over 40 vendors who collect and sell vintage, antique, modern, mid-century modern and all other styles of furniture, art, photography and collectibles. It is a treasure trove of unique items and should not be missed.

The sheer number of antique and vintage shops at the First Friday Festival Weekends in West Bottoms is outstanding. The West Bottoms is not only home to a plethora of thrift stores, but also independent fashion retailers, coffee shops, food trucks, art galleries and restaurants. Attracting locals and tourists alike, this destination should be on the to-do list of any antique enthusiast traveling to Kansas City.