At 22,000 square feet, Epic Antique is regularly home to over 50 vendors, each showcased in different nooks of the store. One could easily spend upwards of an hour combing through the items displayed in a single vendor's space.

There is a vague order to the layout (e.g., a corner of wicker baskets, walls of mirrors, rows of jewelry, etc.), though half of the fun is aimlessly browsing and stumbling upon items that are too unique to seek out.

Curators Mathew Culbert and Tom Gorz opened Epic Antique in 2018. Culbert and Gorz — both longtime antique collectors — focus their curation on mid-century modern furniture, vintage jewelry, and decorative art. Combined with the vendor collections, the pieces on display in the warehouse cater to all tastes. Campy animal furniture sits adjacent to vintage denim pieces and ornate French mirrors. There is something for everyone in the space.

As if the expansive collections were not enough, Epic Antique hosts frequent events. Flea markets that feature local vendors and food trucks take place the second Saturday of every month. Dealers set up shop in large plots of the parking lot, lining the entrance all the way up the loading dock that leads to the store's front doors.

Along with the monthly flea markets, Gorz is excited for Epic Antique's upcoming art sale, starting on Nov. 15 and lasting through the month.

"Epic Antique was started because everything was closing and we felt the need for personal experiences," said Gorz. "I can't stress enough how it's a place to wander and see so many small businesses in one place."

He "used to visit all the flea markets in California regularly and about 20 years ago decided to sell full-time — before online and social media sales. Malls were where we [curators] met the people that would enjoy items curated for them."

In the age of online shopping paired with lingering pandemic resistance regarding returning to public spaces, Epic Antique offers a refreshing and personal return to shopping local.

It bridges the gap between social media and in-person connection seamlessly, combining the intrigue and detail of online advertising with an intimate shopping experience.

Most of Epic Antique's communications and advertising take place on its Facebook and Instagram accounts. The store posts photos featuring vendors and their collections, along with specific pieces that are newly acquired or dropping in price.

The business establishes an ethos of community care by giving unique attention to the vendors as individual curators. The store's social media posts often highlight their aesthetic tastes, along with their personal histories in antiquing and art collection. When reading the unique vendor features online, you can feel the excitement that Gorz and Culbert share in getting to know community members and giving them a space to display what they love.

Gorz's commitment to Seattle antique curators doesn't end with Epic Antique. In August, he acquired Pacific Galleries Antique Mall, saving it from its slated closure at the end of the month. Gorz reopened the store as Lander Street Vintage in October and claims the business purchase was "so last minute" that they "won't have a building sign for some time."

Lander Street Vintage features "new music" and a "new atmosphere," along with "many similar businesses" from Pacific Galleries and "many new ones," said Gorz. He plans on doing events there as well, but for now the store's focus is on the holiday season.

If you are looking for some vintage inspiration in the meantime, Gorz states that Epic Antique "encourages people to follow great businesses [on Instagram] like @vintagety, @_an_edited_life, @nothingsnewvintage, @treasurequeeny, @inthecomfortof_, @vintageinseattle, and so many more."

"It's a family here," he added.