The Vintage Vault & Gallery

One of many precious shops set in old Ellicott, this particular location –as one might guess from the name– is housed in an old bank. Originally built in 1906, the elegant little spot still has the rather charming bars on its windows and the enterprising owners have repurposed the delightful antique vault as the changing room. It’s worth stepping inside just to get a look at the old vault door, carefully fixed open so you can see the mechanism and so that it can’t close on a hapless shopper.
The merchandise is a delightful mixture of true vintage and vintage style, with a matching range of prices so there’s a bit of something for everyone. The second floor is the ‘lavender shop’ with soaps and so on, and a lot of handy but expendable gifting ideas. The third houses the art gallery, with some lovely pieces on view.
Five minutes or fifty can easily be spent in the place, depending on if you’d like a quick peek or a lengthy perusal. I myself need to go back when I don’t have an impatient sister in tow.