Capital City Antique Mall
Address: 959 South West Temple Street
Telephone: 801-521-7207
Website: capitalcityantiquemall.com
District: Central City
“I’m a preservationist of history. Every piece here has a story.” Capital City Antique Mall, a cornerstone of Salt Lake’s antique scene since its opening during the summer of 1999, is more than just a store to Ralene Barton; it is a living museum. Ralene, the shop’s third owner, has been part of the store’s journey since she became a dealer in 2011.
A former respiratory therapist, Ralene fell in love with the store long before she took over ownership in 2014. What began as a side venture quickly transformed into her calling, blending her passion for antiques with her dream of building a community space. "I have been collecting since I was a child - rocks, troll dolls, hot wheels, everything excited me."
With 10,000 square feet and over sixty vendors, Capital City Antique Mall offers a trove of treasures from the 1800s onward. “We’re mostly generalists,” Ralene explains. “Whatever we can find that has a story and history, that’s what we bring in.” From mid-century modern furniture and vintage clothing to collectibles like vinyl records, kid's toys, militaria, jewelry, typewriters, china, lamps, and cameras the mall captures the diversity of past eras. “If you don’t like your family, you can buy one,” she jokes, gesturing toward the stacks of old photographs for sale.
Ralene describes herself as a “good hoarder”—an enthusiastic collector who sees antiques not as objects but as remnants of people’s lives. Her passion for preserving these items is rooted in the thrill of discovery. “It’s the hunt,” she admits. When asked if she has ever found an item too special to part with, she smiled and said, “Sometimes, I’ll stumble upon something that gives me goosebumps - like the wooden rocking horse I bought from the late 1800s. Its tail is made from real horsehair, and I can just picture the children who once cherished it.” Ralene then admits that the rocking horse takes center stage in her own home.
Her customers are as diverse as the items she sells. While antiques once appealed mostly to older generations, a new wave of young people has embraced vintage shopping, drawn by the desire to “reuse, recycle, and repurpose.” On weekends, the store fills with a mix of regulars and newcomers, many under forty, who come to hunt for unique decor or furnishings for their homes. “Seeing those kids come in makes me smile every time,” she says. “They appreciate the history and craftsmanship, which means so much.”
Despite the energy within the shop, the area around it faces challenges. Ralene is candid about the impact of homelessness and the lasting effects of the pandemic on the neighborhood. Yet, she remains hopeful, noting the revitalization efforts underway in the Central 9th District, now branded as Midtown, with small businesses and coffee shops bringing fresh life to the area.
During the pandemic, the store adapted, but the impact was undeniable. The isolation brought by COVID-19 changed the community around her. “People were hurting, and so many businesses didn’t survive,” she recalls. But for Capital City Antique Mall, the post-COVID era brought new life as people rediscovered the joy of in-person shopping and the nostalgic comfort of antiques.
Ralene has fostered a community of like-minded vendors, many of whom make a living solely from selling antiques, sourcing their items from estate sales, thrift stores, and yard sales. “We’re like family here,” she says, as some of her longest-standing dealers nod in agreement. Ralene adds, “I couldn’t do this without the vendors and my staff.”
Occasionally, Ralene or her son, who also runs an antique store in Tooele, will switch items between their stores, keeping each one fresh for returning customers. “We can’t let things get stagnant,” Ralene explains. “Our customers need to see something new every time they come in.”
Capital City Antique Mall also serves as a resource for people looking to downsize or handle the belongings of loved ones who have passed. Twice a month, she invites the public to bring in items for appraisal, which she often buys outright. She also makes house calls, packing and transporting selected items back to the shop. “You meet some wonderful people, especially the older generation who have these amazing collections and stories. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.”
Outside of the store, Ralene is an avid gardener - a “master gardener,” as she proudly notes, though she now has less time for it. Her garden is her therapy, and she speaks about it with the same reverence she holds for her antiques. “My husband and I loved hunting for treasures together,” she shares. Although he now stays home due to a heart condition, he still shares her passion and supports the store’s mission, as well as helps her to keep their beautiful garden alive.
Even as the world of antiques changes, Ralene remains deeply committed to her mission of preserving and sharing history. Each piece, each carefully crafted item carries a fragment of the past, allowing it to live on through the people who discover it anew. “Every piece we have here belonged to somebody. They loved it, cherished it, and took care of it. That’s what excites me.”
