An eclectic antique shop full of English and American animal, sporting, art antiques.
By catering to you, our readers composed of modern jetsetters who aren’t necessary traveling for touristic landmarks, we love to showcase hidden gems. Los Alamos in Central California is a diamond in rough all on its own, a small town full of great eats, charming yet to be commercialized tasting rooms. Now, we open your eyes to a local’s favorite antique shop, recommended by Jamie Gluck, owner of Bell Street Farm (check out his energetic backstory also featured on Jetset Times): The Gentleman Farmer, an eclectic antique shop full of English and American animal, sporting, art antiques. Owner, Madeleine Jex, gave us the ultimate inside scoop:
Q: How did The Gentleman Farmer start? How did it come to be in Los Alamos?
A gentleman farmer is a man of means who farms but does not have to do it for a living. Seems as though they are sporting people having good horses, dogs, and if they have livestock it is always of good quality. Hence I wanted to try to emulate all of that. I began riding at the age of ten, showing hunters and jumpers until about six years ago.
I married an Englishman who has been involved in the thoroughbred business all of his life, and it was he who opened up my world to equestrian antiques. Once I learned about all of the wonderful and beautiful things there were, that’s when I knew someday I would have an antique shop with all of the things that I loved. The reason I came to Los Alamos is because the Santa Ynez Valley Hunt and hounds is here, so what better place to start my shop.
Q: Which item are the true vintage highlights in the shop? Can you tell us a little bit about them?
A lot of my merchandise is from England and Europe where good horses, good dogs, and good livestock all began. Many of the equestrian items are truly unique, such as an antique folding boot jack wit boot hooks, and an antique horseshoe shaped shaving stand from Ireland circa 1860 for example.
PHOTO The Gentleman Farmer
Q: With quite a few antique stores in Los Alamos, how does The Gentleman Farmer stand out?
The Gentleman Farmer is a shop specializing in antique equestrian, but also antique canine, antique copper and brass, and farming antiques. So this makes it different from the other antique shops in the area as they are collectives with many vendors in each one.
Q: Do you have a favorite item in the store? If so, what is it?
My favorite item is my next great find. I’m always striving to find something more unique than the last.
The Gentleman Farmer is located on: 363 Bell Street, Los Alamos, California 93440
