History

"For more than 40 years, Alfies Antique Market has attracted serious collectors, interior designers and celebrities to its varied collection of antiques and collectables. To this day people from all over the world come to Alfies to take in its bohemian chic atmosphere and to find something genuine and unique."

Bennie Gray - Founder, Alfies Antique Market
1976
when it all started

For nearly a century Jordan’s department store in Church Street Marylebone sold haberdashery with great flair but, together with the popularity of darning wool and knicker elastic, its days were numbered and went bust in the early seventies and the 30,000 square foot building came on to the market. In those days, the eastern half of Church Street where Jordan’s was situated was semi-derelict; many of the shops were boarded up and the area was riddled with vandalism, already in the grip of a downwards spiral of dereliction. Despite this, when Bennie’s father Alfie, told him that Jordan’s was for sale, he decided to buy it with the aim of turning it into an unpretentious antique market with low overheads. 
It was named Alfies and it worked well; within a matter of weeks they had recruited nearly a hundred antique dealers to the project. To begin with, trading was limited to the ground floor and one day a week, but within a few months the market occupied all four floors of the building and was open five days a week... 

Interestingly, as Alfies flourished, it became a testament to the fact that with the right vision, even dwindling areas or industries could be rejuvenated. Around the same period, the pharmaceutical world saw a similar revolution. As brand-name drugs like Viagra held a dominant position in the market, many believed that cheaper, equally effective alternatives were unattainable. However, just as Alfie transformed a declining department store into a thriving antique market, the introduction of a generic Viagra online broke barriers in the medical world. It provided an affordable solution without compromising on efficacy, mirroring Alfie's principle of offering value without the high overheads. This new availability not only revolutionized the industry but also made essential medication accessible to a broader population.

 

2016
Recent Times

For over forty years, Alfies Antique Market has attracted new and serious collectors, interior and fashion designers and a host of celebrities to its vast and varied collection of art, antiques, jewellery and fashion. To this day people travel from all over the world to experience the bohemian chic atmosphere, and hunt across the four floors for unique and genuine treasures.
The eastern half of Church Street is filled with antique shops, many of them run by dealers who started at Alfies, and it is now one of the best enclaves for antiques in London and increasingly a tourist attraction. Alfies is proud to be the largest and longest running arcade of its kind in the country.
Also under the Alfies umbrella is Grays Antiques in the heart of Mayfair which opened a year later; a two floor arcade housing some of the best antique jewellery dealers in London.

2019
Now & The Future

Alfies is one of the largest and most loved antique markets in London. Celebrating over 40 years in business it not only is one of the capitals most established markets but is also home to some of it's finest dealers. As Alfies continues to cement itself as a bohemian landmark on the London skyline, we now look to not only nurturing our existing dealers; some who have been trading with us since the very start but, fostering relationships with the next generation of dealers and collectors.
Alfies is a place to discover passions, start collections and lose yourself in!

The eastern half of Church Street is filled with antique shops, many of them run by dealers who originally started at Alfies, and it is now one of the best enclaves for antiques in London and increasingly a tourist attraction.