Tucked between River Street and Bay Street in the heart of Savannah, Georgia, Jere’s Antiques is the kind of place that stops you dead in your tracks. What looks like a modest storefront from the outside opens up into a massive 33,000-square-foot warehouse packed floor to ceiling with antique furniture from across the centuries.
Owner Jere S. Myers has spent nearly 50 years building one of the most jaw-dropping collections of old-world furniture in the entire United States.
Whether you are hunting for a bargain or searching for a one-of-a-kind piece, this legendary junk shop has something for everyone.
A Warehouse That Goes On Forever
Walking through the front door of Jere’s Antiques feels less like shopping and more like stumbling into a time machine. The building is a former blacksmith stable, and its history seeps through every creaky floorboard and exposed brick wall.
At 33,000 square feet, the warehouse stretches on in every direction, with aisles so narrow you might need to turn sideways to squeeze through. Furniture is stacked high, arranged in clusters, and tucked into every corner imaginable.
Customers often describe the layout as a maze or labyrinth, and honestly, that description fits perfectly. You never quite know what treasure is waiting around the next bend.
Spending an hour here feels like barely scratching the surface, and many visitors say they could easily return for days without seeing everything twice.
Nearly 50 Years in Business and Still Going Strong
Not many businesses survive five decades, but Jere S. Myers has done exactly that.
He opened Jere’s Antiques on June 15, 1976, and has been a beloved fixture in Savannah’s historic district ever since.
His longevity is no accident. Jere operates with a straightforward philosophy: offer honest prices, stand behind every piece, and treat customers like neighbors.
That reputation has earned him loyal shoppers who have been coming back for 25 years or more.
He personally responds to nearly every online review, signing off with his full name and phone number like a true old-school businessman. That personal touch is rare in today’s world.
Knowing the shop is run by someone so deeply invested in his craft makes every purchase feel more meaningful, like you are buying a piece of history from someone who genuinely cares about where it ends up.
Furniture Imported Straight from Europe
Every two weeks like clockwork, a 40-foot high-cube shipping container arrives at Jere’s warehouse packed with antiques sourced directly from Britain, Belgium, Holland, and France. Jere maintains his own warehouse in England and employs buyers who scour the continent for extraordinary pieces.
That kind of direct sourcing means the furniture you find here traveled across the Atlantic Ocean on a massive cargo ship before landing in Savannah. You are not buying reproductions or knockoffs.
These are genuine antiques with real history baked into every joint and grain.
Welsh dressers, carved armoires from France, full bars from Scottish pubs, and English dining sets are just a few examples of what regularly rolls off those containers. For shoppers who love knowing the backstory of what they bring home, this European pipeline makes Jere’s Antiques unlike anything else in the American South.
Antique Chairs Stacked to the Ceiling
One of the most talked-about sights inside Jere’s Antiques is the upstairs floor dedicated almost entirely to chairs. Visitors consistently describe it as a true spectacle, with antique seating of every style, era, and wood type crammed together in breathtaking numbers.
Windsor chairs, Victorian parlor chairs, carved wooden thrones, and simple farmhouse seats all share the same crowded space. Finding a matching set of dining chairs from a specific period is surprisingly doable here, something most antique hunters can only dream about.
Jere stocks chairs from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, meaning the range of craftsmanship on display is genuinely staggering. Whether you need one accent chair for a reading nook or a full set of eight for a formal dining room, this is the kind of inventory that makes serious collectors get a little weak in the knees.
Prices That Range from $25 to $100,000
One of the biggest surprises at Jere’s Antiques is just how wide the price range actually is. Jere himself has noted that shoppers can find pieces starting at just $25, while the most extraordinary items can reach six figures.
That spread means the store genuinely works for almost any budget. A college student decorating their first apartment and a serious collector hunting for a rare 18th-century armoire can both walk out satisfied.
The trick is knowing what you are looking at, which is where Jere and his knowledgeable staff member Vicki come in handy.
Asking questions here is strongly encouraged. Jere loves explaining the history, origin, and value of his pieces to anyone who is curious.
That kind of education makes even a $50 purchase feel like a deeply informed decision rather than a lucky guess at a garage sale.
The Maze-Like Layout That Makes It an Adventure
Shopping at Jere’s Antiques is not a passive experience. The aisles twist and turn, furniture juts out at unexpected angles, and every corner reveals something new.
Customers regularly joke that they needed to turn sideways or squeeze past a cabinet just to keep moving forward.
Far from being a drawback, most visitors consider the chaotic layout part of the shop’s undeniable charm. There is a treasure-hunt energy here that big-box furniture stores simply cannot replicate.
You earn your finds by exploring every inch of the place.
Wearing comfortable shoes is genuinely good advice before visiting. The floors are uneven in spots, the lighting is warehouse-style, and there is no air conditioning, so mornings are the best time to go.
Arriving early on a weekday gives you the space and energy to really dig through everything without the weekend crowd.
Stained Glass Windows and Architectural Salvage
Beyond furniture, Jere’s Antiques carries a fascinating collection of architectural salvage that stops browsers in their tracks. Leaded stained-glass windows are among the most frequently mentioned finds, with customers raving about their beauty and surprisingly fair pricing.
Carved doors, ornate fireplace surrounds, decorative moldings, and other structural pieces pulled from historic European buildings also make regular appearances in the inventory. These are the kinds of items that can completely transform a room or become the centerpiece of a renovation project.
Finding original stained glass from a centuries-old English manor or a hand-carved door from a French countryside home is not something you stumble across at a typical antique mall. Jere’s sourcing network makes these rare architectural gems available to Savannah shoppers at prices that reflect real value rather than inflated retail markups.
It is genuinely one of the most unique aspects of this already remarkable shop.
China, Clocks, and Small Collectibles
Not everything at Jere’s Antiques requires a moving truck. The shop also carries a wonderful selection of smaller collectibles, including antique china sets, vintage clocks, decorative accessories, and assorted curiosities that are perfect for gift-giving or shelf styling.
One customer shared a sweet story about finding china pieces that perfectly matched a partial set she already owned at home. She was even able to call the shop after her visit, pay over the phone, and have the remaining pieces shipped directly to her door.
That kind of flexible, customer-friendly service is a rare find these days.
Smaller items here often carry the same fascinating European provenance as the large furniture pieces, which makes them feel extra special. Picking up an antique clock that once sat on a Victorian mantelpiece in rural England is the sort of story worth telling every time a guest notices it on your shelf.
Helpful Staff Who Know Every Inch of the Store
Vicki is the name that comes up again and again in customer reviews, and for good reason. She knows the warehouse thoroughly, carries a tape measure for shoppers who come prepared with room dimensions, and helps wrap and load purchases right into your vehicle.
Her professionalism turns what could be an overwhelming shopping experience into something genuinely enjoyable. Customers describe her as a total pro who can locate a specific style or size piece within the sprawling inventory without breaking a sweat.
Jere himself is equally hands-on, happy to share the history and value of any piece in the store with anyone who asks. The combination of a knowledgeable owner and a dedicated staff member makes Jere’s feel more like working with an expert curator than browsing a cluttered shop.
That personal attention is something you just cannot get from an online furniture retailer or a chain store.
Pieces Spanning the 1500s to the Early 1900s
The age range of items at Jere’s Antiques is genuinely jaw-dropping. Jere has mentioned selling at least 200 pieces dating back to the 1500s, thousands from the 1600s, and tens of thousands from the 1700s and 1800s.
That kind of historical depth is almost unheard of in a single retail location.
Walking through the warehouse is like flipping through the chapters of a furniture history book. Renaissance-era craftsmanship sits a few feet away from Georgian elegance, which gives way to Victorian excess and then the cleaner lines of the early 20th century.
For history buffs, interior designers, or anyone who appreciates the artistry of handcrafted woodwork from bygone eras, this variety is deeply exciting. Each piece carries the fingerprints of craftsmen who lived and worked centuries ago, making every purchase feel less like buying furniture and more like adopting a piece of living history.
Worldwide Shipping Available for Large Pieces
Falling in love with a massive Welsh dresser or an 18th-century armoire is exciting right up until you remember you drove here in a sedan. Jere’s Antiques has a practical solution for that problem: they ship anywhere in the world.
Customers who cannot fit a large piece into their vehicle can arrange professional packing and delivery to virtually any destination. Several reviewers specifically mentioned this service as the reason they felt comfortable making a big purchase without stressing about logistics.
For international buyers or out-of-state visitors passing through Savannah, this shipping capability transforms Jere’s from a local treasure into a globally accessible resource. Knowing that a hand-carved Scottish bar or a French armoire can be safely delivered to your home across the country, or even across an ocean, removes the last barrier between you and that dream piece you never expected to find in Georgia.
The No-Air-Conditioning Experience Worth Embracing
Jere’s Antiques is housed in a historic former blacksmith stable, and true to its roots, the building has no air conditioning. In Savannah’s famously humid summers, that detail matters, and Jere himself is completely upfront about it.
The smart move is visiting in the morning when temperatures are cooler and the shop first opens at 9:30 AM. Weekday mornings are especially pleasant, with fewer crowds and a more relaxed pace that lets you take your time exploring without feeling rushed or overheated.
Interestingly, Jere has pointed out that fine furniture survived for centuries without climate control, and he has a point. The pieces in his warehouse have already outlasted empires.
Embracing the warm, slightly dusty atmosphere is part of what makes the visit feel authentic. You are not in a sterile showroom.
You are inside a living, breathing piece of Savannah history, surrounded by objects that have stories older than the city itself.
Located in the Heart of Historic Savannah
Jere’s Antiques sits at 9 Jefferson St in Savannah, Georgia, nestled between the famous River Street and Bay Street areas. The location alone makes it worth a detour, sitting in one of the most beautiful and historically rich neighborhoods in the entire American South.
Savannah’s downtown is a walkable wonderland of cobblestone streets, moss-draped squares, and 19th-century architecture, making the walk to Jere’s feel like part of the experience. Many visitors stumble upon the shop simply by strolling through the area and noticing the unassuming entrance.
The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM and is closed on Sundays. You can reach them at 912-236-2815 or visit jeresantiques.com before your trip to get a sense of what awaits.
Combining a visit to Jere’s with a day exploring Savannah’s historic district makes for an absolutely unforgettable outing.