Cool joint owned by a cool cat. I was just walking by and saw the place was open, so I decided to take a gander cuz my grandma (when she was alive) used to run an antique shop, so I have an appreciation for these kinds of places. Nothing particular caught my fancy during my browse, but there certainly was a lot of neat stuff to look at and admire. I had a good (and long, maybe like 20 minutes) convo with the shop owner about the recent goings-on politically-speaking; he wasn't afraid to open up about how he felt about things! That kind of sincerity is honestly refreshing. So yeah. Support local small business and take a peek for yourself-- worst that'll happen is you'll walk out having had an enjoyable conversation! read more

See all

I've known Pete for probably 20 years and he has always had some of the best vintage available in the area. Yes he is a retail operation, he knows his shit! But he will negotiate. Don't be afraid to try. read more

Classic Retro has the rarest and the best mid-century merchandise in the Midwest, hands down! My wife and I have bought from Pete and admired his finds since his shop was located on West 7th. Don't be fooled by the cluttered look and the eccentric owner. Classic Retro is packed from top to bottom with the rarest and the most beautiful mid-century modern items produced during the last century. After collecting for 20 years now, I can confidently say that you need to go to the West Coast, the East Coast, or (possibly) Chicago to find stuff as rare as you'll find in Pete's shop. This isn't Salvation Army, a thrift store, or one of the run of mill stores in the "Retro Loop". Be prepared to fork out some dough. Most items sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. There are a handful thrifty items that are less than 100 bucks. But mostly, this is the best-of-the-best. Pete doesn't have stickers on most of his items. But his prices are fair. I've compared his prices to the same items (if I can find them) on Ebay or on 1st Dibs and he charges fair, "Minnesota prices", not crazy "Los Angeles prices". He also has a photographic memory. I'm not kidding. He'll tell you them same price a year later. And he'll also tell you the designer, the manufacturer, and the year something was produced--amazing! Thanks, Pete, for finding some incredible items over the years! -Daddy Maxx Retro read more

See all

Let me start by being ridiculously honest. The bad: I think stores like Retro Pete's cater to people who want to pretend they are creative and artsy enough to be retro but aren't actually clever enough to come up with the look themselves. So they get into their fancy cars and drive down to good ol' Pete's and pay way too much money for something that would be an amazing find if it were ten dollars at a thrift store or even an old antique store but instead is a laughable 100 dollar purchase. Also, there is a huge difference between being fun and kitchy in your decorating and trying so hard to look retro you wind up looking stupid, and most of Retro Pete's merchandise is more Retro geek than Retro chic. Whew. Got that out of my system. (I can be a bit snarky) The good: Well... the sign out front is cool. And if you aren't afraid paying big big dollars you can occasionally find a neat chair or something. I guess. Bottom Line: Not my favorite but I am biased. Save your money and search thrift stores. read more

Liked this place since on West 7th. I think some people miss the point. YES I could theoretically scour every estate sale in the metro and find a lot of midcentury treasure for next to nothing, even now. The midwest is amazing for this - BUT I don't have time. I lose money doing that and actually save money when someone intelligent and dedicated to that as their livelihood - does that instead. It's not that people don't have the information, the taste and the knowledge, some of us just do not have the requisite time. So if you are able to make sourcing stuff your major pasttime, then by all means, you can get it cheaper. Everyone knows that. Pete knows his stuff, it's evident in the selections. Clean and consistent design sensibility. Lovely glass, particularly. Helpful and kind with my "walk away from it" moments, too. read more

When I walked in. My heart started beating faster and my mouth was probably drooling a little. My dream had come true - items I longed to have were waiting there and I finally see them in real life, not just online. So many items to add to my collection. I was so excited! Then... I asked for a price (because about half the items are actually priced with a label) The guy knows what he has. Therefore, he marks it up. A lot. I'm not sure how other reviewers say it's marked a little higher. I saw several items that I wanted and had to have but the price was so high! As one reviewer said - "could you find it cheaper somewhere else, sure?" Well these prices were a hell of a lot more than online + shipping + waiting + anything else that sucks about buying online. Honestly I could have spent over $500 if his prices were at least some what reasonable. I am collector of several pieces he had in there, I've been doing it for a long time and know what something is worth. This was ridiculous. It kind of reminded me of being in a hoarder's house - stuff everywhere. He marks up the price just so he doesn't have to sell it. He's attached. If you're willing to pay the high price then he will part with it. Will I stop in again? Maybe - maybe not. Should you stop in? Sure but be prepared to pay much more than an item is worth. Even though he says they "sell online for this price". Because they don't. read more

Expensive. Nice stuff but super crowded and stuff not priced. This is super annoying when owner is busying shooting the shit with others and you have to interrupt to find out price. Also found cute old poster with 9.99 price tag on back. Owner says isn't that great, I say yes and it's only 9.99, he says oh that's not my tag. That's what I paid for it. I will give it to you for $70 On and by the way it did have glass but that broke. Oh will since it had wrong tag on it I will give it to you for $60. I think not. Maybe I screwed up and how about $20 and I doubled mg money. No the owner kind of arrogant and I won't go back. On and looked and some quality vintage hawaiian shirts. $400 and $450. I almost laughed at him them found same shirt in great quality on eBay for $45. Sorry dude I concur with other reviewers and don't think he wants to part with stuff!!! Also parking was a pain but found lot behind but not sure if its ok to park there. Not worth the trouble read more

I am totally into the way things were............you dig? And I have been visiting this place since it was on 7th in St. Paul. This guy really knows his stuff, therefore it is a little pricey, however you get what you pay for. Walking into this place is like walking into a time warp. Totally Boss, Peter. Tell em the ZERO sent ya. read more

Am a frequent guest to Retro Petes shop, one of my favorities in the Twin Cities. Pete is very knowledgeable on all things Danish Modern and takes the time to also educate those that may not know what they are looking at. To the casual shopper, some view the stuff he sells as junk, but one's man junk is another man's treasure. I have bought numerous things over the years at his shop and while yes, his prices are fairly high, he will be willing to negotiate with you if you are a good customer. He isn't going to get beat on many items though, he definately knows what the stuff is worth. I am happy to have his shop in the Twin Cities, i just wish he moved closer to the Uptown/Lakes area as the location isn't best. Pete's is FAR better than any other shop in the Loop. The one knock I'll throw out is that it is always way too crowded in the shop and very disorganized. I think Pete would do much better if the layout was different. read more

Classic Retro at Pete’s - Kay Bojesen tray purchased at Retro Pete's - Home Decor Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

We were in here today, window shopping. The store offers an interesting range of products, focusing on "midcentury." Unlike the previous reviewer, I noticed items ranging in price from a buck or two on up. Could you find some of this stuff cheaper on Craigslist, or on your own? In theory, sure. On the other hand, if Pete's (or anywhere else) has what you want, you can make a concrete determination of bang for the buck. Buy, or don't, but don't slam the dude for selling--or give a one star review because you don't accept the premise of the store. Anyways...I thought the inventory was interesting and of a wide price range. There were some very nice pieces there (an art deco desk, a couch/chair/ottoman combo) that were not unfairly priced. Owner Pete Vento was about as friendly as could be, even after we made clear we were "just looking." Worth a trip, for sure. read more

perhaps 3.5 stars? no, the selection is good enough for a 4 star review. so.... this place has an AMAZING selection. AMAZING!!!!! it's a mid century modern collector's wet dream. it's also pretty high priced. I mean, yeah, he could make more selling it on ebay, but still, in a shop in MN its a bit overpriced. great as a museum or a collector with $$$ to burn. The owner is pretty nice but VERY cocky and slightly pushy. read more

Great central location, easy parking, owner most accommodating for assistance to load, deliveries or other service referrals. Owner very knowledgable in area of specialization - mid century modern furnishings and decorative arts. Merchandise is excellent pick of 20th century lighting, furniture, and homewares. American kitsch also present and that is perhaps what some yelpers know how to identify and thus make uneducated criticisms or comments in regards to this business. I find this to be among the best of the "Retro Loop" stores in the St. Paul region for selection and price. read more

Not much good to say, so I won't say much: From the outside, Classic Retro's keen signage and artful murals make it an irresistible destination for vintage shoppers -- but I encourage you to resist the urge. This place is all sizzle. The store is cluttered; Prices are agressively high; and the clerk/owner is just-short of pretentious. There are some interesting mid-century modern items here, but the owner is shrewd. You'll pay a premium. read more

Can not recommend enough, if you like true gems from the middle of the century this is the place for you. The owner is extremely knowledgeable in what everything in the store is. So many wonderful things to look at and it's been getting cleaner since the remodeling of university ave 10/10 read more

I stopped in Classic Retro bc it's on the St Paul Retro loop as a prime shopping spot. Although I found Pete to be a nice guy, I would say there are plenty of other spots that offer a better deal. His shop was cluttered and disorganized and the prices are WAY too high in comparison with other local shops. His prices and unwillingness to negotiate were a put off for me. I browsed for about an hour, tried to haggle on some teak kitchen goods and left empty handed. However, if you're a die-hard vintage shopper, you will find a WIDE array of choices. Plus everything's in excellent to mint condition. All in all I would say give it a try and see what you think. read more

Firstly, as others have noted, the selection is amazing. A vast collection of primarily midcentury objects, art, kitchen and diningware, and furniture that is incredible. Rare and unusual objects, hard-to-find and in some cases exquisite examples of midcentury fabulousness. It's clear the owner knows his stuff, and his business: he has a wonderful eye for objects! The main problem I have found with the store is that its merchandise is overpriced. These are New York City prices in a Minnesota market. In contrast to the high-end price tags, the store itself is disorganized, dark, and dusty, with prices marked on some items and not others (annoying insofar as one must then inquire), and piles of objects everywhere. Some items are grouped together in some fashion but mostly the store has the feel of Aunt Fanny's garage sale (if Aunt Fanny was obsessed with midcentury tchotchkes and lived on Park Avenue). For the prices the store charges, the showroom could use more organization and clarity, not the rummage sale atmosphere the store currently has. And because it is clear that the owner finds most of his merchandise at estate sales, garage sales, and (other) secondhand stores, the price inflation feels somewhat mercenary. Sure, he does the legwork to amass the piles of midcentury items the store features (as another reviewer has noted), but the markups for that labor seem extreme. I love looking and browsing here, but the prices are really a tangible barrier to buying anything. I think this place would be more fun and much more relevant if merchandise was priced to move (not sit around waiting for the wealthy connoisseur), and there was more active turnover in selection. I have seen items sit here for years over many visits, with the same incredible price tag(s). While it may be true that some items are worth their inflated prices on the national market, there is a whole demographic of more modest but still avid collectors and just people interested in good design here in the Twin Cities that the store is really missing because of the extraordinary mark-up. Also, better organization and lighting in the store would make the shopping experience more pleasant. A more thoughtful and deliberate presentation of objects would be a nice touch to highlight this impressive collection of items. Plugging in some of the myriad lamps would highlight their design and add mood and ambiance to the store. The windows especially could be rethought impressively with the wonderful selection of colored glass. Overall, definitely worth a visit, but generally not within the reach of most average secondhand design consumers in Minneapolis. read more

The prices are a bit high, I can agree on that, but Pete is not cocky. He's a great, very personable guy with a wealth of knowledge pertaining to mid modern collectibles (?) A cool store to peruse through nonetheless. Do the St. Paul Retro Loop if ya haven't: http://www.stpaulretroloop.com/ read more

I've been to many mid-century modern shops, sales and shows from Palm Springs to Chicago and New York. Classic Retro's selection is right up there with larger modern markets. I brought a collector friend there who was able to purchase quite a few pieces for well below EBay pricing. He paid for his trip by selling some of them on EBay. Most of the shops prices in the Twin Cities were either too highly priced or not enough inventory for my friend. Classic Retro has an emphasis on better quality items. Things you'll see at high-end Chicago auction houses. Along with affordable items. This shop is a must see if you're looking for modern in Minneapolis, St. Paul . read more

I really like this shop and plan a visit every time I am back in the Twin Cities area. I have shopped a lot of thrift stores and antique shops here in Wisconsin, and most of them run pretty pricey. I think Pete's prices are quite reasonable. The thrift shops are getting picked over now thanks to one of my favorite PBS shows, so it's great to find a place like Pete's with nice stuff that I can afford, and customer service if you want it, (he'll call you when he finds certain items). Cheers! (P.S. You just gotta love the acronym for this store's name!) read more

I went in there with the hopes of finding some interesting vintage vases (after just having been over at Mid Mod Men- which is a great place, but I'll leave that for it's proper review). Unlike other reviewers, I love an over-stuffed place, and he does have a ton of treasures that are very, very cool. They are, however, ridiculously over priced, and mostly not labeled (perhaps it's a, "if you have to ask, you cannot afford it situation"). Okay, so it's out of my price range (and a reasonable one at that). I wouldn't give such a low score for JUST that. The worst is for the total 10-20 minutes I was in the store, the owner (presumably Pete) was talking very vicious politics with some other customers in the store, and also bad mouthing some of his family members in a very trashy way. Between aggressively mudslinging at some politicians and disrespecting one of his step-parents by calling them atrocious names, I ducked out the back door never to return. Regardless if his parent is actually whatever he said, I don't believe it is professional to talk about that in a shop with customers in. What a horrible way to conduct business- I would warn others to steer clear. read more

wildly, wildly overpriced (i saw a mushroom brush or something similar for $30... yikes) but crazy good selection, and the owner seems like a nice enough dude. as someone who mostly goes into vintage stores to look around, it was a good use of my time. maybe not the best place to go if you actually want to buy stuff though. read more

Pete has great stuff at a variety of prices. Why are there so many haters on here? While it's definitely fun to find a great deal at a thrift shop, some of us don't have the time to spend endless weekends searching for the elusive "great find." Pete offers amazing pieces at fair prices. The man has to make a living and works his butt off traveling the country to bring these items to us here in the Twin Cities. And a note to Julie A. in MA: there are plenty of us here in humble MN who appreciate great midcentury design and are able and willing to pay for it. Pete has run a successful business selling his "overpriced" goods for many years to us common folk in flyover land. Pete is neither cocky or pushy. He's a nice friendly guy with a great deal of knowledge. read more