Yeya’s Antiques & Oddities at 1423 E. Commerce Street on San Antonio’s East Side is Marie Kondo’s worst nightmare.

I think Yeya’s is a magical place, but there’s nothing tidy about it. If treasure-hunting in controlled chaos isn’t your thing, walk on by. I think you’ll regret your decision, though, because I’ve never once come away from Yeya’s empty-handed.

You’ll find doll parts, antique door handles, springs, manual typewriters, original art, succulents, cement fairies, black and white photographs, metal type, screen prints, bowling medals and more. Owner Mario’s amassed collection is eclectic, to say the least.

You’re bound to find something you can’t live without at Yeya’s. As their website says, “The most enjoyable part of the day is never knowing where your search will take you and better yet, the thrill of finding great Items in a Junk coma just waiting to be revived and repurposed.”

I can attest to this: I came across a screen print of the Governor’s Palace by longtime San Antonio art teacher Doyle Brown that I absolutely love. It now graces my home’s sunroom. Who knows which treasure at Yeya’s has your name on it?

Yeya’s is open from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through Sundays. Check their Facebook page to make sure they’re open before you venture over.

Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been home ever since. For even more ideas of fun things to do and see in San Antonio, visit Barnes & Noble, The Twig or Whole Earth Provision Co. to purchase Denise’s book, “100 Things To Do in San Antonio Before You Die” . Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to design/lead a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!