"My eye for the gritty and the nostalgic didn't start in a showroom; it started on a Brooklyn sidewalk in 2012 with a crate full of treasures and a vision for something better."
Carroll Park Flea Market | Brooklyn, NY | June 2012
With a background in fine art and real estate, I see the potential in both spaces and the objects that fill them. In 2012, the dual passion found its home on a Brooklyn sidewalk, where the first iteration of Gritty City Antiques was born at Carroll Park Flea Market in Brooklyn, NY
By 2013, the vision for Gritty City began to expand. I launched our first online presence on Etsy and spent weekends refining the collection. The next flea market season was a lesson in curation - learning to find the extraordinary within in the nostalgic.
Carroll Park Flea Market | Brooklyn, NY | June 2013
Western Auto Building / Original Painting (2019) / Fine Art Prints
For several years, Gritty City Antiques was my creative sanctuary - a place to gather stories and artifacts. That changed in 2018 when I moved from New York City to Kansas City. By the Spring of 2019, I opened the doors to my first art studio in the historic West Bottoms. It was there that I painted the Western Auto Building, a piece that has since become a cornerstone of my collection and one of my most-loved original art prints.
Video: Western Auto Building, from Original Painting in 2019 to framed Art Prints today
2022 was the year it all took off. What began as my first ever single 4'x8' booth at Glenwood Antique Mall in Overland Park, KS quickly evolved, doubling in size within months to meet the needs of a growing community. Simultaneously, our Etsy presence exploded, with sales quadrupling as we reached more collectors than ever before.
Glenwood Antique Mall | Overland Park, KS | Spring 2022
Glenwood Antique Mall | Overland Park, KS | Fall 2022
2022, Year in Review
By 2023, the Gritty City aesthetic matured. I began leaning into statement furniture and large-scale original art in the physical booth, creating an immersive space you could walk through. Meanwhile, I meticulously curated our Etsy shop to remain a destination for the 'smaller treasures' - vintage books, collectible glassware, and the artful details that complete a room.
Glenwood Antique Mall | Overland Park, KS | Summerl 2023
River Market Antiques | Kansas City, MO | Jan. 2024
In 2024, Gritty City Antiques found its current home in the heart of the historic River Market at River Market Antiques in Kansas City, Missouri. After a year on their highly-selective waiting list, I was invited to join the second floor of this Kansas City landmark. It's here, amidst the creaky wood floors and industrial history, that my collection truly feels at home.
Throughout 2025 and 2026, I curated several spaces within the mall, experimenting with color and light - from bubblegum pink backdrops to our current home on the first floor. Today, Gritty City resides in a premier dual-booth location. Here, the industrial charm of white brick meets the vibrant energy of bright orange, creating the perfect gallery for our ever-evolving collection.
River Market Antiques | Kansas City, MO | Fall 2025
River Market Antiques | Kansas City, MO | 2026
River Market Antiques | Kansas City, MO | 2026
Gritty City Antiques is more than a shop; it's a decade-long collection of stories, art, and the belief that the most beautiful homes are the ones with a past.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you're hunting for a statement piece for your living room or a rare book for your shelf, I'm so glad you're here.
Christina Koski
Founder and Creator
