Conway of Asia
Address
Mission St. between 5th & 6th St. Gillette Bldg. #B, 5th Ave, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, 93923
Phone
+1 831-277-0361Website
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Located in the historic Gillette Building on Mission Street in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, Conway of Asia is an exceptional antique store specializing in rare Asian art, antiques, and oriental rugs. Owned by Peterson Conway, the store houses an impressive collection of one-of-a-kind treasures curated from his extensive travels and international background. As customers enter the store, they are immediately surrounded by an array of intriguing artifacts, from antique chairs and brass trays to vibrant textiles, delicate jewelry, and striking garden statues. The diverse inventory reflects Conway's deep knowledge and appreciation for Asian culture, with each piece telling a captivating story of its origins and history. Customers often praise the owner's engaging conversations, as he shares his expertise and the fascinating provenance of the unique items on display. Reviews highlight the store's beautiful and original setting, which transports visitors to a world of rare treasures and engaging stories. Customers appreciate the opportunity to discover exceptional finds they won't find anywhere else, praising the store's exceptional selection and the owner's keen eye for unique and valuable pieces. Many note that a visit to Conway of Asia is a highlight of their time in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a charming coastal town known for its picturesque streets, world-class dining, and vibrant arts scene. Beyond the store's impressive collection, customers also rave about the owner's extensive background. With a degree in international relations and experience in the Peace Corps, Peterson Conway has developed a deep understanding of diverse cultures, which is reflected in the store's carefully curated inventory. Whether you're an avid collector or simply appreciate the beauty of Asian design, a visit to Conway of Asia is sure to uncover a treasure trove of exceptional finds. The store's hours of operation - Sunday-Monday 8AM-6PM, Wednesday 8AM-6PM, Thursday-Friday 10AM-6PM, Saturday 8AM-6PM, closed Tuesdays - make it easy to plan a visit during your time in Carmel-by-the-Sea. As you explore the town's charming streets, be sure to stop by this unique antique store, where you'll be immersed in a captivating shopping experience surrounded by the town's picturesque coastal setting. From rare antique furniture to exquisite jewelry and textiles, Conway of Asia offers a treasure trove of exceptional finds that are sure to delight collectors and casual shoppers alike.
8 reviews
Digvijay Ankoti
It was such a delight to meet Peterson Conway who is the owner and operator of Conway Art Gallery in Carmel. His gallery is known for showcasing a diverse collection of treasures that Peter accumulated through his travels all over the world. I bought 2 antique chairs from Peterson and so thankful to him for these! Also, he is a great person and one can spend hours talking to him about his travels and stories from across the world.
David Pfister
Peterson has a lifetime of experience and his store-before his semi-retirement-reflects that in his one of a kind pieces to go along with his one of a kind personality. He does not suffer fools lightly reflecting some of his reviews here, but if you are straight up with him he is more than straight up with you. If you are a tourist seeking a bargain, this is not the store for you.
Tracy Stevens
Truly beautiful & original place. I highly recommend checking it out. The owner must have an amazing eye, because the objects of beauty in this store are very striking - textiles, jewelry, garden statues, wrought iron pieces, Persian rugs & tables that look like tree roots It is hard to describe everything i saw but there are very good quality pieces/ treasures in this store. The owner is a super interesting man, full of life. He really knows the history & has some fun stories about the pieces he’s collected !
Jim Tatol
Amazing inventory chock-full moving soon
J Snider
Great collection of antiques, rugs, and more from Central Asia.
Zohreh Soltani
I took my husband to the store convincing him to pick a piece of antique as a gift for his birthday since I know about his passion for old artistic handmade stuff. After searching the store my husband eyes fell on a brass tray with one of our king’s face on it. Our friend and I convinced him to get the tray because we all loved it but he doubted it was original. So he went to the owner to ask about the history and the place he had found the tray. The owner’s explanation convinced my husband. He came back and we started discussing again and this discussion took a while. Finally my husband approached the owner to ask the price and started to negotiate ( it was not mentioned anywhere that the price was firm). But the owner got very mad and refused to sell the tray and even blamed us for disrespecting our culture because we wanted to negotiate and then started making illogical and weird excuses. We were really shocked and left the store humiliated and upset and I was very embarrassed because I was the one who asked my husband to enter that store with our friends. I guess having long conversations about the tray and our questions about it gave him the wrong impression that the tray was very special and was worth more. He knew we were Persian and maybe thought we discovered something very special about the tray. Long story short the owner of this store is very greedy and dishonest man who doesn’t have a clue about the ground rule of business which is respecting the customers. Do not waste your time in this shop when there are better antique stores with nicer owners in Carmel!
Majid Ramji
The owner is very greedy and manipulative man. His store antiques are not reasonably priced and the owner's behavior is not polite at all. We had nice day at Carmel-by-the-see, but his behavior made it a TERRIBLE day for us.
JOE ORR
While the collection is spectacular, the owner (Mr. Conway) told me a lie to get me to spend $12,000 on a Buddha. My wife and I were on the fence and Mr. Conway said that the price we negotiated was so low that if I purchased the Buddha, he would sign a receipt that he would buy it back after 6 months for the purchase price if we changed our minds. He stated that he will never be able to get another like that and went on selling and selling. We spent the $12,000 because it was virtually a 6 month test drive and this was a guarantee from Mr. Conway personally. We decided that we would sell it back to Mr. Conway for a myriad of reasons. He was traveling the world so we waited for his return. When he returned he sent me an email (did not even call) and said that he could not buy it back due to a downturn in business. He must have hundreds of thousands of dollars in inventory if not millions and he is on Ocean street in Carmel. We were lied to and feel manipulated. I am starting legal proceedings with the state and civil. Sad.