Excess 1 & Excess 2 (XS2): The Treasure Hunter's Guide to Round Top's Best-Kept Secret

Excess 1 and Excess 2 are a pair of storage-unit style antique venues sitting across the street from each other on Texas 237 in Warrenton, just minutes south of Round Top. With 50-plus vendors between both locations, free admission, free parking, and prices that regularly undercut the more curated venues up the road, they have quietly become one of the most rewarding stops on the entire Round Top antique trail. Whether you are an interior designer sourcing for clients, a dealer hunting wholesale-priced European imports, or a first-timer looking for an authentic treasure-hunt experience, Excess belongs at the top of your itinerary.

Below you will find everything you need to know: what to expect inside, which vendors to seek out first, how prices compare to other venues, and the insider strategies that separate casual browsers from the shoppers who drive home with a loaded trailer.

What Exactly Are Excess 1 and Excess 2?

Picture rows of metal shop buildings with roll-up garage doors, each unit housing a different vendor. That is Excess in a nutshell. There is no grand entrance, no wristband, no admission fee. You park on the gravel, walk up to a bay, and start shopping.

Excess 1 (XS1) and Excess 2 (XS2) sit directly across Texas 237 from each other at 3907 TX-237 in Warrenton. XS1 is the slightly larger of the two, with a food vendor tucked in the back left corner that serves beer and wine. XS2 tends to draw a higher concentration of European dealers, particularly Italian and French vendors, which gives it a distinctly Continental flavor that sets it apart from almost any other venue on the route.

Both locations close at 5 PM, so plan accordingly. Morning visits are best if you want first pick before the serious buyers clean out the standout pieces.

You can find both venues pinned on the Round Top Finder map, which also shows nearby parking, food options, and walking routes between XS1 and XS2.

Why Designers and Dealers Call Excess Their First Stop

Interior designer Claire Zinnecker, who has made Round Top a cornerstone of her sourcing trips for years, put it plainly: "So there's XS1 and across the street XS2, and it is just metal shop buildings full of vendors. All different types of items. There's stuff from Europe, stuff from the US, and the price points in my opinion are really good. You have to dig a little bit more, which is obviously my favorite part, but I could spend an entire day just here."

That word -- "dig" -- is the key to understanding what makes Excess different from venues like Marburger Farm or Blue Hills. Those spots are more curated, more styled, and accordingly more expensive. Excess is raw. Inventory is stacked, layered, and sometimes dusty. But the tradeoff is significant: you are shopping closer to the source, often buying directly from the importers who filled the shipping containers themselves.

One Round Top vlogger summed up the dynamic bluntly: "People from Market Hill will shop at XS1 and XS2 for their pieces and then bring them to their shops and resell them." That resale markup can run two to three times the original price. If you are willing to do the digging yourself, Excess is where you cut out the middleman.

The Vendors You Should Not Miss

With 50-plus vendors spread across both locations, it is impossible to see everything in a single pass. But several dealers have earned devoted followings among returning shoppers. Here are three worth seeking out first.

Nomadic Trading

Nomadic Trading is a family-owned operation run by Noah, Odom, and their father Damir. They source heavily from Europe -- Hungarian tables, Turkish pots, vintage breadboards from Turkey, and rugs from seemingly everywhere. Their booth at XS2 is a riot of color and texture, the kind of space where you stand in the doorway for a full minute just taking in the layers before you start touching anything.

"Family owned -- look, there's Noah and Odom," one designer noted while walking through on camera. "They also have a booth at Market Hill, which we're gonna show you next." That dual presence is telling: their inventory is strong enough to hold its own in the most high-end venue on the route, but at Excess you are buying it at Excess prices.

The Turkish pots in particular are worth a close look. Similar pieces show up on interior design retail websites for $400 to $600, and here you can often negotiate well below that range. Breadboards -- those thick, hand-worn vintage cutting boards that have become a staple of modern kitchen styling -- start around $50 to $100 depending on age and condition.

Knock on Wood Antiques

Jamie and Patrick Roche run Knock on Wood Antiques, and they source from Morocco, Mexico, and Bali. Their booth is a world unto itself: woven light shades hang from the ceiling, textiles drape from every surface, and wooden bowls, marble cheese plates, baskets, and rugs fill every horizontal plane.

One designer who has shopped Round Top for years did not hold back: "This is probably my favorite shop. I could buy anything in here. I love everything." Jamie designs some of the pieces herself, working with craftsmen in Bali using teak and woven goods. The woven light shades are especially popular -- if you want to add a statement fixture to a room without spending a fortune, these are remarkably affordable.

The textiles and small home goods are where Knock on Wood really shines for shoppers on a tighter budget. Hand-carved wooden bowls, woven baskets, and pillowcases can be picked up for well under $100, making them ideal souvenirs or client gifts.

Pascal Jones Antiques

If you lean toward French antiques, Pascal Jones is a must. This vendor deals in vintage French chandeliers priced between $400 and $500 each -- a fraction of what comparable fixtures command at retail -- along with original artwork from mid-century France. One shopper found a signed 1945 French oil painting that she called one of her greatest Round Top finds ever.

"I will say I do regret not buying this gorgeous French chandelier from XS2," that same shopper later admitted. Take that as a warning: when you see something you love at Pascal Jones, do not assume it will be there when you come back after lunch.

What to Expect on Prices

Excess occupies a sweet spot in the Round Top pricing spectrum. It is not the cheapest option -- the open-air fields scattered along the highway will always have the lowest prices for the most adventurous diggers. But it is meaningfully less expensive than the curated venues, and the quality of inventory is often comparable or identical, since many of those curated venues are literally restocking from Excess vendors.

Here is a rough sense of the range:

French chandeliers: $400 to $500 each at Pascal Jones
Vintage Turkish pots: $100 to $300 (comparable pieces retail online for $400 to $600)
Breadboards: $50 to $150 depending on size and patina
Woven light shades: $75 to $200
Marble cheese plates and wooden bowls: $20 to $80
High-end statement pieces: Willy Gold chairs were spotted at $13,500 -- proof that Excess is not exclusively budget territory

Haggling is expected and welcomed. One veteran shopper captured a typical exchange on camera: "25, only 20. Okay, 13." That kind of back-and-forth is the norm, especially if you are buying multiple pieces from a single vendor. Cash and checks will often get you a better deal, since vendors avoid the 3 percent credit card processing fee.

Pro tip: if you are buying in volume, lay everything out and negotiate as a bundle. Vendors would rather move inventory than pack it back into a shipping container.

How Excess Compares to Other Round Top Venues

Understanding where Excess fits in the broader Round Top ecosystem will help you plan your time efficiently.

Excess vs. Marburger Farm

Marburger Farm is the flagship venue -- the one with the celebrity helicopters landing in the back field. It is beautifully curated, heavily styled, and priced accordingly. A table that goes for $1,900 in the Warrenton fields was documented selling for $4,000 at Marburger just days later. Excess gives you access to similar goods at the lower end of that spectrum.

Excess vs. Blue Hills

Blue Hills is another curated favorite with a strong European dealer presence. The shopping experience is more polished than Excess, with styled vignettes and easier navigation. But prices reflect that curation. If you love the European aesthetic at Blue Hills, XS2 will feel like its scrappier, more affordable sibling.

Excess vs. The Fields

The open fields along the highway are the true bargain-basement option -- tents, tarps, and tables stretching across acres of grass. Prices are rock-bottom, but so is the level of organization. Excess offers a middle ground: better infrastructure and a more focused vendor selection than the fields, with prices that are still well below the curated venues.

Excess vs. Market Hill

Market Hill is the most high-end stop on the route. As multiple shoppers have noted, some Market Hill dealers source their inventory from Excess and field vendors, then resell at a significant markup. Shopping Excess first means you are buying before that markup gets applied.

Tips for Shopping Excess Like a Pro

Arrive early. Vendors are setting up and selling well before the official show dates at Marburger, and the best pieces at Excess move fast. Serious designers show up in the first days of the season to get first pick.

Wear sturdy shoes. You are walking on gravel, concrete, and sometimes mud. Leave the Chanel loafers for Marburger.

Bring a trailer or plan for shipping. As one seasoned Round Top shopper put it, essential tip number one is to "bring a U-Haul or a trailer or a box truck." There are shippers on-site at some venues, but having your own hauling capacity means you can act fast when you find something.

Work both sides of the street. XS1 and XS2 have different vendor rosters and different personalities. Do not assume that seeing one means you have seen the other. Cross the street and do a full loop on both sides.

Eat at XS1. The food vendor in the back left corner of XS1 serves beer and wine along with solid lunch fare. It is a convenient refueling point that keeps you from losing shopping time driving to a restaurant.

Use the Round Top Finder app to track vendors. Vendor locations can shift between seasons. The app lets you search for specific dealers, check which venues they are set up at, and browse the interactive map so you are not wandering blind.

Bring cash. Many vendors offer better prices for cash transactions since they avoid credit card fees. Some smaller dealers may not accept cards at all.

Getting There and Practical Details

Address: 3907 TX-237, Warrenton, TX (XS1 and XS2 sit on opposite sides of the highway)

Admission: Free

Parking: Free

Hours: Open during Round Top Antiques Week; closes daily at 5 PM

Vendors: 50+ across both locations

Food: Food vendor at XS1 (back left corner) with beer and wine

Restrooms: Porta-potties on-site

From Austin, take US-290 East toward Brenham, then turn south on TX-237. Excess is on your right as you enter Warrenton, before you reach the town of Round Top itself. If you are coming from Houston, take US-290 West to TX-237 South. You can see the exact location and plan your route on the Round Top Finder map.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an admission fee for Excess 1 and Excess 2?

No. Both XS1 and XS2 are completely free to enter, and parking is also free. This is one of the reasons they are so popular with budget-conscious shoppers and dealers who want to maximize their buying power.

What time does Excess close?

Both locations close at 5 PM during show season. Arrive in the morning for the best selection -- serious buyers and designers start shopping as soon as vendors roll up their doors.

What is the difference between XS1 and XS2?

They sit directly across Texas 237 from each other and share a similar storage-unit format, but the vendor mix differs. XS2 tends to have a stronger concentration of Italian and French vendors, making it a favorite for shoppers drawn to European antiques. XS1 has a food vendor in the back left corner and a broader mix of American and international dealers.

Are prices negotiable at Excess?

Yes. Haggling is expected and vendors are generally open to it, especially for cash purchases or when you are buying multiple items. Bundling your finds from a single vendor and negotiating a package price is a common and effective strategy.

Is Excess good for first-time Round Top visitors?

Absolutely. The free admission and parking remove any financial barrier to entry, and the storage-unit layout is more manageable than sprawling field venues. That said, the experience is less curated than places like Marburger or Blue Hills -- you need to be willing to dig through inventory to find the gems. For many shoppers, that is exactly what makes it fun.

When is the best time to visit Excess during the show?

Early in the season gives you first pick of inventory before pieces get snapped up by dealers and designers. Later in the season, vendors are more motivated to negotiate because they would rather sell than re-pack. Both strategies have merit -- it depends on whether you prioritize selection or price.

Can I ship purchases home from Excess?

There are shipping services available during Round Top Antiques Week, though not all are located directly at Excess. Many shoppers bring their own trailers or rent U-Hauls. Check with vendors about their specific shipping arrangements, or use the Round Top Finder app to locate nearby shippers.

Is Excess open year-round?

No. Excess 1 and Excess 2 operate during the Round Top Antiques Show seasons, which typically run in late January, late March through early April, and late September through early October. Check the Round Top Finder show calendar for exact dates each season.

Ready to plan your Excess shopping strategy? Use Round Top Finder to browse vendors at Excess 2 and dozens of other venues, explore the interactive map, and build a custom itinerary so you never miss your must-see stops. Your treasure chest is waiting.

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