Forgot someone? Antique malls and stores are there to save desperate last-minute shoppers.

The good cheer of Christmas turns into horror the moment you spot that gift from Aunt Helen or your cousin John, newly placed under the tree. You overlooked them when making out the holiday gift list, and now the clock is ticking – fast.

There is good reason for trepidation. A present purchased at the last minute often appears the part. A touristy T-shirt or a – gulp – Walmart gift card reveals just how little thought you put into the giving spirit.

Yet there is an easy way to save yourself from such peril.

Hitting an antique store for last-minute gifting needs offers two benefits. First, the item is bound to be unique and unexpected. More importantly, get the choice right and Aunt Helen or cousin John will believe you spent weeks considering their interests.

“That’s exactly right,” says Fran Hinckley, general manager of Cannery Row Antique Mall and its 21,000 square feet of vintage clothing, vinyl records, decorative mugs and more. She notes that many people are in on the last-minute virtues of antiques, as the number of shoppers picks up dramatically toward Christmas.

“There were people in here this morning,” observes Kristin Blackwood, owner of The Grove Emporium in Pacific Grove. “It gets real crazy.”

Despite the last-minute desperation, Blackwood suggests you come to the antique mall or shop with a few ideas of gift themes. “Come in and ask – we can guide you to something fun,” she says. “If you can tell us about the person, we can give you tons of ideas.”

One approach is to consider whether you want to give a practical gift, a decorative gift or one that has sentimental appeal. Both Hinckley and Blackwood suggest that the latter approach is certain to brighten Christmas morning.

Blackwood observes people searching for magazines dated to the year, month or even day of someone’s birth. But there are also books, jewelry, toys, tea sets or whatever suits a person.

“If you’re buying for a Boomer, you could get a rock ‘n’ roll T-shirt,” Hinckley says.

Options are not limited to antique malls, of course. But the format provides great range.

Although smaller than Cannery Row Antique Mall, The Grove Emporium still offers 25 dealers spread out over 8,000 square feet.

“You can always find something,” Blackwood says. “It’s better than a gift card.”