TGIF everyone right?
How about some more trip shop talk
Get your carts ready.
I'm chatty again today.
From Ohio where we left you last Trevor and I headed to Nashville, TN. I have wanted to discover that town for awhile and let me tell you it was completely NOT what we were expecting. I guess I had a Toronto/Las Vegas thing in my head and it is not like that. It is a very low key place seeming to grow into its name. There are a lot of areas being rebuilt and up and coming. We found the people to be extremely friendly if not a little bit secretive about their town. Every time we asked what there was to do, where should we go etc… we were basically given the run around lol.
The response was always along the lines of there is lots to do but you kind of have to discover it. No kidding it took a day just to find the downtown. I was armed with my tour nashville pinterest posts, the around nashville on design sponge but being Canadian can only check those on my cell phone sparingly without wifi as data is $$$ for cross border plans in the states.
We did not find antiquing in the entire state of Tennesse to be worthwhile for us. Don't get me wrong lots of places to shop, lots of wonderfully merchandised stores just 4 times the price of home. We came home from the entire state of Tennesse with a rooster whirligig and a pair of baby shoes. Not good for loading the truck.
We spent almost an entire day touring around Franklin, TN which is a small tourist town just 25 minutes from Nashville and ate the most delightful sandwich I have ever eaten at Puckett's Grocery. Had I not been so busy stuffing my face, I may have gotten a photo of the inside of this place. It really is a grocery store as well with mismatched tables and chairs and charm. WE loved it. Fried eggs on sandwiches is brilliant!
Sadly one of the stores I wanted to go to The Iron Gate was closed as it was Sunday but thats a chance you take when road tripping.
We did get to go to Scarlett Scales antiques. I have seen their booth many times at the Country Living fairs so was excited to see the physical store. it was gorgeous, well done, reasonably priced with the perfect blend of antique, vintage and new decor.
We hit up a lot of other antique stores/malls as well but none we were particularly jazzed about some down right disappointing but again new area and we were just happy having a good time.
After walking around aimlessly, buying Franklin a toy in Franklin we aptly named Norbert the elephant and eating some frozen yogurt, we scooted down the road to Leiper's Fork which is the town you read about in all the country living/flea market magazines. The few stores there again drop dead gorgeous especially Serenite Maison.
I took a few photos with my phone that don't truly do it justice but you get the idea.
Drop dead gorgeous but again eichy mama on the prices. I did see some of the long coveted ironstone pedestals that are impossible to find but alas at 300 buck a pop they will remain in Tennesse.
We spent the next night hanging out in Nashville, bar hopping and eating together. We had a great night and listened to some great music. We generally skip the karaoke bars as that is neither of our thing but you can definitely see the music draw in the old and new bars down there.
What trip to Nashville for an antique hound would be complete without a stop into the new American Pickers facility. No they weren't there but all their stuff was. It was great to see some of the stuff from the show in place. A lot of Mike's personal collection is on display and the history of the warehouse that they are in is awesome.
I think a lot of people are expecting it to be more of an antique store they can shop in but what you see on tv is not a lie. The items are very one of a kind, command those prices but if there is something unique you are looking for they may just have it.
We personally helped the merchandising department with a few shirts and stickers. I was satisfied.
Next stop North Carolina!
We returned to a town we drove through on our last road trip and decided to spend a bit more time there this visit. Have you ever been to Asheville. Next to Boston it is my favourite town so far. It had the perfect blend of big and small town, foodie and vintage with enough to do for everyone. Lunch idea, The Local Taco. Delicious!
We hit some of the same antique places we had been to last time and a few new ones. Again this area is quite secretive so you really need to lean on people to get information about other shops. We were in one antique mall asking if there are any others and they asked us about antique row, yes we've been there, well there isn't really anywhere else.
5 minutes down the road there were 3 more places equally as large.
Coming from an area that promotes each other faithfully in the antique business I found the secrecy odd. Around Niagara all the shops carry each others information, send you down the road, they want to keep you around. In the south everyone seems to want you to figure it out yourself even if a few places go out of business along the way.
You really need shoppers determination.
I took some photos in this antique mall/store as it turned out to be pretty great. We were unsure of what to expect as from the outside it looked like an old elementary school but inside it was all vintage goodness.
there was something about this sculpture. although yes creepy, look how nice the birds look on top. eating the baby's brain yes but still it had something about it.
the traditional shop cat on his throne. cute by day yes, hunter by night.
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Now we did do a bit more in Asheville and I also had my first experience with FATZ restaurant dinner rolls. You need to keep those things down there as I might gain 100 lbs if they come any closer. But since the next post has not much to do with shopping I thought I would share what came home with us.
Keep in mind if you are emailing me because you love something and must have it, all of this stock saw the show recently so much of it is gone but, you can always ask.
Well if you made it to the end, congratulations because that was a long one.
Have a great weekend everyone.
The Biltmore Estate is up next
Meg
