Recently, a group of guests stayed with us at the Inn and spent their time in our area seeking out and exploring fun stores that carry unique, rare or one-of-a-kind goods and furniture. This inspired us to sum up some of our favorite places to shop since we, as Innkeepers, are also always on the hunt for great, high-quality items that fit with our luxurious 1902 home. Read on for our guided tour of some of the most enjoyable shops in Waynesville and Maggie Valley to browse and explore (and a potential itinerary for a great day or weekend of treasure hunting!).
When it comes to unique places to shop in Western North Carolina, Haywood County has an abundance of options for our guests. Our area is known for the high quality of our artisans, craftspeople, makers and collectors of all kinds plus eclectic and unique small businesses. We’ve picked out some of our favorite stores for you to explore, some of which are off the beaten path but worth the trip!
Starting closest to the Inn, we have three different shops, two on Main Street and one in Hazelwood. On North Main Street heading towards West Waynesville, you’ll find Antique Antics. This small shop is chock full of jewelry, handmade quilts, silver and many more items. They have several cases throughout the shop that make you feel like you’re wandering through a museum. If you love Bakelite items, this store is one that you must check out!
Closer to downtown on Main Street, you have Southern Charm Vintage Market. This shop is in a historic house, once owned by the Way family, who are some of our most loyal guests that we love to host at the Inn each year on their homecoming journey. Each room is filled with something different to explore – from a Christmas themed room to a room full of quality bed linens and fabrics. They also have an extensive selection of vintage jewelry and dishes. You can locate it by the whimsical garden out front, filled with sculptures made from old tea sets.
In Hazelwood, less than a mile from the Inn, one of our favorite hidden gems is Within Reach Resale Shop. This store with its distinctive purple sign and fun purple shopping bags has a lot of different items inside. Brenda especially loves looking in the dishware and home décor section for items for the Inn. They have an extensive selection of China dishes, including almost full sets for a reasonable price. One of Brenda’s favorite finds was a 6-glass set of small crystal glasses, perfect for an afternoon drink of lemonade or limoncello on the porch!
Working further away from the Inn, you will find Cornerstone Mercantile on Commerce Street, right on the edge of the Frog Level Historic District. The hard to miss blue building houses an eclectic selection of finds and treasures. You can spend a decent amount of time wandering through the building, hunting down one-of-a-kind items. If you’re hunting for cast iron cookware, their selection is considerable!
Further down Main Street, past downtown, you can discover Del-Ray’s Consignment (located next to Waynesville Soda Jerks which has a fabulous gift shop too!). This store has a large furniture selection, ranging from antique to mid-century modern to contemporary pieces. They also have a selection of dishes and framed pictures, along with other décor, that are an excellent addition to anyone’s collection. If we had a place for it, we would have purchased the green velvet mid-century sofa and ottoman we saw on our last visit there!
If you venture into Maggie Valley (just 10 minutes from the Inn), you will find a few great options amongst this town’s unique array of stores. Closest to the Inn is Anne’s Attic on Dellwood Road. This consignment shop, run by the same owners as High Country Furniture, is primarily high-end furniture and decorative items.
Another unique shop in Maggie Valley is Seven Silver Seas. This is not a consignment shop, but it does have an amazing selection of jewelry, among other things. You can’t miss the purple store on Dellwood Road, and the inside is just as colorful as the outside. The collection of silver and natural stone jewelry is extensive; it’s definitely not hard to find a treasure to take home!
Heading away from the Inn toward the west, you will find the last two stores that we recommend. First up is the Balsam Antique Mall. Located just past the rest area on 23/74, this location has a similar setup to Cornerstone Mercantile. There are many booths filled with an amazing number of hidden treasures, along with larger furniture items and high-end jewelry booths near the front.
If you continue through the parking lot of the Balsam Antique Mall and up the hill, you will arrive at Scallywag’s Consignment. One of our favorites, this store holds a collection of high-end consignment pieces, from furniture to electronics to décor. Brenda has even found some Depression glass hiding among the treasures there! And on your way back, as a reward for a great day of shopping, grab a treat like apple turnovers or apple cider donuts at the bakery at Barber Orchards Fruit Stand (just across the highway from Scallywags). This area of town is known as Saunook and is quite scenic set just below the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounded by farms and apple orchards.
As you can see, there are many places in Haywood County to explore when you are looking for something unique that no one else has. We love poking through all these shops, discovering the next perfect addition to the Inn! And it’s a great way to spend a day or a weekend in any weather in our wonderful mountain town.
For more info on our great shopping scene here in Waynesville, check out our guide to our fabulous Main Street and the shopping page at VisitNCSmokies.com!
Your Innkeepers,
–Brend and Peter
