Shopping. It's a favorite pastime for some, a dreaded inconvenience for others. But whether you view it as a fun activity or a necessary evil, Nashville has the stores that will make your shopping experiences pleasant. From antiques to cowboy boots, and toys to Italian-made suits, Nashville has it all. There are so many shopping districts in and around Nashville that it could take years to discover them all. Major malls are in just about any direction, and you can't go wrong shopping at any of these. Shopping meccas like Rivergate, Cool Springs, and Hickory Hollow are always jam-packed and offer almost any merchandise you want. There are also many neighborhood-type shopping districts, such as Hillsboro Village, Berry Hill, Nolensville Road, and Eighth Avenue S., that make shopping super convenient. You'll often find some interesting stores and merchandise in these areas. Nashville is a top tourist destination, and naturally we also have tons of country music souvenirs. You'll find most of those in shops and attractions on or near Second Avenue and in the Opryland/Music Valley area. We list some of those shops along with record stores in our Music City chapter. For information on even more shopping opportunities, see our Entertainment, Attractions, and Annual Events chapters.
We have arranged this chapter by category of goods and have added a section on unique malls. This is definitely not a comprehensive list of stores and shops in Nashville, just a guide to some of the local hot spots and favorites.
THE FACTORY AT FRANKLIN, 230 Franklin Rd., Franklin, TN 37064; (615) 791-1777; factoryatfranklin.com. The Factory at Franklin is one of the area's more creative shopping malls. Housed in a renovated 1929 stove factory 6 blocks from historic downtown Franklin, the mall offers an interesting assortment of antiques stores, art galleries, gift shops, and restaurants. You can paint your own piece of pottery at Third Coast Clay, adopt a pet at Happy Tails Humane, or watch an artist at work and buy a work of art. The Factory is also the site of special events and concerts.
THE NASHVILLE ARCADE, between Fourth Avenue N. and Fifth Avenue N., and Union and Church Streets, Nashville, TN 37219; (615) 255-1034. The Arcade is one of Music City's unique shopping areas. This 2-level, glass-covered mall opened in 1903 and was modeled after a mall in Milan, Italy, and others in northern US cities. It is one of only four such structures left in the United States. Today the narrow, block-long mall stays busy with downtown workers and visitors who stop in for a cup of coffee or a quick bite to eat. A fixture at the Arcade is the Peanut Shop, which has been filling the air with the aroma of its freshly roasted nuts since 1927. Other stores include Percy's Shoe Shine, the Arcade Smoke Shop, Arcade Fruit Stand, It's a Piece of Cake Bakery, Jimbo's (“world class hot dogs and taters”), and other restaurants.
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Don't go into Robert's Western World on Broadway looking for Western wear. Although they do sell boots, this place is really a bar. It's where the band BR549 got its start.
OPRY MILLS, 433 Opry Mills Dr., Nashville, TN 37214; (615) 514-1100; simon.com/mall/opry-mills. Opry Mills opened in May 2000 at the site of the former Opryland theme park. Located between Two Rivers Parkway and McGavock Pike, the center is about 7 miles northeast of downtown. Although many people mourned the loss of Opryland theme park, Opry Mills and its 200 or so stores turned out to be a big success. Owned by Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group, Opry Mills offers anchor tenants Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Banana Republic Factory Store, Under Armour, American Eagle Outfitters, Chico's, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Clarks, and Gap Outlet. For entertainment, options include Regal Cinemas multiplex. More than a dozen restaurants and specialty food stories include the Rainforest Cafe and Johnny Rockets.
KATY K'S RANCH DRESSING, 2407 12th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37204; (615) 297-4242; katyk. com. We love the name of this Western-wear store: Ranch Dressing. Get it? This store is packed with all sorts of interesting clothing, shoes, and accessories. Whether you're looking for a neat $25 shirt or an original Nudies of Hollywood creation for $2,000, you'll have lots to choose from. Ranch Dressing also carries all sorts of kitschy gift items and accessories. Since it opened in 1994, the store has developed a following among music video stylists, recording artists, musicians, and others who want to look like a star.
MANUEL, 800 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 321-5444; manuelcouture.com. Manuel is best known for the flashy rhinestone garb worn by some country music performers, but the store also designs high-quality one-of-a-kind pieces for businesspeople worldwide. Originally founded in Los Angeles in 1972, Manuel today is based in Nashville. Most of the store's business is custom costumes for performers, among them Dwight Yoakam, Brooks & Dunn, Bob Dylan, and Aerosmith's Joe Perry. The prices are steep—a custom coat starts at around $1,250, and shirts start at around $450—but browsing is free. The store welcomes the curious to come in and check out the showroom.
TRAIL WEST, 1183 W. Main St., Hendersonville, TN 37075; (615) 264-2955. Hendersonville-based Trail West has three Western-wear stores in the Nashville area selling clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. The spacious stores are stocked with such brands as Resistol, Stetson, Boulet, Charlie 1 Horse, Corral Boot, and Hat ‘n Hand. Other Nashville locations are at 2416 Music Valley Dr. (615-883-5933) and 219 Broadway (615-255-7030).
… for Women
COCO, 4239 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205; coconashville. com. A favorite of mostly upscale baby boomers, this women's specialty store in Belle Meade has an extensive collection of designer clothing for all occasions. Styles range from sophisticated chic to career classics and contemporary cutting-edge, and labels include Lauren, Chris Blue, Rebecca Taylor, Lafayette 148, and Velvet. Coco also sells cosmetics and gift items.
THE FRENCH SHOPPE, 2817 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 327-8132; frenchshoppe.com. Known for its selection of good-quality career wear, casual weekend clothes at affordable prices, and helpful staff, the French Shoppe has been outfitting fashion-minded Middle Tennessee women since 1968, when the store first opened in Murfreesboro. The family-owned business moved to Nashville in 1978. Merchandise varies somewhat by store. The Hendersonville store is located at 300 Indian Lake Rd., #120 (615-824-9244). The Belle Meade store is at 6049 Hwy 100 (615-352-9296).
JAMIE INC., 4317 Harding Rd., Belle Meade, TN 37205; (615) 292-4188; jamie-nashville.com. This Belle Meade boutique carries such top designers as Carolina Herrera, Dolce & Gabanna, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren, and Oscar de la Renta. A contemporary department in the back caters to the young and fashionable. Jamie also has Fine Jewelry at Jamie, which offers creations by well-known national and international jewelry artists, and a cosmetics department that specializes in several high-end brands.
OFF BROADWAY SHOE WAREHOUSE, 118 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 254-6242; offbroadwayshoes.com. Shoes! With 35,000 to 45,000 pairs of designer shoes in what seems like acres of space, Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse is shoe heaven. This shoe-store chain originated in Nashville around 1990. The first location, just off Broadway, near Music Row, was a huge success, which resulted in stores opening nationwide. The Atlanta-based operator now has about 30 stores around the country. Each store has the latest trendy styles as well as the classics—from penny loafers and must-have sandals to hiking boots and towering stiletto heels—at substantial savings. Women's sizes range from 5 to 12; there are lots of narrows and a few wide widths, too. With prices generally 25 to 50 percent less than at most retail stores, it's hard to leave here with only one box. Off Broadway has additional locations in Opry Mills (357 Opry Mills Dr., 615-800-4783), Murfreesboro (2615 Medical Center Pkwy. Ste. 600, 615-494-5048), and Franklin (545 Cool Springs Blvd., 615-778-1331).
… for Men
LEVY'S, 3900 Hillsboro Pike #36, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 383-2800; levysclothes.com. Levy's has been dressing Nashville men since 1855 and is one of the few remaining individually owned clothing stores in the area. This family-owned store is in the Hillsboro Plaza shopping center in Green Hills. Upscale men's business clothing and sportswear are the specialty, although Levy's added women's business and casual clothing recently. Levy's lines include Hart Schaffner & Marx, Hickey Freeman, Brioni, Canali, and Ermenegildo Zegna. The store also carries some of the finest leather in town, including the Bruno Magli label. Many of Levy's knowledgeable sales employees have been with the store for decades, and they'll help you put together all the right pieces, whether you're looking for dressy casual wear for “casual Fridays” or a high power suit fit for the corner office.
OFF BROADWAY SHOE WAREHOUSE, 118 16th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 254-6242; offbroadwayshoes.com. Although these enormous stores devote most of their space to women's shoes, each has a good selection of men's footwear, too. This is a great place for shoes—you can expect to pay 25 to 50 percent less than you would at department stores. Additional Nashville-area locations are in Opry Mills (357 Opry Mills Dr., 615-800-4783) and Franklin (545 Cool Springs Blvd., 615-778-1331).
THE OXFORD SHOP, 3830 Bedford Ave., Nashville, TN 37213; (615) 383-4442; theoxfordshop.com. The Oxford Shop carries high-end suits and casual wear for men, including such lines as Samuelsohn, Southwick, Corbin, Robert Talbott, Bills Khakis, and Barbour. The locally owned store, in business since 1961, also offers expert tailoring and alterations.
There are numerous antiques malls and shops in and around Nashville. Nashville's Eighth Avenue S., Franklin, Goodlettsville, and Lebanon are some of the best-known antiques hot spots, but you can find shops almost anywhere. Take a drive out in the country and you're bound to come across several charming little stores filled with all sorts of furniture and collectibles from years gone by. We've highlighted a few locations, enough to keep weekend treasure seekers busy. FYI: An antique, in the strictest sense, is something more than 100 years old, while a collectible is usually at least 20 years old but may be older. But keep in mind that the definition of antique can vary around Middle Tennessee. For example, this Insiders’ Guide to Nashville author usually uses the term to refer to the kinds of relics she finds in her grandparents’ attic or chicken coop, but some Nashvillians tend to reserve the term for items like those lovely 250-year-old dressers that fetch upward of $10,000 at some of the area's finer antiques stores.
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A $2.48 yellowed rolled-up document at Music City Thrift Shop turned out to be a rare bargain. The document was an official copy of the Declaration of Independence, one of 200 commissioned by John Quincy Adams and printed in 1823. It sold at a 2007 auction for $477,650.
Nashville's Eighth Avenue S. District
DEALER'S CHOICE ANTIQUES AND AUCTION, 2109 Eighth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37204. Antiques auctions take place here the first Saturday of every month and draw about 150 dealers and individual antiquers. Dealer's Choice also sells off the floor, but you might want to call before visiting because operating hours vary. You'll find everything from decorator items to fine furnishings here, including Victorian, French, country, and mahogany furniture.
DOWNTOWN ANTIQUE MALL, 612 Eighth Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 256-6616. Housed in a creaky old historic warehouse beside the railroad tracks, this 13,000-square-foot antiques mall is a fun place to get lost on a rainy afternoon. You never know what you'll find—or should we say excavate—here. The mall's aisles are piled high with all sorts of neat stuff, including furniture from the 1800s to 1950s, collectibles, and textiles. Best of all, most of the antiques here are of the very affordable variety.
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In 1950 Aladdin Industries of Nashville fancied up its plain steel lunch boxes and thermos bottles with Hopalong Cassidy decals. Sales jumped from 50,000 to 600,000 lunch kits the first year. The lunch boxes are now collector's items.
TENNESSEE ANTIQUE MALL, 654 Wedgewood Ave., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 259-4077. Furniture, glassware, paintings and prints, mirrors, jewelry, and all sorts of treasures in about 150 booths are tucked into this 25,000-square-foot mall.
Also in Nashville
ANTIQUE ARCHAEOLOGY NASHVILLE, 1300 Clinton St., #130, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 810-9906; antiquearchaeology.com. How appropriate. The host of the History Channel's popular American Pickers, Mike Wolfe, has a store in Music City, home of the original pickers. Of course, this antique-type shop deals with two guys who travel all over the United States finding treasures in other people's trash—not the musical kind of pickers for which Nashville is famous. Opened in 2011 in an old car factory, Antique Archaeology features antiques, folk art, vintage items, and Antique Archaeology merchandise. Wolfe is happy to share the tale of each antique, part of the pleasure he enjoys in finding little gems.
GARDEN PARK ANTIQUES, 7121 Cockrill Bend Blvd., Nashville, TN 37209; (615) 350-6655; gardenpark.com. If you like using architectural elements as furnishings, you'll want to visit this store, which specializes in antique ironwork—fences, gates, window panels, urns, fountains, and statuary from around the world. In addition to individual elements, the store carries one-of-a-kind tables, headboards, and other items of furniture that incorporate salvaged ironwork or other old architectural pieces.
PEMBROKE ANTIQUES, 6610 Hwy. 100, Nashville, TN 37205; (615) 353-0889. The fact that Pembroke Antiques is located near Belle Meade should give you a clue that this isn't your junk-store-variety antiques store On the other hand, if you're on a budget, don't be put off by the location: Pembroke's prices are actually quite reasonable. The store specializes in quality English and French furniture that has “a sophisticated look but a warm country feel.” It's a favorite among local interior designers. This is a good place to find majolica pottery, decorative garden items, and silver. If you're looking for a unique and tasteful item for a wedding or housewarming gift, Pembroke will have it.
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Grand Ole Opry star Joe Diffie once worked on an oil rig, in an iron foundry, and in Gibson Guitar's Nashville warehouse.
POLK PLACE ANTIQUES, 5701 Old Harding Pike #100, Nashville, TN 37205; (615) 353-1324. Polk Place specializes in items from the American Federal period (1790–1840) and Southern furniture. The store also offers a selection of porcelains, coin silver, copper, pewter, brass, oil paintings, and custom-made lamps.
Franklin
There are two concentrated areas of shops and several others scattered about in Franklin. One concentration is on and near Second Avenue while the other is on Bridge Street, which runs parallel to Main Street.
ANTIQUES AT THE FACTORY, 230 Franklin Rd., Building 3, Franklin, TN 37064; (615) 591-4612; antiquesatthefactoryfranklin.com. The 15,000-square-foot Antiques at the Factory is the largest retail store at the Factory at Franklin shopping mall (see our Notable Malls section in this chapter for more about the Factory). This store carries practically everything—from roadside castoffs to vintage $20,000 crystal chandeliers. Furniture styles range from French to shabby chic. There is a good collection of antique silver here, as well as old sports memorabilia, rugs, glassware, vintage jewelry, candles, and gift items.
COUNTRY CHARM ANTIQUE MALL, 301 Lewisburg Pike, Franklin, TN 37064; (615) 790-8908; countrycharmmall. com. You'll love browsing through this mall's hodgepodge of antiques and collectibles—lots of furniture, glassware, primitives, and garden items such as benches, obelisks, and other decorative pieces. The mall is about 5 blocks from Main Street in Franklin.
FRANKLIN ANTIQUE MALL, 251 Second Ave. S., Franklin, TN 37064; (615) 790-8593. If you're planning to go antiquing in Franklin, you'll want to be sure to put the Franklin Antique Mall on your list of stops. In fact, go ahead and put it at the top of your list, and allow plenty of time for browsing here. Housed in the historic handmade brick icehouse building, Franklin Antique Mall has 60 booths. There is a good selection of furniture and glassware, lamp parts, and glass replacement shades, as well as collectible magazines and prints. The furniture selection ranges from rustic to fine quality, and we usually find that the prices are very reasonable.
WINCHESTER ANTIQUE MALL, 113 Bridge St., Franklin, TN 37064; (615) 791-5846. There are about 25 booths in this cozy, 2-story cottage located near Franklin's town square. They're filled with reasonably priced American and English furniture, fine porcelain, sterling, linens, and books. This store is a local favorite.
Goodlettsville
Goodlettsville's antiques district stretches along the historic Main Street. To get there, take I-65 North to exit 97 and go west to Dickerson Pike. Note: In Goodlettsville, Dickerson Pike, Main Street, and US 41 are the same road.
ANTIQUE CORNER MALL, 128 N. Main St., Goodlettsville, TN 37072; (615) 859-7673. Antique Corner Mall has a little bit of everything, including affordable antique furniture, collectibles, costume jewelry, glassware, lamps, and antique toys.
GOODLETTSVILLE ANTIQUE MALL—ANOTHER ERA, 213 N. Main St., Goodlettsville, TN 37072; (615) 859-7002; goodlettsvilleantiquemall.com. You can spend hours treasure hunting in this enormous mall. With 20,000 square feet of space and more than 100 booths, the mall is stocked full of furniture, glassware, collectibles, quilts, clocks, and toys.
RARE BIRD ANTIQUE MALL, 212 S. Main St., Goodlettsville, TN 37072; (615) 851-2635. Scout for furniture, toys, gas station memorabilia, linens, and glassware in more than 50 booths here.
AMBERLEAF MARKETPLACE/FRANKLIN'S MERCANTILE & WINE, 108/112 Public Square, Gallatin, TN 37066; (615) 424-6636; amberleafmarketplace.com. This lovely 2-story venue features 44 artists and artisans under one roof—and a cafe, too. Artists’ creations are nicely displayed in little shops. The Marketplace also offers art classes, movie nights, book club, and live music every Fri and Sat from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Franklin's is a recent expansion to the Marketplace that features spices, teas, wines, flowers, finger foods, and much more. Franklin's has a grand piano and offers jazz music in the evenings and sitting areas to relax and read.
TENNESSEE STATE FAIRGROUNDS FLEA MARKET, Wedgewood Avenue at Rains Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 862-5016; thefairgrounds.com. Nashvillians love to shop at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds Flea Market. It's held the fourth weekend of every month from Jan through Nov and the third weekend in Dec. The flea market draws anywhere from 100,000 to 250,000 people from Nashville and neighboring states in a 2-day period. Traders, craftspeople, and antiques dealers from about 30 states exhibit antiques, crafts, and new products in more than 2,000 indoor and outdoor booths. There's something to fit every budget—from knickknacks for less than $1 to the priciest antique furniture. The flea market is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fri, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sat, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sun. Hint: Come early to avoid traffic jams. Admission is free; it costs $5 to park in the fairgrounds parking lot. A free shuttle will transport you to the top of the hill at the fairgrounds, but it's not too far to walk.
DESIGNER RENAISSANCE, 2822 Bransford Ave., Nashville, TN 37204;(615) 297-8822; designerrenaissance.com. Jodi Miller opened this women's consignment shop in 1988, operating for years in Green Hills. In 2004 she relocated to nearby Berry Hill, setting up shop in a house in the tiny satellite city's hip shopping district. Some of Music City's best-dressed women consign their clothing here. As its name suggests, Designer Renaissance carries designer clothes as well as high-end secondhand clothing. Miller also stocks accessories. Open Mon through Sat, the store closes on all major (and some minor) holidays. If this store isn't in or near your neighborhood, you might want to call before you come because it sometimes closes on special occasions. If you have items you want to consign, you'll need to make an appointment. Consignors receive 50 percent of the selling price.
FINDERS KEEPERS, 778 Rivergate Pkwy., Goodlettsville, TN 37072; (615) 851-5915; f-keepers.com. Finders Keepers is a great place for finding furniture at bargain prices. If you're downsizing or otherwise ready to unload some furniture, you can consign your used stuff here and split the proceeds 50/50 with the store. The stores are large and carry all sorts of furniture, including some brand-new merchandise. Styles range from retro to refined, and the merchandise changes constantly. On any given day you might find a nice antique dresser, an ‘80s-style black lacquer bedroom suite, a pair of front-porch rocking chairs, or a set of fur-upholstered chairs shaped like cowboy boots. The stores also carry artwork and home decor items. A second location is at 8105 Moores Ln., Brentwood (615-333-9801).
SECOND TIME AROUND, 121 Indian Lake Rd., Hendersonville, TN 37075; (615) 822-6961; seconddtimearoundbypeggy.com. The friendly staff at this store makes shopping here a pleasure. If you like, the staff will help you put together a whole look. The boutique-type store sells women's clothing, including such lines as Dana Buchman, Anne Klein, and Ellen Tracy. The store is very particular regarding the clothing it accepts, so you can count on good-quality items here. The store has a bridal room, an “after 5” room, and a good selection of well-cared-for shoes and accessories. Consignors receive 50 percent of the selling price.
PHILLIPS TOY MART, 5207 Harding Rd., Nashville, TN 37205; (615) 352-5363; phillipstoymart.com. In business for more than half a century, Phillips Toy Mart has been in the Belle Meade area for more than 40 years. An old-timey kind of toy store, Phillips sells all sorts of toys, including games for kids and adults and a large selection of imported educational toys. The store also sells a variety of collector dolls and has one of the largest model selections in the South, including tools and hobby supplies.
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Children's seasonal consignment sales are popular with bargain-hunting Nashville parents. The sales are great for stocking up on good quality, “gently used” children's clothing as well as for selling apparel that your kids have outgrown. The sales are held for a limited time—usually late winter/early spring and late summer/early fall. Watch the newspapers for details, or visit the website www.kidsconsignmentguide.com for a list of upcoming sales.
CALDWELL COLLECTION, 2205 Bandywood Dr., Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 298-5800; caldwellcollection.com. Sisters Ellen Caldwell and Cissy Caldwell Akers stock this gift shop with treasures they find on buying trips to the Tuscany region of Italy as well as to France and other places in Europe. Located behind Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills, the casual store is best known for its beautiful Italian pottery. The eclectic collection also includes pretty glassware; leather journals; tole; marble fruits; pillows from Florence, Italy; nice Italian artwork; picture frames; linens; collectible memory boxes; and ironware.
MARKET STREET MERCANTILE, 111 Second Ave. N, Nashville, TN 37201; (615) 228-5336; marketmercantile.com. Market Street Mercantile is the general store for collectors—of Jack Daniel's, John Deere, I Love Lucy, and Elvis paraphernalia. The shop also carries Nashville souvenirs and a multitude of other items. Open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
PANGAEA, 1721 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212; (615) 269-9665; pangaeanashville.com. This Hillsboro Village boutique has lots of funky and fun clothing and home decor items. Mexican folk art is the main feel, and there is a lot of primitive- or antique-style, natural fiber clothing from Mexico and India, as well as unique and interesting tabletop items. The store has a good selection of candles and candleholders, as well as Mexican mirrors, jewelry, books, and Day of the Dead objects.
BATES NURSERY & GARDEN CENTER, 3810 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, TN 37207; (615) 876-1014; batesnursery. com. Bates is one of Nashville's favorite garden centers. It has been in business since 1932. It began during the Great Depression, when Bessie Bates, grandmother of the current owner, David Bates, started selling flowers and shrubs from her backyard greenhouse on Charlotte Pike. The store offers free landscaping design services (call for an appointment) and, for a fee, will come to your home and design a more detailed plan for you. Bates has a great website. You can log on and search for plants by category, see if they're currently in stock, check the prices, and get detailed instructions on how to care for them.
We like the fact that most of Bates's plants come with a 1-year warranty Combine that with their competitive prices, and it's no wonder that Nashvillians have been shopping here for more than three quarters of a century.
GRASSLAND AQUATICS, 2164 Hillsboro Rd., Franklin, TN 37069; (615) 790-0776; grasslandaquatics.com. If you're one of the many Nashvillians with garden ponds—or if you're planning to add one to your yard—you'll want to pay a visit to this huge aquatic nursery and garden supply center. They sell all sorts of floating and underwater plants, as well as materials for building and maintaining ponds, water treatment supplies, and more. In addition to plants, they have a variety of decorative fish, including imported Japanese koi and fancy goldfish, which they will ship anywhere in the United States. The store conducts classes on a variety of pond-related topics.
LITTLE MARROWBONE FARM, 1560 Little Marrowbone Rd., Ashland City, TN 37015; (615) 792-7255; littlemarrowbone.com. Bill and Andrea Henry's little off-the-beaten-path growing nursery has developed a loyal clientele since opening back in the mid-'80s. They specialize in unique varieties of plants, including herbs, hostas, perennials, conifers, hellebores, and—our favorite—adorable tabletop topiaries made from pesticide-free herbs and shrubs. The farm—it's nothin’ fancy—is about 25 miles northwest of Nashville, off Highway 12 N. Little Marrowbone Farm is generally open daily, but it's a good idea to call before visiting, as hours vary.
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Nashville's many crafts fairs offer a variety of creative items that make wonderful gifts. See our Annual Events chapter for more information on these events.
MOORE & MOORE WEST GARDEN CENTER, 8216 Hwy. 100, Nashville, TN 37221; (615) 662-8849; mooreandmoore.com. Moore & Moore has been voted Nashville's best garden center by readers of the Nashville Scene on more than one occasion. In business since 1980, this friendly, full-service garden store specializes in native plants from trees and shrubs to woodland wildflowers. If you don't know what to plant or don't know how to plant it, you're in luck because the store offers landscaping and design services. The store also has one of the best selections of bulbs around. The knowledgeable staff is always a good source of free, friendly advice on any gardening topic, from soil science to the latest trends in gardening.
ALKEBU-LAN IMAGES, 2721 Jefferson St., Nashville, TN 37208; (615) 321-4111. The small, bright yellow building at the corner of 28th Avenue N. and Jefferson Street is home to Alkebu-Lan Images, an independently owned bookstore specializing in African-American books, including fiction, nonfiction, and religious titles. The store also sells some apparel, greeting cards, and gift items such as figurines, notecards, body oils, incense, jewelry, and imported African carvings. Many of the store's products are educationally focused. The store is open daily. Incidentally, translated from Moorish-Arabic, the name Alkebu-Lan means “land of the blacks.”
LOGOS BOOKSTORE, 4012 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215; (615) 297-5388; logosbookstores.com. This cozy and friendly Christian bookstore in Green Hills, adjacent to the Green Hills Court Shopping Center, is one of about 30 independently owned Logos stores nationwide. The store carries a variety of Bibles and religious books, including an extensive selection of Reformed theology literature. You can also find homeschooling books here. There's a good selection of CDs, greeting cards, and gift items, too. Logos also buys and sells used books and CDs. The knowledgeable staff is always happy to place special orders.
ST. MARY'S BOOKSTORE & CHURCH SUPPLIES, 1909 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 329-1835; stmarysbookstore.com. Located at 19th Avenue and West End, St. Mary's Book Store & Church Supplies has been in business since 1939. It is a full-line Christian bookstore, with Bibles, hymnals, church supplies, gifts, CDs, and cassettes.
Used Books
BOOKMAN/BOOKWOMAN USED BOOKS, 1713 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212; (615) 383-6555; bookmanbookwoman.com. This bookstore opened in fall 1995 in Hillsboro Village. Voted Best Used Bookstore several years in a row by readers of the Nashville Scene, BookMan/BookWoman has more than 100,000 books, including 10,000 first editions and many signed editions. The store has a large mystery collection as well as a good selection of science fiction, art and photography, history, general fiction/literature, and children's books. Most hardbacks are $10 and up. The store has thousands of paperbacks, each priced at about $3.95.
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The Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County is online. You can search the card catalog, renew or request books, and view your library record from the convenience of your own computer. You'll find the website at www.library.nashville.org. For general library information call (615) 862-5800.
ELDER'S BOOKSTORE, 101 White Bridge Rd., Nashville, TN 37209; (615) 352-1562; eldersbookstore.com. Elder's Bookstore is one of Nashville's oldest used- and rare-book stores. The store was founded by Charles Elder, but it is now owned and managed by his son Randy. Elder's is known for its tremendous collection of regional, Southern, and Civil War books. Tennessee-history buffs will find plenty to occupy them. Elder's also has a good collection of Native American books, rare and out-of-print books, children's books, cookbooks, art reference books, books on genealogy, late-edition encyclopedias, and more. They have done reissues of important titles through the years.
THE GREAT ESCAPE SUPERSTORE, 5400 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209; (615) 385-2116; thegreatescape.com. If you're looking for comic books, the Great Escape is the place to go. The Great Escape has more than 100,000 comics in stock, including a huge selection of back issues, and the shop receives weekly shipments of the latest books. Collectors will find collectible comics here that range in price from 50 cents to $500 or more. The Great Escape also has used paperbacks, mostly fiction, with an emphasis on pop culture. The store has a large selection of used CDs, tapes, and records, as well as videos, used video games, gaming cards, and trading cards. A second Great Escape location is at 111 North Gallatin Pike, Madison (615-865-8052).
ASPHALT BEACH IN-LINE SKATE SHOP, 961 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37206; (615) 228-1005; asphaltbeach.com. Asphalt Beach is one of the largest, most complete in-line skate shops in the United States. Skater-owned, Asphalt Beach offers sales, repair, parts, accessories, and instruction for fitness, recreation, speed, aggressive, and roller hockey.
BASS PRO SHOPS OUTDOOR WORLD, 323 Opry Mills Dr., Nashville, TN 37214; (615) 514-5200; basspro.com. This massive store has 154,000 square feet of fishing, boating, hunting, camping, and golf gear and equipment, plus outdoor apparel. From fishing licenses to boats, you should be able to find everything you need here. Even if you're not into the aforementioned activities, you'll want to check out this spectacular store next time you visit Opry Mills. There's a 25,000-gallon aquarium, waterfalls, an adventure travel agency, and a snack bar inside. Feeding of the fish in the aquarium takes place at 4 p.m. on Mon and Fri.
CUMBERLAND TRANSIT WEST, 2807 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37203; (615) 321-4069; cumberlandtransit.com. Adventure-minded outdoor types will find all sorts of clothing and equipment at Cumberland Transit. In business since 1972, the store has gear for backpacking, camping, rock climbing and rappelling, canoeing, fly-fishing, and about every other outdoor activity you can think of. In addition to sporting equipment, the store has men's and women's clothing, travel gear, and luggage. If you need to brush up on your outdoor skills, sign up for one of Cumberland Transit's classes in rock climbing, rappelling, fly-fishing, fly tying, or backpacking. The store's large bike shop specializes in all aspects of biking, including custom frame fitting. The store has a large stock of mountain bikes, road bikes, hybrids, and BMX bikes. Another Nashville location is Cumberland Transit East at 1900 Eastland Ave., (615) 942-8069.
AQUATIC CRITTER, 5009 Nolensville Rd., Nashville, TN 37211; (615) 832-4541; aquaticcritter.com. Freshwater and marine aquarists alike will want to check out this store. It has an excellent selection of fish, plants, corals, and reptiles and a knowledgeable and helpful staff. The fish are guaranteed to be healthy. The store also sells clean, filtered saltwater and provides a variety of services.
THE CAT SHOPPE & DOG STORE, 2824 Bransford Ave., Nashville 37204; (615) 297-7877; catshoppedogstore. com. The Cat Shoppe & Dog Store has been catering to dogs and cats and their people since November 1992. It is stocked full of all sorts of kitty- and doggy-themed gift items, including picture frames, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and sweaters, as well as food, litter, and grooming tools for your feline and canine friends. The store has lots of dog and cat toys. The helpful staff can recommend pet-sitters, and they'll loan you a trap for catching the neighborhood stray.
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Shopping for a pet? The Nashville Humane Association is a great place to find a furry friend who needs a home. It's open daily. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, and Sat, and noon to 5 p.m. Sun. The facility is closed Wed. For more information call (615) 352-1010 or visit www.nashvillehumane.org.
NASHVILLE PET PRODUCTS CENTER, 2621 Cruzen St., Nashville, TN 37211; (615) 242-2223; nashvillepetproducts.com. Nashville Pet Products Center is a locally owned chain of stores that sells pet supplies. The stores stock a variety of premium pet foods, vitamins, shampoos and conditioners, toys, and collars, as well as kennels, carrying cages, doggie sweaters, and books about pets. The stores also have birdcages and supplies and fish supplies, mainly for tropical fish. Additional locations are at 7078 Old Harding Pike (615-662-2525), 1010 Murfreesboro Rd., Franklin (615-599-0200), and 4825 Main St., Spring Hill (615-595-0778).
FARMERS’ MARKET, 900 Rosa Parks Blvd., Nashville, TN 37208; (615) 880-2001; nashvillefarmersmarket.org. The Farmers’ Market is a favorite spot for buying fresh produce. The indoor-outdoor market is packed with farmers and resellers offering fresh vegetables at very good prices. Indoors, there are a few international markets and specialty shops, including an Asian market, a meat shop, and a fresh seafood shop. The market does a brisk lunchtime business. You'll find restaurants serving everything from gyros to barbecue to Jamaican fare. At one end of the market is the seasonally operated Gardens of Babylon, where you can find all sorts of plants and garden supplies. The market has several festivals each year with live music, carnival games, and craft making. The Farmers’ Market is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
MADISON CREEK FARMS, 1228 Willis Branch Rd., Goodlettsville, TN 37072; (615) 448-6207; madisoncreekfarms.com. Madison Creek Farms is a third-generation family organic farm owned by Peggy and Mark Marchetti. Peggy is the daughter of Loretta Lynn, and Mark is a songwriter who recently co-wrote the number-one country song, “My Baby's Got a Smile on her Face,” sung by seventh-season The Voice winner Craig Wayne Boyd. The farm's Market Pavilion is open Sat 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from May through Oct. The market is a wonderful mix of fresh veggies, herbs, and flowers, plus the Farm House Kitchen's freshly baked cakes, muffins, artisan breads, and homemade pies. Each season, Madison Creek Farms plays host to public farm events like “Banjos, Butterflies and Blueberry Pies,” “Dinner in the Field,” and “Fall Festival.”
PRODUCE PLACE, 4000 Murphy Rd., Nashville, TN 37209; (615) 383-2664; produceplace.com. The Produce Place is a natural-foods grocery store that caters to customers who want organic produce. The store opened in 1988 in the Sylvan Park neighborhood. In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, the Produce Place carries some gourmet food items, and meals-to-go from local caterers. The store also carries health and beauty items and has a reverse-osmosis water-filtering system.
THE TURNIP TRUCK, 970 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37206; (615) 650-3600; theturniptruck.com. This small, locally owned natural foods market gets much of its produce from 6 or 7 organic farms in the area. In addition to produce, the Turnip Truck sells natural, grass-fed Australian beef; organic meat; and free-range chicken. The store also carries grocery items, including frozen foods, and a full line of supplements. Soups and sandwiches to go are served at the front counter. The Turnip Truck is located in east Nashville's Five Points area at the corner of Woodland and South 10th Streets. It is open daily.