One recent morning I spotted a post on a local Facebook page from a woman who’s moving to
Tryon from California in a couple of weeks. She’s bringing her pets and horse, and asked for
help finding reasonable used home furnishings in the area. She had posted her query the night
before, and within 12 hours, had nearly 50 responses.
That made me smile. I love how friendly this place is, and how welcoming we are to new
residents. The woman on Facebook specifically asked about thrift stores to furnish her new
home, and several people mentioned shops in Columbus, Landrum, and even Fletcher before I
chimed in to suggest St. Luke’s Thrift Shop on Trade Street.
I also suggested she check out antique shops in the area because I know they can have great used
furniture—pieces that wouldn’t necessarily be considered antiques, but are nice and well-priced.
I’ve become well-acquainted with local antique shops. I was once a bit of a dealer myself. I had a
small flea market business in L.A. when my mother and brother lived there as well. We set up
and sold at the Rose Bowl and Melrose Trading Post at Fairfax High School, and we rented
booths and showcases in several antique malls.
To be honest, I spent a lot of the money we made shopping the very same flea markets to add to
my collections of Depression-era glassware, 50s table linens, Breyer horses, Samsonite
suitcases—I think you get the picture. I loved shopping as much as selling. So it wasn’t really a
lucrative business for me, but it was certainly a fun one.
So when I moved to Tryon, I immediately found the antique shops and checked them out. Randy
Grobe from the Frog and Swan was the first dealer I met, and I quickly got on his email list so
I’d know when he was conducting local estate sales. Paul and I never miss a sale, and never
leave empty-handed.
When we go see Randy at the Frog and Swan on 176 we also stop and peruse Nancy Roth
Antiques across the street, known for Americana and primitives as well as silver. And don’t miss
the newest addition to “antique row,” The Dark Horse Antique Market, a multi-dealer shop that
boasts 26 dealers, each with a unique collection of wares.
If we’re downtown, of course, we stop in Main Street Antiques inside Owen’s Pharmacy and see
what they have for us.
When my young nieces come for a visit from Charleston, the oldest one declared how much she
loves “antiquing in Tryon.” Her mother gives each little girl a handful of dollars and we
generally start off at their favorite, Old Mill Market Square. This is a huge antique mall (60,000
sq. ft. — I looked it up!) with a great variety of dealers. We spend hours searching each booth for
the perfect finds for our collections. I’ve been known to haul out quite a number of tole trays and
Pyrex bowls from this place, and my nieces always find several favorite treasures. We also stop next door at the Architectural Warehouse. They don’t have the kinds of doodads
the little girls are looking for, but my sister-in-law and I love their furniture and accessories. Paul
and I found quite a few nice pieces here when we first moved to town and were setting up house.
This should also be your first stop when searching for old doors, stained glass, hardware—
anything your restoration project might need.
While you’re in Architectural Warehouse, look for John Fisher who restores antique lamps and
has an amazing workshop in one of the back rooms.
Our next stop is the Tryon Antique Mall in the shopping plaza across from the entrance to Lake
Lanier. This is another booth-style mall full of great finds. Then we cross the street to Lake
Lanier Country Cottage, another multi-dealer antique shop where I once passed up a turquoise
quilt, and have never forgotten it. So if you bought it, please love and appreciate it. And tell it I
was wrong to leave it behind and I’m sorry.
That’s one of the most interesting aspects of antiquing. You will find one-of-a-kind items
everywhere you look, so if you see something you love, don’t hesitate. Once it’s gone, you’ll
likely never see it again. Of course, you’ll find even more goodies looking for it! Happy hunting,
Tryon friends.