The Ultimate Southern Shopping Guide
A little retail therapy is a fun way to relax and unwind, and the South is loaded with plenty of fabulous shopping opportunities. Plan your next trip to one of these exciting Southern shopping destinations for unique finds you can’t get anywhere else. Whether you’re updating your wardrobe, redecorating your home, or just looking for the perfect gift for the upcoming holidays, the South has you covered!
Boutique Shopping in Bentonville!
Everyone knows Bentonville, Arkansas is home to some of the largest retailers in the United States. But did you know it also has a wide selection of boutique shops? A stroll through the downtown Bentonville shopping district is a fun way to spend the afternoon shopping at some of the top boutiques in town. Bentonville Mercantile showcases the talents of more than 50 local artists and is a great place to find one-of-a-kind art, candles, jewelry, and décor. In Season features custom Arkansas gift baskets and clothing, and they even provide complimentary gift wrapping. Blue Moon is the place to shop for the latest trendy clothing and accessories. Remedy Road sells a variety of women’s clothing, handbags, home goods, and gifts. This shop has been voted as the Best Boutique in Bentonville, and each purchase benefits the community by fighting hunger, providing jobs, and helping the environment. If you’re searching for local products, visit Oli & Meg, which carries a unique selection of gifts and t-shirts made by local artisans. Book lovers will rejoice at the selection of used books at Once Upon a Time Books, all at great prices. If you enjoy cooking, be sure to visit Ramo d’Olivo, a premier wine, olive oil, vinegar, and Balsamic shop with more than 200 varieties of wine to choose from. You can also take a break from your busy day of shopping at the shop’s bar and wine lounge. Don’t miss the Bentonville Farmer’s Market, where you can find fresh seasonal produce and beautiful locally-grown flowers.
bentonvillemercantile.com
inseasonbentonville.com
shopbluemoonbentonville.com
shopremedyroad.com
oliandmeg.com
onceuponatimebooks.com
ramodolivo.biz
downtownbentonville.org/event/fm
Southern Charm in Savannah!
You can’t beat the Southern charm you find when strolling through Savannah, Georgia’s quaint shopping district. River Street and Broughton Street are the heart of the city’s historic shopping district, and you’ll find everything from pet-friendly book stores to delightful home décor and clothing boutiques. E. Shaver Booksellers is home to four lovely cats and a huge selection of wonderful books. At ShopSCAD, you can find unique works of art, jewelry, artisanal bath products, and home décor, while supporting the students, alumni, and faculty of the Savannah College of Art and Design. Add some spice to your next meal by shopping at The Salt Table, which sells an incredible variety of seasonings, oils, coffee, snacks, and cookbooks, all made locally in Savannah. The Salt Table also sells a selection of highly-rated Georgia wines to compliment your culinary masterpiece. For a unique shopping experience, walk up the colorful steps to the Starland Strange and Bazar. This eclectic boutique carries a selection of locally-made shirts, stickers and other merchandise in addition to their in-house ice cream shop with different sprinkle offerings. One of the most popular sweet treats at this boutique is the “Beg Your Parton,” which features cappuccino crunch ice cream in a lavender cone topped with a donut and cookie stick. And no shopping trip to downtown Savannah would be complete without visiting the historic City Market, where you can find a vast selection of goods from beef jerky to unique jewelry. The building is also home to the American Prohibition Museum.
eshaverbooks.com
shopscad.com
salttable.com/savannah-shop-salt-table-home-page/
starlandstrangeandbazaar.com
savannahcitymarket.com
Antiques Galore in Denham Springs!
The Denham Springs, Louisiana Antiques Village lies in the heart of downtown Denham Springs and features over 25 antique shops, art galleries, clothing boutiques, and restaurants. Here, you will discover a treasure trove of antique furniture, home décor, vintage jewelry and clothing, original art, and more! Popular shops include The Rusty Rooster, 201 Antiques and Vintage, Heritage House Antiques, and Theatre Antiques, which is housed in an historic former movie theater. The Antiques Village also holds special events, such as the Fall Festival and Christmas in the Village, which features food vendors, live music, and games for the whole family.
denhamspringsantiquedistrict.net
Unique Gifts in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri is home to a mix of unique stores and boutiques, making it a wonderful place to find gifts. One of the most popular shopping areas in the city is the Country Club Plaza. This sprawling, open-air shopping and dining destination located in the heart of downtown Kansas City features more than 120 shops and restaurants and covers 15 city blocks. While you’re shopping, you can take in the sights of the beautiful Spanish architecture with over 75 unique statues, fountains, and one-of-a-kind pieces of art. The plaza is also well-known for its annual Plaza Art Fair and Holiday Lights celebrations. Another popular shopping area near the Kansas City International Airport is Zona Rosa. This walkable neighborhood has many national brand stores as well as local shops and restaurants. If you’re looking for customized gifts and home goods, head to the Crossroads Arts District, where you’ll find the Hammerpress print shop. This shop specializes in letterpress printing for custom cards, stationary, and art, but you will also find a unique selection of home accessories like pens, candles, glassware, and more.
countryclubplaza.com
zonarosa.com
kccrossroads.org
hammerpress.net
Shopping with Southern Flair in Greenville
The Southern flair of Greenville, South Carolina creates the perfect backdrop for a relaxing day of shopping at one of the town’s many boutiques with its tree-lined streets and quaint storefronts. There are over 100 shops and boutiques in downtown Greenville offering everything from camping gear to trendy clothing. One of the largest stores in the area is the Mast General Store. This expansive store sells anything you might find in the days of general stores, such as outdoor gear, casual clothing, shoes, old-fashioned candies, and knickknacks, all with a touch of nostalgia. A favorite of both kids and adults is the O.P. Taylor’s toy store, which is easy to find because of the two life-sized toy soldiers on either side of the front door. With over 12,000 different items in stock, you’ll find brands like LEGO, Playmobil, Breyer Collectible Horses and Calico Critters, as well as books, action figures, games, puzzles, balls, and a baby section. One of the oldest shops in downtown Greenville is Ayers Leather Shop, which has been in business since 1950. Here, you can find a variety of hand-crafted leather goods including handbags, clothing, belts, jewelry, and more. If you want to fill your home and bath with relaxing scents and luxurious body care products, stop by Magnolia Scents by Design. This lovely boutique is famous for their soy candles and tart melts in a wide range of scents, such as strawberries & cream, crema di limoncello, and honeysuckle jasmine. The boutique also sells natural bar soaps, body lotions, hand creams, bath salts, and incense.
mastgeneralstore.com/Greenville
optaylors.com
magnoliascents.com
A Shopper’s Paradise in Asheville
Downtown Asheville, North Carolina is a lively city center with gorgeous architecture, a fantastic variety of stores, over 100 restaurants, fun street performers, and several free festivals throughout the year. The area has been dubbed “Paris of the South,” and it is truly a shopper’s paradise with more than 200 locally-owned stores and boutiques. A popular boutique in the city is the Asheville Emporium, which offers a curated collection of hand-crafted gifts, art, souvenirs and more from local makers, craftspeople, and artists. Find the perfect candle at Hummingbird Candle Company, or make your own in one of the boutique’s candle-making classes by choosing from a wide range of different scent oils. One of the largest and most beautiful shopping destinations in downtown Asheville is the Grove Arcade. This historic architectural landmark offers sophisticated furniture, art installations, American and Italian designer clothing, and locally crafted arts. The Grove Arcade also has an outdoor Makers Market with even more locally-sourced goods that is open rain or shine.
asheville-emporium.com
hummingbirdcandleco.com
grovearcade.com
Eclectic Shops in Athens
Skip the traffic and crowds of Atlanta and head down to Athens, Georgia for the more unique mix of wonderful and eclectic shops. This fun and funky shopping district has a huge selection of stores and boutiques full of items you won’t find anywhere else. Visit Native America Gallery for a variety of beautiful hand-crafted gifts and sterling silver jewelry embellished with turquoise and opal. This fun, locally-owned store also offers an assortment of jewelry with tiny preserved flowers set in silver. There is a section where customers can choose from gemstone, wood, bone, and Czech glass beads which can be designed into custom jewelry. If you’re looking for vintage and upcycled furniture, home décor, collectibles, and gifts, visit Junk In The Trunk. This 10,000-square-foot retail space features more than 80 vendors, so you’re sure to find something you like. For fashionistas, take a trip to Community, which has a colorful selection of sustainable clothing and artisanal products from over 50 local makers. Music lovers will have a lot of fun perusing the selection of records, rare comics, and other novelties at Wuxtry Records. This independent record store has been an Athens staple since 1976, and has been selected by Rolling Stone magazine as one of its top 25 record shops. Find a variety of elegant home goods at Lotta Mae’s Supply Company, which has shelves full of locally-made baskets, glassware, blankets, and gardening supplies in an array of soothing colors. Support a local bookstore by purchasing your next great read at the Avid Bookshop. This independent, community-focused bookseller has been named as Athens’ Favorite local business for ten years in a row and offers a selection of books in a variety of genres as well as book-themed gifts for your favorite reader.
junkinthetrunkathensga.com
shopcommunityathens.com
wuxtryrecords.com
www.avidbookshop.com
