Many years ago, my husband and I spent a long weekend exploring some of the small Western North Carolina towns that were located east of Asheville. One of those small towns was Black Mountain, and we were charmed by it from the start. Since that “Junkin’ Journey” blog post is now nearly a decade old, I decided it was time to refresh it. Plus, we’ve been anxious to visit as many WNC towns as we can this summer and fall, as they re-emerge following Hurricane Helene.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about this trip that we discovered was that many of the shops were the same! That’s become almost unheard of in this day and age, which really is a testament to the strength of Black Mountain. But, of course, there were also some new-to-us shops to discover, as well. Either way, we had an enchanting day reconnecting with this absolutely charming town.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
For anyone coming to Swannanoa and Black Mountain, don’t expect oodles of thrift stores. These towns are definitely antique shop-centric, and some of them are really fantastic! I just wanted to draw out that point since I love to go thrifting, and often include loads of thrifts in these junkin’ posts. Anyway, let me show you the shops that I thought were the best antique stores in Black Mountain.
Antique Stores in Black Mountain
Antiques on Sutton
Rewinding back to 2016 when the original Junkin’ post for this area was published, Antiques on Sutton was my favorite of all the shops we visited. So, imagine my delight when I realized that not only did it still exist in the exact same location, but it was still as charming as ever.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Interestingly enough, this shop doesn’t really have much of a social media footprint. Imagine that in 2025! But it doesn’t seem to need that kind of press- it’s still filled with an eclectic blend of vintage treasures and antiques of all eras. We found a gorgeous mid century modern vase by Sascha Brastoff which I honed in on like a heat-seeking missile. Long story short- it’s hard to leave this place empty handed.
One of the favorite new shops that we discovered in Black Mountain was The Curiosity Shoppe. Whereas Antiques on Sutton is cute and charming, The Curiosity Shoppe exudes Stevie Nicks vibes with it’s eclectic collection of Bohemian wares.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And yes, I found treasures here, too- in the form of a vintage craft book (I collect them). But I know I missed all sorts of treasures- it’s definitely the kind of shop you need to poke around in for a while. And I am definitely already looking forward to a return visit.
Technically in Swannanoa (just a few miles outside of Black Mountain), Buckeye Antique Mall also existed the last time we visited. It simply had another name at the time- Bittersweet Antiques, if I’m not mistaken. Either way, I remembered it fondly and was pleased to find that it was still a fun antique mall to peruse.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
And let me tell you- it had a flea market going on in the empty lot next store during our visit- and it was hopping! Clearly, Buckeye is a favorite antique shop here and I can understand why. It has nicely curated booths and isn’t filled with reproductions or not-really-antiques.I know you know what I’m talking about.
During our visit, I found a sweet little brass atomizer/mister that said “salvaged from Hurricane Helene” on the tag. Swannanoa suffered mightily from the storm, so it was so soul-warming to see a bustling antique mall with so many wonderful treasures.
Like Antiques on Sutton, Chifferobe was going strong back during our first visit- and it was a memorable shop. For good reason, as it’s not quite an antiques shop- but has antiques for sale here and there amongst the other offerings in the store.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Chifferobe reminds me of an older aunt who has lived a curious, worldly life. And her home is an artsy and eclectic love letter to her fantastical adventures. Now, I never had an aunt like that, but I romanticize the idea of it. All I know is that Chifferobe has a few vintage treasures, some exotic imported pieces, small batch home and beauty products, upcycled creations, and more. Basically…a little something for everyone, if you ask me!
The Curious Traveler
Ok, so *technically* this shop is an extension of The Curiosity Shoppe. But it’s a couple of shop fronts down from Curiosity, and has a slightly more refined and elegant style. So I’m counting it as a separate shop! Whereas The Curiosity Shoppe has a blended collection of vintage treasures and retro clothing, The Curious Traveler is strictly antiques and vintage for the home.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
It’s a relatively small space, but really does have a fantastic collection of vintage furnishings to peruse. Plus, it’s so walkable from The Curiosity Shoppe, so I don’t want anyone to miss it!
Have You Gone Junking in Black Mountain?
As always with these trips, it’s certainly possible that I missed some stores along the way. I often run out of time to truly hit every single one- but I did check out a few more shops that may be of interest to you.
Mountain Home Thrift Store was the one and only thrift shop we visited on this trip. Some of the local thrifts are still closed following the storm, but Mountain Home is open. And while I didn’t find any treasures there, there’s a cafe attached to it and breakfast smelled AMAZING.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
We also visited Key City Antiques while we were there, which is another antique mall worth checking out. Same with Black Mountain Vintage, which is almost exclusively retro clothing. Perhaps one of my favorite aspects of Black Mountain is that almost all of these shops are walkable from each other. With the exception of Buckeye Antique Mall and Mountain Home Thrift, we were able to park once in downtown and walk to them all.
I also wanted to mention a few other non-antique shops that we enjoyed during our visit. I absolutely love the mountain towns in western North Carolina and the devastation Helene left in her wake affected every single resident in this state. So, spotlighting these mountain towns is a small, but hopefully important thing I can do on this little blog of mine.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I absolutely loved The Enchanted Oak, which is a gift shop and small gallery. It has all sorts of candles, fragrances, and artisan goods from local and regional artists. I should have snapped a few photos inside, but forgot to do so. We also passed through The Old Depot, an arts and crafts gallery in- you guessed it- the old train depot. Highly recommend if you’re looking for pottery, stained glass, or other local artwork.
We ate lunch at The Trailhead Restaurant (oh my gosh, their fries were to die for) and sampled beer at Black Mountain Brewing, which was also fantastic.
***
Everyone has different tastes and styles, so my favorite antique stores in Black Mountain may be different than yours. Also, stores open and close all the time- and these were my favorite secondhand shops that I enjoyed at the time of our trip. However, it’s always possible that I missed places that deserve a mention.
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
So, if you have suggestions for future trips to the area, please let me know. There’s always the possibility that I’ll have the chance to go back and visit my favorites. And I always love to discover new ones, too.
Now, the only question I have left is- which Western North Carolina town should I check out next? I’ve been to lots of places already but I want to focus on our beloved mountain towns for a little while…
Craft on!
S
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Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
Thank you for coming to our area! The towns in NC are indeed open again, and need your business. The Blue Ridge Parkway has sections open for views, restaurants and businesses in almost every small town in Western NC invite you to come. Chimney Rock village and state park should be open in July. Hendersonville would love to serve customers in its quaint shops and excellent restaurants.
Thank you, Carole! Both my husband and I love to visit all the WNC towns. My blog posts on Asheville, Hendo, and others are terribly outdated- especially post storm. So our goal this summer and Fall is to revisit them all (and more) with fresh new blog posts. It’s a small thing, but any light I can shine on WNC, I will.