Shopping
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 Arts, 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.
Shopping - The Arts
Ballet. Symphony. Museums. Broadway musicals. Opera. Independent film. Nashville has it all . . . and more. These are essential elements of a thriving arts scene befitting a city with the nickname “Athens of the South.” Recent years have seen a steady growth in the number of arts groups busily creating new works or new interpretations of old favorites. That’s not surprising because Nashville has long been a magnet for creative, energetic people. If there’s a downside to all the activity, it may well be that the abundance of artistic and cultural opportunities can lead to difficulty in making a decision. The area’s arts scene is rapidly changing, too.
1. The Nashville Arcade
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 255-1034
Description: 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. The Arcade is open on weekdays.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
3. Manuel Exclusive Clothier
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 321-5444
Address: 1922 Broadway
Description: 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. Manuel himself is usually there from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon through Fri.
4. The French Shoppe
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 327-8132
Address: 2817 West End Ave.
Description: 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 (240 East Main St., Hendersonville, 615-824-9244) sells gift items.
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
6. Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 254-6242
Description: 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., 615-514-0290) and Franklin (545 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin, 615-778-1331).
7. The Oxford Shop
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 383-4442
Address: 3830 Bedford Ave.
Description: 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 free lifetime alterations on every garment. The Oxford Shop has two sales a year—one after the holidays and another at the end of summer. The store also does two trunk shows every year.
8. Dealer’S Choice Antiques And Auction
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 383-7030
Address: 2109 Eighth Ave. S.
Description: Antiques auctions take place here every other Fri night 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.
9. Downtown Antique Mall
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 256-6616
Address: 612 Eighth Ave. S.
Description: 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.
10. Tennessee Antique Mall
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 259-4077
Address: 654 Wedgewood Ave.
Description: 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.
11. Green Hills Antique Mall
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 383-9851
Address: 4108 Hillsboro Pike
Description: Green Hills Antique Mall has 22,000 square feet and more than 20 dealers. Lots of furniture, both antiques and quality reproductions, is beautifully displayed, and you’ll also find glassware, books, art, and other items.
12. Pembroke Antiques
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 353-0889
Address: 6610 Hwy. 100
Description: 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.
13. Polk Place Antiques
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 353-1324
Address: 6614 Hwy. 100
Description: 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.
14. Country Charm Antique Mall
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 790-8908
Address: 301 Lewisburg Pike
Description: 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.
15. Franklin Antique Mall
City: Nashville, TN
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (615) 790-8593
Address: 251 Second Ave. S.
Description: 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.