Black Bear Antiques and Interiors

Treasure Abounds at Black Bear Antiques

Are you searching for elusive vintage baseball cards, early 20th-century tools, handcrafted Amish furniture or a giant bronze black bear? If you are driving on the Georgia Mountain Parkway 515 through Ellijay, the giant bronze bear is hard to miss, but you can actually find all of these things and thousands more at Black Bear Antiques and Interiors on Old Orchard Square in Ellijay. With more than 50 dealers and 20,000 treasure-packed square feet, this amazing venue attracts discerning collectors, bargain hunters, and a growing number of creative DIY types who can look at a dark old granny cupboard and imagine what it can become with a little paint. “We have something for everyone and any budget. Our inventory includes a wide array of elements, small and large, that can work with a range of different decors and tastes—not just cabin or farmhouse styles,” affirms Lynn Asher, longtime manager of this time-honored 12-year-old business. “And we are not just for the ladies. We allow and encourage husbands to come on in and browse,” she adds smiling.

“We have knives, old tools, a couple of sports memorabilia sections and some booths which feature items that are especially for men and man caves. The assistant manager, Jacob Padgett, is our resident coin guy. Not only does he help to grow existing collections, he eagerly assists in creating new ones for young collectors. This isn’t the type of assortment that visitors can just breeze through. Often, someone will step in just to check us out or pass some time and end up spending several hours or a whole day milling around looking at all the merchandise.”

In addition to the vintage items and cabin/farmhouse accessories, Black Bear offers a popular selection of Amish-built log furniture, distinct, locally handcrafted pieces, and wood slabs for the do-it-yourselfer. Some of their repeat customers say that they’ve furnished most of their homes with items that they’ve found here.

In addition, their dealers work hard to keep their booths stocked with the items that customers are looking for, often trekking, tracking, junking and picking across the country for those coveted harder-to-find

primitive and rustic antiques and other unique and unusual stock. Accordingly, they go to estate sales, buy boxed lots and sometimes dig through a lot of junk looking for the best pieces and great deals that they can then pass along to customers. “Our dealers do a phenomenal job of keeping their best-selling items in stock, especially considering many such items become discontinued. They go the extra mile to find comparable pieces to keep the more discriminating customers coming

back. Many of our dealers live out of town and some live out of state. So, they are able to find some truly distinctive pieces to bring here. We have had some amazing, one-of-a-kind objects,” says Asher. “Most notably, people still ask about the Beefeater Gin Bar, the 7-foot-tall carved teak Eagle, and, of course, the massive 15-foottall bronze bear in front of the store that has become a local landmark.”

As the giant bear out front suggests, Black Bear is naturally home to all things bearish— kitchen towels and other linens, an array of artwork, dishes, do-dads, etc. embellished with bears. “Cabin décor is one of our most popular selections. We sell lots of affordable bear accessories—rugs, pillows, pictures, figurines—and for some reason, moose items are popular, even though there aren’t any actual moose this far south,” Asher notes. The bear out front has been a constant, but the inventory has changed considerably in the 12 years since they opened. “Our best dealers have learned to adapt to changing trends in our market. We listen to our customers and let the dealers know what they are looking for and help them transform their merchandise to meet the customers’ needs. That’s one of the reasons that we’ve thrived despite competition from a local Walmart.”

And unlike Walmart, at antique malls like Black Bear there is usually not a warehoused backstock of duplicate items waiting to be shelved. As most antique store shoppers and vintage connoisseurs know, the best time to buy something at an antique store is when you see it because there is a good chance that the one-of-a-kind item that delights you won’t be there next time you go back. As seasoned collectors sometimes say, “Nothing haunts us like the antique we didn’t buy.” ACLM

Black Bear Antiques and Interiors The Ahlers Group 240-B Old Orchard Square Ellijay, GA 30540-8173 On Highway 515 and Maddox Rd. In the Ingles Supermarket shopping center

(706) 635-2327 Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am – 6pm Sunday 12 - 6pm

Find Black Bear Antiques in Ellijay, GA on Facebook and Instagram!

Covered Bridge Estates – Make it Home

Offering Gracious Home Sites and Quality Craftsman-Style Homes in this Premier Gated Community of over 200-Acres in the Foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Discover the Majesty of Covered Bridge Estates

Welcome to the charm and abundant natural beauty that inspired this premier gated community. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, enjoy modern mountain living and the magnificence of every season throughout the year.

Expansive home sites and quality craftsmanstyle construction deliver an abundance of lifestyle opportunities. Offering refined finishes, inviting light-filled living spaces, natural wood elements and gracious covered porches, discover the ideal location to experience mountainside tranquility.

Immerse yourself in nature at its finest– where streams and diverse wildlife, captivating vistas and dramatic foliage create the perfect backdrop for distinctive luxury living.

Near recreation and endless activities, explore area vineyards and heritage orchards, golf, hike, kayak or fish. Here, there is something for every age and every stage of life, year-round.

Experience Covered Bridge Estates Where you’re welcomed by an iconic covered bridge to this gated community cradled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Located in quaint Ellijay, GA., an hour north of Atlanta. Far Left: Enjoy morning coffee or a glass of tea on the inviting front porch. Left Middle: Spend the day exploring one of the many area award-winning vineyards. Left: Light-filled living areas offer volume ceilings and fireplaces.