5 minute read
SHOP TIL YOU DROP
By Spencer Carney
At first glance, Rocky Mount might seem like everything is obvious: there’s a Walmart, and a mall, a Target, the library and the museum. It’s not hard to get around, and for residents who’ve lived here for a while it may seem like there are no surprises left in Rocky Mount, at least in terms of shopping.
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The following list presented is 10 local gems, places that may be new in town or have been here for years, places that new residents might not know about yet or maybe long-time residents have forgotten. This list is not exhaustive of all of the unique shopping places in Rocky Mount, and readers are encouraged to see what other noteworthy shops they can find.
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Station Square Records The Bath Place Bin & Barrel
Next to the Bin & Barrel wine bar is Station Square Records, a music store offering a wide variety of vinyl records. Arranged in categories such as Psychedelic Rock, Chicago Blues and Smooth Jazz, around 100 records are available for purchase. The shop also has dozens of books for sale, ranging from children’s books to adult fiction and nonfiction.
Smith’s Red & White
In 1954, Smith’s grocery began in the corner of a feed and fertilizer store located in the old Dortches School House. Ten years later, the business moved to a new building and expanded to include general merchandise, gas and pork processing. In 1992, a brand new store allowed for 20,000 square feet of space for the business that had become a fullfledged grocery by then. Finally, Smith’s Red & White Restaurant opened in the spring of 2010, serving the same food sold by the store.
Walking through the front door feels like a trip back in time. A hanging message board holds posters advertising quail eggs and motorcycles and housekeeping. Lining the wall just inside the door are buckets of candy, everything from old fashioned lemon drops and horehound to bubble gum and saltwater taffy. An electric toy train runs over aisles stocked with traditional grocery store items, in addition to products made for Smith’s Red & White, such as pickles, chow chow and a variety of jams. The biggest specialty of the grocery store, however, is their meats. Whole country hams, barbecue, ribs, hamburger and sausage are cut and made fresh daily; they make over 10,000 pounds of sausage per week and 25,000 pounds per week during the holidays.
What started as a project to help a family member suffering from eczema quickly turned into a passion for The Bath Place owner Kimberly Thigpen. She learned that shea butter worked well for it and began researching ways to incorporate shea butter into soap. Thigpen now produces a variety of natural products, including lotions, bath bombs and lip balm, in addition to her soaps. All items are made fresh onsite in the Main
Street shop and contain no animal products in their ingredients, with the exception of the lip balm which uses beeswax. In addition to her
store, Thigpen’s products are available online and in a few other locations, such as the
Imperial Center, as well as a few Whole Food
grocery stores.
Located off the courtyard at Station Square, the wine bar offers a couple hundred different labels that rotate constantly depending on people’s preferences and the time of year. They host a tasting night every other Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m., serving anywhere from four to five wines by the glass available for purchase at a discount price, as well as offering small share plates such as cheese, flatbreads and charcuterie.
Bin & Barrel also hosts wine dinners four to five times per year. Labels in the store cover many of the major wine regions, including France, Italy, Spain, Argentina and many places in the U.S., in addition to several local North Carolina wines.
For people who would like to try more wines but don’t have the time to attend a tasting or event, Bin & Barrel offers a customizable Wine Club where members can receive their choice assortment on a quarterly basis.
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Muttley Crew
Big-name pet stores have nothing on this pet place-to-be. Presenting a diverse selection of dog treats, bow ties, bandanas, collars, dog and cat toys, dog food, scoop-your-own treats and dog-friendly birthday cakes, this store has everything a pet could ever want. Four pet-focused bakeries provide the treats; one does the cakes, one does dog-friendly donuts and two make dog-friendly cookies, decorated according to the season. All four bakeries are registered and able to provide nutrition information, including ingredients used and a breakdown of calories, carbohydrates, etc.
The pet store has a self-dog-wash, for people to come in and bathe their dogs, a pet playroom and a toy repair station with squeakers and fluff to repair that favorite toy. Muttley Crew hosts several events throughout the year, including K-9 trick or treating along Westridge Shopping Center and adoption events in partnership with local rescues.
While not an independent store, the gift shop at the Imperial Centre should not be overlooked. Stocked with locally made pottery, jewelry, small oil paintings, children’s science activities and Rocky Mount-themed gifts such as cards, coasters and magnets, in addition to Imperial Centre T-shirts. If all of that doesn’t sound interesting enough, the shop also features a 300-year-old weaving loom for visitors to see.
Southern Fireflies
Coming up on the celebration of their first year in their new location, Southern Fireflies hosts over 20 local vendors. Some are clothing boutiques, some make goats milk soaps and lotions, chalk painted furniture, jewelry, hemp products, soy candles and antiques, the store makes itself accessible as a one stop shop for gift finding or personal investment.
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This store is perfect for anyone looking for a unique gift. The store is outdoor oriented, selling patio furniture, oversized flower pots, grills and accessories, garden decorations, birdhouses and flags, and offers a stunning selection of wind chimes.
The Yellow Tulip
A clothing store for women of all ages, The Yellow Tulip sells everything from dresses and skirts to jumpsuits and rompers to purses and shoes and jewelry, at an affordable price. The store works to provide unique, attractive pieces that are different than styles typically seen in many department stores, and looks to supply each customer with a pride in their individuality.
Alayna’s Boutique
Attached to Kendall’s Hallmark, Alayna’s Boutique sells gifts such as Pandora beads, Brighton jewelry, Vera Bradley bags and has a section for women’s clothing and shoes. A great option for birthday gifts or Mother’s Day presents, employees can expertly wrap any presents while customers get a card from the other side of the store, Kendall’s Hallmark.
