The antique industry is distinctive in Western North Carolina. It highlights the historical significance and authenticity of the region, and offers the opportunity for people to find unique objects with stories attached to them, according to Antique Trail Founder Marcia Cole Huffman.

The history of the region provides a rich and widely-varied collection of antique items. As the home of the Cherokee people for many generations, native artifacts are found in many antique stores. As Scottish and Irish people settled into the region from the 1720s to the early 1800s, they brought their collections and styles of furnishings and decor to the area.

Many of WNC’s small communities have residents who have remained in their town for multiple generations. When people are shopping for antiques in the area, they often find pieces that have belonged to the same family and been in the same area for many years.

Antique collectors often specialize in a specific timeframe or in specific pieces. Collectors begin learning more about the history and origination of certain pieces, and gain vast amounts of knowledge in their speciality, and seek that out when shopping at antique stores around the region.

“Of course everyone wants to visit Asheville and the beautiful mountains of the region,” Huffman said. “I think people are also brought to the mountains because of the history. People come to the area because it’s so beautiful, and it’s just a plus that they can find tangible pieces of its history on their way.”

Antique and consignment shopping is a growing trend in WNC and beyond. Huffman said during COVID, she was afraid many antique stores would have to close down permanently. While some of them closed temporarily, many of them had some of their best months as soon as they reopened because people were not able to quickly order some specific items like couches or other furniture because of shipping delays. Instead, some people turned to antique stores to find these kinds of items.

“What I’ve heard is that ever since then, the stores are doing even better than before COVID,” Huffman said. “It kind of brought back an appreciation of older things. People have also begun leaning back toward items made in America, and in order to get that, people often have to go to antique and vintage stores.”

Not all items found in antique stores originate from the area in which the store is located. Sometimes pieces make their way from international destinations and are passed down through generations, and eventually end up in an antique shop. The history and the stories associated with these items differ from local pieces that have been in the same location for 100 years or more, and these stories are often what drives the interest in antique shopping. 

The expansive variety of items found in antique shops in the region also attracts shoppers and collectors. There are not necessarily common items as other retail stores may work to consistently keep on the shelves. Inventory in antique stores can be vastly different from store to store, as well as from time to time in the same store. Inventory in antique stores in different regions varies too, giving each area a unique collection of items and styles.

“If you go to a store in Pennsylvania and you go to a store in Florida, it’s so different,” Huffman said. “North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia are more similar to each other, but it depends on what the areas were like 100 to 200 years ago. If the town had lots of European imports more than a century ago, there may be a richer variety of those items. If you were not near one of those towns, you’ll find a lot of handmade items, or what we call primitive antiques, that are more uncommon.”

Current style trends for decor and home furnishings help drive popularity of antique stores. Huffman said she sees a high demand for mid-century items, as well as the desire for functionality more than aesthetics. People are also seeking “brown antiques” and real-wood furniture, and in WNC, a popular furniture trend includes live-edge tables. Mixing pieces from different styles or eras is also on the rise.

“There’s always new trends and new finds that people find interesting,” Huffman said. “I don’t think it’s going away. Existing stores are thriving and new ones are opening. People still have that feeling of wanting to hang on to tangible pieces of history, but it’s also the uniqueness. People don’t want things that look like everyone else’s things. We’re looking for unique, and you can’t buy unique at the big box stores.”