At the edge of Wilmington’s historic district, Castle Street’s last two picturesque blocks retain the nostalgic 1930’s atmosphere of its days as the city’s very first shopping center. Stand for a moment on its sidewalks and time stands with you. You can just see the women of that era out window shopping, hats at jaunty angles, long slim skirts swinging, alligator purses clutched in gloved hands. If you listen hard enough you might even catch the rumble of a shiny Packard slowly trundling by over the cobblestones.
Today this is the Castle Street Art and Antique District, a merchant community that includes The Eclectic, Fabulous Finds, Etc., Castle Corner Antiques, Gypsy Gina’s, Michael Moore Antiques, Arrow Fine Arts Supply, Adams on Castle Antiques, Antique Pickers Mall, Vintage Values, Maggie’s Antiques, Cape Fear Playhouse, Big Dawg Productions, Castle Street Produce Market and more. Each venue has a story to tell. Each owner boasts local roots.
“It was the energy of these two blocks that brought me here,” Fabulous Finds, Etc. owner Cindy Brewer recalls. Old-fashioned boutique windows billow with displays from everything from fine 18th century furniture to exquisite glassware. Find something unique - a retro kitchen chair, estate jewelry, clocks, sturdy cottage furniture, local pottery, consignment items, fine silver, eclectic lamps, oil paintings, folk art, vintage clothing...a piece of local lore, a window into the way things were.
“We’ve really got everything here,” The Eclectic owner Randy Larson insists, “and I promise you we’ve got the best overall customer service in town.”
Castle Street offers local shoppers and tourists alike a hometown feel that just isn’t possible in the cavernous spaces of big box stores. The district’s charm evades even the most cleverly designed shopping centers elsewhere. With plentiful free parking there’s no need to worry over the meter running out. If you get hungry, there’s Hall’s Drugstore Restaurant, a neighborhood diner with Greek flare that opened this past September.
Castle Corner Antiques owner Janet Kinsey believes the merchants of the Castle Street Art and Antique District came together in a time when repurposing, recycling and reuse burst into vogue. “I think the green movement is helping us offer a refurbished piece of history to the Wilmington customer,” Kinsey says. “Sometimes what was constructed in the past is simply better made. We’re finding younger people coming in to buy vintage furniture simply because the quality is superior to anything they could buy new elsewhere.”
Come Sunday, this December 4th, the Castle Street Art and Antique District will hold its famed Wassail. “We’ll have refreshments and drinks as well as special sale items offered at each shop,” Brewer says. With window displays in festive designs, this is the perfect venue to entertain your out-of-town guests, get a head start on yourgift list, or enhance your home with treasures from holidays long past.
Come to Castle Street and catch the holiday spirit.
At the edge of Wilmington's historic district, Castle Street's last two picturesque blocks retain the nostalgic 1930's atmosphere of its days as the city's very first shopping center. Stand for a moment on its sidewalks and time stands with you. You can just see the women of that era out window shopping, hats at jaunty angles, long slim skirts swinging, alligator purses clutched in gloved hands. If you listen hard enough you might even catch the rumble of a shiny Packard slowly trundling by over the cobblestones.
Today this is the Castle Street Art and Antique District, a merchant community that includes The Eclectic, Fabulous Finds, Etc., Castle Corner Antiques, Gypsy Gina's, Michael Moore Antiques, Arrow Fine Arts Supply, Adams on Castle Antiques, Antique Pickers Mall, Vintage Values, Maggie's Antiques, Cape Fear Playhouse, Big Dawg Productions, Castle Street Produce Market and more. Each venue has a story to tell. Each owner boasts local roots.
“It was the energy of these two blocks that brought me here,” Fabulous Finds, Etc. owner Cindy Brewer recalls. Old-fashioned boutique windows billow with displays from everything from fine 18th century furniture to exquisite glassware. Find something unique - a retro kitchen chair, estate jewelry, clocks, sturdy cottage furniture, local pottery, consignment items, fine silver, eclectic lamps, oil paintings, folk art, vintage clothing...a piece of local lore, a window into the way things were.
“We've really got everything here,” The Eclectic owner Randy Larson insists, “and I promise you we've got the best overall customer service in town.”
Castle Street offers local shoppers and tourists alike a hometown feel that just isn't possible in the cavernous spaces of big box stores. The district's charm evades even the most cleverly designed shopping centers elsewhere. With plentiful free parking there's no need to worry over the meter running out. If you get hungry, there's Hall's Drugstore Restaurant, a neighborhood diner with Greek flare that opened this past September.
Castle Corner Antiques owner Janet Kinsey believes the merchants of the Castle Street Art and Antique District came together in a time when repurposing, recycling and reuse burst into vogue. “I think the green movement is helping us offer a refurbished piece of history to the Wilmington customer,” Kinsey says. “Sometimes what was constructed in the past is simply better made. We're finding younger people coming in to buy vintage furniture simply because the quality is superior to anything they could buy new elsewhere.”
Come Sunday, this December 4th, the Castle Street Art and Antique District will hold its famed Wassail. “We'll have refreshments and drinks as well as special sale items offered at each shop,” Brewer says. With window displays in festive designs, this is the perfect venue to entertain your out-of-town guests, get a head start on your Christmas gift list, or enhance your home with treasures from holidays long past.
Come to Castle Street and catch the holiday spirit.
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