During the holiday season, I love discovering unique finds by exploring and shopping at local…read moreantique and gift shops. Today, while I was headed to one in particular, I drove by Willow Tree Antiques & Primatives, located off Buck Mountain Road, in Roanoke, Virginia. And on my way back I couldn't help but to make a stop there. After being awarded the Yelp NC Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Willow Tree Antiques & Primatives, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Inside the establishment I was able to meet the owner of this family-owned and operated business. Robin Barker is a friendly, elegant, and hospitable lady, who explained how she started the business in 2015, and now the two floor building, 20,000 square foot building, haa around 100 vendor booths, offering a diverse selection of antiques, collectibles, primitives, vintage furniture, unique jewelry, rustic home decor, and hand-made items, just to name a few. As I walked through the establishment, I noticed the many unique one-of-a-kind quality items in very good condition. They were well organized in nice clean vendor booths spaces. Right now many of the items had to to with Christmas and the Holiday Season, but I was told the vendors rotate their seasonal pieces throughout the year and keep their other pieces year round. I only had an opportunity to visit the first floor because they closed at 5:00pm. But I observed many of the items very closely, and purchased a souvenir greeting card with a photograph of the Roanoke Star. This gave me the idea of marketing some of my photographs in this way, and I would use this as a sample of how I can make them and the wording to put on them. After I paid for the greeting card, that by the way all of the items sold here were reasonably priced, I made plans for returning another day to view the items on the second floor. I could either park in the parking lot of this floor and walk the stairs to the second floor, or park in the parking lot of the second floor and be right there. I would highly recommend you too visit this establishment when you have time. At least the many items there will be a treat to your eyes. And who knows, maybe you'll end up coming out with something meaningful to you.

Very nice store with mostly antiques and some new items. Store is clean and well laid out. Prices…read morewere reasonable and the staff was friendly.

Great place to find antiques of all kinds. There is not a day I don't regret coming to this place…read more I recommend it to everyone that loves antiquing!!! Staff is very friendly as well!!

I really like this store. Many vendors. Super nice ladies at the counter. And in this time of…read moreCOVID-19, masks and hand sanitizer are required. They'll supply both if you don't have them. Some of the vendors have really good prices. There was one with 33% off and another with 50% off. Generally speaking, the prices are fair. I left with two items (could've been way more had I not tempered myself) for $30 that are easily worth 5 times that. I'll be back when in the area.

Antiques Great…read morelittle store in downtown Lynchburg that has quite a decent collection of old items. I have passed the place many times while walking around and today I decided to see what they had beyond what they put out on the sidewalk. It is my kind of antique place: on the dark side, a bit musty smelling and jammed with old pieces of this or that scattered everywhere. We saw some very nice pieces that we will be back for but I managed to find a little something unexpected and the price was very reasonable. Prices in general seemed reasonable and I could have spent another hour in there. Very helpful woman working there - and not all up on you to purchase something. Overall a very good experience- give it a try. Parking on the street.

We have visited this mall twice in the previous 15 months. They have lots to look at, and most of…read morethe displays are arranged in an orderly fashion that makes it easy to see if they have that item you're shopping for. It's disappointing that you can't always read prices on the items in the display cases, and sometimes it's just too far to walk to checkout to see if someone will come open the case so you can check the price. One thing that bothered me both times we were there was I felt we were being followed. The first time a very pleasant man asked if we were looking for anything specific. I told him what my husband was interested in, and he didn't say oh you might find some on a specific aisle. Several more times as we continued our search I would go down an aisle and there he would be. He eventually asked if we were having any luck, and I said I saw my husband with several things headed to checkout so I guess he found some of the items he was looking for. When we visited several weeks ago, another man seemed to be following us. He would stop at a vendor's and act like he was looking at something. If we moved a couple of aisles over, he would immediately show up and act like he was looking at something near us. He never spoke to us. I'm sure people try to steal stuff from a huge mall like this frequently, especially when the individual vendors are not on the premises, so I can understand them being proactive in trying to catch shoplifters, but maybe they should consider using cameras. They wouldn't be as creepy as someone constantly popping up near you and just standing in the aisle acting like they're looking at a vendor's exhibit but never actually stepping into the cubicle. We found lots of the items my husband collects this trip but the prices were greater than what we wanted to spend so we just enjoyed looking.

October 2, 2026! If you walk through the front door and see a person with pink hair at the counter…read moreyou should turn around and walk back out! This used to be a great place to shop back in the day however this person has turned it into an unpleasant shopping experience I asked for assistance for a showcase because I could not read the price tag as it was upside down which is common in most malls. She was not happy that she had to walk 35 feet to open the case. Two other encounters were the same. When she was asked questions about certain items, she was arrogant and definitely not helpful. After shopping for approximately two hours I went to the check out to pay for the items that I had found. Her rudeness at the counter was so obvious that I said forget it and walked out. The vendors in this mall should really be aware that she may be the very reason they miss a sale. As a fellow vendor, our mall employees are courteous and helpful. nothing against pink hair this was just used to identify the person who clearly does not understand customer service skills.

This is a fabulous shop for antiques and gifts! Everything is priced very well and in great…read morecondition. If you love vintage decor, jewelry, and accessories, this is definitely a place to check out! Linda(the owner) also has beautiful decor rentals for weddings, events, etc.

Oxide Pottery brings fancy, schmancy big-city pottery to little ol' downtown Lynchburg…read more This great, little local business is within easy walking distance of the Craddock Terry Hotel and the city market. But its proximity to other cool places is just the beginning. Oxide features works by three different potters and whether you like your clay to be fashioned in a way that is more modern or more traditional, they've got pottery for everyone. On a recent visit I browsed everything from plates, bowls, and vases to honey jars and shot glasses. They even had cute, little handmade gift tags for those of you (not me) who are generous enough to by something at Oxide for someone other than yourself. Even if pottery is not one of your everyday purchases, Oxide is worth a visit so you can see a truly amazing work of art that is literally built into the front wall of the store ... at first glance the front wall looks very white and clean but closer observation reveals that the wall features imprints of hundreds of items from the whimsical (small hearts and stars) to the everyday (scissors and wrenches). The wall, which looks like a freshly scrubbed fossil and covers the entire front of the store, was made by the owner - who must have the patience of a saint - by creating a mold of each item. After creating molds, he cast many, many objects and then literally covered the wall by piecing together the letters, objects, and shapes. This wall is truly the sum of its parts. The pottery is beautiful and the wall is a man-made wonder!

Stumbled on to this place outside our hotel. Great selection of pottery and Jewelry. Perfect place…read morefor finding cool art and one of a kind gifts at a very reasonable prices. Bought gifts for friends and one for myself. Plan to return on my next visit. Do yourself a favor, if you're out shopping downtown, stop by this gem of a place

I finally had the chance to visit this truly amazing store! Beautiful antique furniture, original…read moreoils and watercolors in gorgeous old frames, loads of vintage decor, books, an incredible selection of new home decor and gift items - there's even a plant room! They also have local vendors and artists - gorgeous handmade wooden jewelry boxes and turned bowls, leather goods, soaps, and more - in a huge, two-story space. So much to look at it's hard to see it all in one visit - the inventory is changing all the time and the prices are very reasonable. This store is a MUST for furnishing and decorating your home, finding that perfect one of a kind gift - get your Christmas shopping done early! - taking home a unique souvenir from your Blue Ridge travels, or just a fun day out shopping with friends. Look for the long white building with black trim and the antique car - trust me, you will be SO glad you stopped!

Located next to the converted and renovated Fire Station 1 in Downtown Roanoke, Virginia, The award…read morewinning French Farmhouse Home Market is a cozy white painted brick-walled shop carrying modern farmhouse home decor, furniture, and lighting. Their style blends the past and present and is inspired by the rustic yet elegant villas of the French countryside and the clean and down-to-earth feel of the American farmhouse style. By its beautiful showroom you would think it's prices are very expensive, but they are not. They are reasonable and comparable to Pier 1. They carry high quality, beautiful, and very unique items, like vases, watering cans, and framed prints. Many items that would make wonderful gifts. Their products are hand-selected and blend the past and present. The French Farmhouse also sells unique products, including handmade items by small business makers and European antiques. A visit to this elegant store, which opened in 2021 and is locally owned by Ashly Lawson, a Franklin County native, is a very enjoying experience. When I visited the store last week I was greeted by a very friendly elegant lady, who was very cordial and answered all my questions about the store and its products and unique gifts. I highly recommend that whenever you're in Downtown, Roanoke, you go visit the store. You will enjoy the visit, and maybe discover one of those home decoration items of your dreams.

Sooooooo cute!…read more I've been following this shop on Instagram for a while but haven't been able to come inside just yet bc they were closed during my last time in town. I love the location - right beside the newly opened and renovated Firehouse 1 building. These two cute spaces compliment each other well and with the beautiful hand-made TXTUR store next door - you can really get some beautiful decor and home goods between the two. This shop is small - but packed with beautiful items that fit the name - French shabby chic farmhouse. I saw a ton of things I'd love to buy. Candles, dinnerware, candlesticks, salt and pepper shakers and wells, t-shirts, a little jewelry, pillows, seasonal decor, etc. The gal behind the counter was very friendly and they have a website and sell gift cards. I found some CUTE fall pumpkin and halloween items to die for inside as well as a honey well and a cute small stoneware jewelry dish. Highly, highly recommend you stop in if you at all love French shabby chic! (Note - the space upstairs is also an event venue)