We stopped by Phillips General Store in Bell Buckle, TN after touring the George Dickel Distillery in Tullahoma, TN. The place was jam-packed with antiques, collectibles, books, toys, and scented Christmas Santa candles that last 175 hours. When I say packed, it was floor to ceiling with narrow walkways. The proprietor was extremely cordial and helpful. I picked up an old paperback songbook entitled 'Christmas Carols.' It was about thirty pages with classic illustrations and beautiful hymns and songs. It was priced extremely low considering the age and condition. To the Mayor of Bell Buckle: I would add that the restrooms are insufficient and in poor condition for the volume of shoppers that come to your small town. The restrooms in most stores were non-existent, the cafe at the far right end had closed one of there restrooms for storage, and employees use only, and the towns public restrooms were nasty. Someone from the State Public Health office needs to make a trip to Bell Buckle and do an inspection. Follow me on Yelp, for more hidden gems and local favorites. read more

Phillips General Store 4 - Phillips General Store - Bell Buckle, TN - Antiques Near Me

What a great store. A real 1800's general store full of real antiques! A great find worth a stop for sure!

Lots of original 1800's general store items--adamantly not for sale. Most items are more ancient than your usual antique. The proprietor is friendly and knowledgeable. Prices are on the high end but the stock is not typical of any other antique place--it is so much older. Some things looked way too fragile to touch. read more

What a great place! I could have spent hours in here. Billy is so friendly. And he remembered my friend who visited there months ago. What a friendly place. I'll be back when our renovations are finished to bring home a few treasures. read more

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I've gotta clump Phillips in with the whole strip. All in all the shopping is quaint. The food is fun, and the experience is awesome. Like walking into Mayberry. And Barney Fife might actually be there to greet ya. read more

Phillips General Store 4 - TbT picture from my Tennessee trip. Navigating Yelp on my PC. (this is in Bell Buckle) tulip festival - Antiques Near Me

Interesting place to say the least, historic, nostalgic, old and a little claustrophobic are a few descriptions that come to mind. Unfortunately visiting Bell Buckle on a Monday can be a little disappointing since half the shops are closed, but then again the tourists have come and gone so the shops that are opened for business are much less crowded than they normally would be I am told. We walked into this shop and immediately got the vibe of what life could of been like a hundred years earlier although I think it was probably a little better organized and a little less cramped and void of most of the items on display here back then. The owner greeted us with a big smile and a history lesson on this store and of the area in and around Bell Buckle so that was somewhat interesting and by the sounds of it less annoying than some of the experiences others have conveyed. Maneuvering through the narrow aisles was somewhat of a challenge I can image what this place must be like on a busy day when there are more than a half dozen customers / tourist inside, I got more of the feeling that I was touring a museum than shopping for treasures I'm really surprised he doesn't charge admission. As intriguing as this place is I really didn't find anything that jumped out at me or made me reach for my wallet, like any museum it was educational and I enjoyed the 20 minutes I spent here so that about all I have to say about my experience here. I don't know if this is the type of place that turns over its inventory very fast since most of the things on display have been here for decades so it's kinda like been here done that now it's time to move on... read more

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This store had great vignettes. I feel like they made the most of their space. What I mean is that their displays were more like museum staging and featured action-oriented scenes. Also, they built 'up' and put goods on display way up high to make effective use of the high ceilings. It was refreshing. Most of the other antique stores here get stuck on just piling vintage items on desks and shelves and forget about building 'up' like this. It was also not refreshing because something dingy or damp smelling made me have to leave for some fresh air. read more

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What an absolutely charming shop! First off, the window displays are reminiscent of the amazing window displays from the fifties. You can tell that the owner loves what he is doing and is a true artist. Second, the interior is extremely beautiful. Filled with hard to find antiques and folk art. Third, The owner is a kind and knowledgeable person. I drove six hours to shop from Phillip's General Store and I have to say that it was well worth the drive. I will definitely be returning!! Thank you for such a pleasant day!! read more

I could have spent hours in this store. My husband kept me grounded in the fact that we had lunch reservations to make--so I couldn't over-indulge. The store is put together very thoughtfully and meticulously. The owner certainly has an artistic eye, and it makes the shopping experience here magical. There's an eclectic blend of antiques and funky, handmade items. I enjoyed the holiday and color-coordinated grouping of objects. And the sparkles. The prices were also very, very reasonable. I walked out with a bag full of unusual, cool things and only spent 30 bucks. Well worth it! Among my treasures were a bag of tiny pumpkins, several garden-themed handmade sachets, and a spool of flower garland. I am looking forward to another road trip to Bell Buckle to explore more of this enchanting store. read more

Phillips General Store 4 - The teeny pumpkins I scored at Phillips! - Antiques Near Me

Among all the antique stores in Bell Buckle, I have to say this one was the most stylish. The selection was so good, but I think the real reason why everything was so appealing is because the owner made it a point to group everything by color. AND, on top of that, he styled each section too. So you had a steampunky room, a whitewashed room, a "deliverance" room (I only call it this because it was filled with dangerous farmer tools from a bygone era and it reminded me of deliverance). It felt like I was at the LA Mart instead of a small antique shop in Bell Buckle, TN in the middle of nowhere. Definitely come here for inspiration. read more

Love this store. Very friendly people. They truly have something for everyone. I will be back. I enjoy the moon pies. You can't get the big ones everywhere anymore. read more

Worth getting off the beaten path to explore around this store! There are so many unique items and things I'd never seen and Mr Phillip was not only kind in explaining it but was warm and friendly too. I will be back to wander around in there next time I'm passing through. read more

This is more like stepping back in time rather than a general store! Don't let the name fool you--This is a beautiful antique shop that the owner (Billy Phillips & Family) put together in a very artistic, and beautiful way. Things are organized by color/era and there are some absolutely beautiful antiques in there. He also decorates wonderfully for every holiday! The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable on Bell Buckle. I am very thankful he opened this 'General' store, as he is one of the folks who brought Bell Buckle back to it's wonderful nostalgic splendor. I have heard if it weren't for him and a few other folks... Bell Buckle may have been torn down! Thank you Billy Phillips and everyone for saving Bell Buckle and for creating this beautiful and timeless shop! read more

This place is AMAZING! It always takes my breath away when I come here. The owner of this shop always decorates the place so creatively and I love seeing his displays at Christmas time. You never know what you will find when you enter this store, there are so many different things to see! It is always worth the drive to Bell Buckle if I get to visit this store. This place is a must visit! read more

Definitely a store that has a lot of antiques that take you back to your past. You can spend hours looking around. The town itself is worth the short drive from Nashville. read more

I'd like to say what a pleasant store this is, but because of the rudeness of the proprietor, I didn't make it far past the door. Unfortunately, other than the cafe, we were unimpressed with the friendliness overall. We were hoping this town would be a nice quaint destination for us, but we won't be back. read more

We have visited Phillips General Store on about every trip through TN over the past 30 years. It is definitely worth the time! We always come away with lots of unique items. Billy, Nancy and Albert are very special people! read more