What I Found at 112 Antique Mall

When we are out on road trips, we love finding unique places off the interstate and backroads to stop for a stretch break. And of course, we love finding the random roadside attractions, statues or pieces of folk art. 112 Antique Mall between Bowling Green and Nashville was the perfect place for a quick break.

Side note: There is even one of the pink elephants right outside the mall.

At the top of the stairs in our new farmhouse, there’s a small landing. It’s not a big space, but I’ve been thinking about how to make it feel like us. I don’t want something trendy or just decorative—I want something that holds stories.

While we were walking through the Antique Mall, we saw several pie safe cabinets that would be perfect for the top landing in our new house. I can picture it sitting right in that space, holding the quilts from my grandma, great grandmom, and a few I’ve made myself over the years.

I don’t want them folded up in a closet or stuck in a storage box. I want them out where we can see them. Each one tells a story. That landing seems like the right spot to keep those stories visible. Maybe I’ll go back sometime and pick out one of these cabinets for that space.

That pie safe also got me thinking about the things I use every day. In the kitchen, I’ve always preferred simple glass bowls over plastic. I do a lot of baking and cooking, and there’s something about reaching for a glass bowl that just feels right. A few years ago, I started using Fiesta dishes to add a little color to our table. Now I think I may have found something new to love—colored Pyrex nesting bowls. (but, have you seen the prices of these bowls? I may have to start hunting for these at yard sales or pick up one at a time at antique malls!)

I saw several sets while walking through the mall and realized how much I like them. They’re cheerful, practical, and built to last. I’d never really paid attention to them before, but now I’m thinking it might be fun to start keeping an eye out.

Antique malls like this are more than just a place to shop. They’re full of little moments you don’t expect. When you walk through with your parents or grandparents, the questions start coming naturally: “Didn’t we have glasses like these growing up?” “Remember the white lawn chairs on Grandma’s porch?” “Who made this quilt? Was it hand-stitched?”Remember the time I asked Grandma if we could make a quilt in one weekend?

It’s a chance to slow down and remember. To ask questions. To learn something you didn’t know to ask.

The 112 Antique Mall was one of the best I’ve been to in a long time. It was clean, didn’t smell musty, and every booth felt like it had been decorated with a plan. You could tell that people cared about what they were selling. It made the experience feel less like digging through stuff and more like walking through memories.

I’m still thinking about that pie safe. I don’t know yet if it’s the one I’ll bring home, but it reminded me of what I’m looking for—things that hold meaning and fit into our life. Pieces that don’t just fill a space but tell a little bit of our story.

Do you enjoy walking through antique malls? 112 Antique Mall is definitely a great stop!

Find 112 Antique Mall:
8759 TN-25, Cross Plains, TN 37049