Asheville

Shopping

About Asheville Shopping

Thanks in part to its artsy reputation, Asheville is seen as a treasure trove of great shopping. Downtown is an excellent place to start, because lots of enticing storefronts pull folks in, inviting them to browse through gift items, accessories, books, wines, and more. The proximity of cafes and restaurants also means that you can nibble here, shop there, and repeat to your heart's content. While you're in the area, make Grove Arcade, a 1929-vintage public market, your main destination. Lots of specialty shops and art and fine craft galleries join with restaurants to create an easily walkable mall of sorts. You'll effortlessly wile away hours in pursuit of the perfect Asheville souvenir. Another shopping center with the feel of a bygone era is Biltmore Village, a 19th-century planned community with English ambience near the Biltmore Estate. Its charming outdoor setting presents a delightful assortment of shops proffering everything from yarns to antiques to jewelry. And, oh yes, there are restaurants here as well. Aside from the major clusters of shops, you would also do well to visit some of Asheville's most well-respected retail tenants, including Malaprops (a fantastic, highly regarded bookstore), Mast General Store (it carries everything from clothing to barrels of old-fashioned candies), and New Morning Gallery (an esteemed purveyor of artwork and gift items). Naturally, a town with this much history also boasts fabulous antique shops, and you'll readily stumble across ones that offer everything from English to American goods in your search, not to mention great architectural salvage, to boot. -- Kelly Sigmon, Senior Editor