My home is in the country. My hometown is a village just a few miles down the road but I’m about 30 minutes from Chillicothe, a small city with a commercial strip for shopping and eating as well as a charming downtown. Their downtown isn’t large but they’ve done a nice job of making it pedestrian friendly and revitalizing it as a place to spend time and money.
They have the things you would expect like gift shops, trendy women’s clothing stores and florists but they also have a number of specialty stores that are not commonly found in small cities these days. Most places are fortunate to have a bookstore OR a sewing shop but they don’t have both. I’m always surprised that their downtown business and tourism organizations don’t seem to tell that story. I think it’s worth noting so here are a few specialty businesses you might find interesting and that make their downtown different than most.
You know that my favorite place is the bookstore. Wheatberry is a small independent bookseller that packs a ton of books into a very small space while keeping it light and bright with an uncluttered air. They love readers here and are enthusiastic for every book you buy.
My second favorite store is Apollo Records, an old school music store that’s filled with new and used records of a variety of prices. My entire collection of rare Flying Burrito Brothers albums came from here and I almost always find something special.
I haven’t been in yet but Grounded Plant Bar allows patrons to pot their own arrangements. The History Store has an enormous selection of specialty military and civilian miniatures along with books, maps, prints and local history gifts. Maggie’s Farm Aromatics uses natural ingredients to make custom items like candles and body scrubs smell pretty.
Then there’s Rivers Bend Bicycle Shop, a traditional bike shop where you can buy your bikes and supplies and where they will work on your bikes too. E.M. Smith Jewelry is a high end local jeweler that’s been family owned since 1948. In addition to traditional jewelry sales, they offer repairs and even custom designs.
If you sew, Old Town Fabric Shop sells everything you need for your next project. Chillicothe Sewing Center sells and repairs sewing machines – a lost art in these ultra disposable days we live in.
If you’re artsy, Bernie and Maxx Stained Glass Studio can teach you how to make stained glass. They can also sell you supplies and even repair your stained glass pieces. They have a nice selection of locally made pieces you can just buy if you don’t wish to make your own. Plus, Nellie Dog Pottery and Paints allows you to paint your own pottery and canvas art.
There are a few antique stores including Chillicothe Antique Emporium. In addition to selling antiques from a fabulous building, they have an old fashioned soda counter where you can pause for a treat AND there are pinball machines you can play!
Next door, Globe Furniture has been selling furniture, mattresses and home decor for well over a century. They also are family owned and have a long tradition of selling quality merchandise in an era when everyone else sells prefab stuff from a box.
A music store did relocate from downtown to another part of the city. It’s pretty awesome because they sell instruments and music and even connect you with teachers for lessons. I interviewed the owner once and he talked about people buying instruments like guitars online only to learn they have to be assembled. BBB Music Center can do that for you. Better yet, just buy the instrument from them in the first place.
If you need a snack, Grandpa Joe’s Candy Store is one of the few chains you’ll find in downtown. Here you’ll be delighted by craft sodas, fudge, imported candies, and novelty games along with your favorite contemporary treats. Across the street, High Five Cakes is like stepping into a little pastel dollhouse filled with baked goods. Get a treat and sit in the window to people watch. Then go back to the counter and order a lovely little box of treats to take home.
There are a few places to eat but I’m partial to Carl’s Townhouse, a vintage diner with a counter as well as table service. Soups, burgers and homemade pies are popular items here.
Clearly, I’m not telling you about everything you’ll find in downtown Chillicothe but these are stores that you won’t find anywhere else. The fact they all exist within a few blocks of each other is uncommon and delightful. If you would like to explore Chillicothe, there’s a lot more to the area than just downtown shopping. The outdoor drama Tecumseh, museums, the historic Majestic Theater and the newest UNESCO World Heritage Site are right here! If you want to discover this place for yourself, click here for details.
