Christmas Memories

Long before Dillard’s and Macy’s and Belk arrived on the scene, Cain Sloan, Castner Knott, and Harvey’s, the largest store in the central south, were the shopping destinations of choice for all of Middle Tennessee. There were no “chain” stores in the burbs; if you wanted to shop you went Downtown.



Oh how I remember our family’s yearly holiday trip to see these stores in Nashville transformed into a magical fantasyland for Christmas. Trains a kid could actually ride in, gingerbread houses large enough for my sister and I to crawl into, popcorn balls and candy canes; it was enough to send shivers down your spine. I can just see it now as Elves and Pixies and Gnomes helped pile Christmas packages to the ceiling. Bicycles, scooters, Betsy Wetsy dolls, Howdy Doody puppets, Roy Rogers and Trigger action figures, not to mention the trusty Daisy Red Rider BB gun were displayed there in all their glory.



Believe it or not, this was the one time of the year when kids would actually want to visit the jewelry department. There in the display window would be a miniature town with brightly lit shops and houses. And before our very eyes, the mechanical people and dogs and cats would move and dance and sing. Couples dancing, men chopping wood, children chasing each other – all set to music. We could stand for hours and watch as the townsfolk ice-skated and sang Christmas carols.



Regrettably those days are gone and somehow video games and Avengers just can’t evoke the same feelings of nostalgia. But don’t despair, Downtown Shelbyville offers you the opportunity to step back into the past at Antiques, Art and Collectibles Mall. Enjoy a steaming cup of mulled apple cider as you stroll through our store judging our annual “Tablescape” contest. Let the joy of the season fill your hearts as you wander among our collections of vintage furniture, books, toys, tools, clothing, and fashion accessories.


Have a Very Merry Christmas from Antiques, Art and Collectibles Mall, Ole Grapevine Antique Shoppe and The Depot.