Lexington, KY - Horse Capital of the World

From Fine Furniture to Fun Collectibles, "Great Finds" Await in Lexington and the Bluegrass

In Lexington and surrounding communities, antique shopping is an activity that never, so to speak, gets old.

In fact, to visit all the antique shops in the area, you’d have to plan to stay a while. There are more than 200 antique shops, ranging from large multi-dealer malls to small specialty stores, ready to tempt you with old Kentucky cabinetry, quilts, imported furniture, Shaker items, Depression glass, collectibles — you name it!

There’s enough great antiquing within Lexington itself to keep you busy for days. In addition, virtually every surrounding community includes at least a few antique malls and shops, so it’s easy to combine antique shopping with general sightseeing. As a writer for The New York Times put it, antiquing in the Bluegrass is "a chance to unearth some great buys in American antiques and, in the bargain, enjoy some of the most beautiful rural countryside anywhere."

Such a deal! And while all Bluegrass roads eventually lead to an antique shop or two, here are a few suggestions to get you started.

In Lexington

Antique shopping is definitely a main attraction in Lexington. In fact, you’ll find some great shops right on Main Street. Heritage Antiques (238 East Main Street; 859-253-1035) offers 18th, 19th and 20th-century furnishings and accessories. Continuing east on Main, you can stop at Ann Greely Interiors and Antiques (497 East Main Street; 859-367-0200), a yellow mansion full of exquisite furniture, decorative items and paintings. The Lexington Antique Gallery (400 Old Vine Street; 859-231-8197) brings together 8 dealers and offers 18th and 19th century furniture, Kentucky coin and sterling silver, linens and accessories. Explore Lexington Antique Oriental Rugs at Main and Clay; they have porcelain and furniture, too (859-258-9027).

In The Shops at Lexington Center on West Main, you’ll find Lafayette Galleries (859-253-1633) with antiques as well as new American and English silver, collectors plates, crystal and prints. Further west on Main, the street’s name changes to Leestown Road, and about a mile west of Rupp Arena, you’ll find the Meadowthorpe Antique Mall (1455 Leestown Road; 859-255-2607), where about 50 dealers offer a little bit of everything. Open seven days a week. Across the road, you’ll find Feather Your Nest Antiques, Collectibles & Accessories, open daily (859-381-1505).

While downtown, browse through Shelley’s Limited Antiques at 765 East 7th Street (859-225-7426), specializing in antique trunk restoration. January, at 193 North Limestone, has an eclectic mix of furniture, lamps, silver and decorative objects.

Nearby, you can have luncheon tea or afternoon tea and browse fine period furnishings and object d’art at the Green Tree Tea Room, 521 West Short Street. (859-455-9660). Just next door, Debbie Chamblin at Belle Maison is a direct importer of French antiques. She also has an intriguing collection of planters, urns, arbors and statuary for you garden (859-252-9030).

Flag Fork Herb Farm, a little bit of country right in the city, has always delighted visitors to the Cafe with their clever assortment of gifts; now they offer antiques in one of their out-buildings. (900 North Broadway; 859-252-6837.)

On the east side of town, you’ll find Todd and Donna Moore’s Bluegrass Antique Market (801 Winchester Rd., 859-258-2105). From Victorian bric-a-brac to 50’s style dinettes, you’ll find plenty to satisfy your appetite for browsing. Check out the Cow Girl Attic nearby (135 Delaware Avenue; 859-225-3876). You'll find architectural artifacts, furniture, garden relics, iron gates, art, estate items, and more! Close by is another treasure trove. Lenabelles Antiques (730 National Avenue; 859-253-0137) has 18th to 20th century fine furniture as well as art and a selection of decorative items.

If it’s an old Kentucky long rifle you’re shooting for, try Antique and Modern Firearms (2263 Nicholasville Road; 859-276-1419). Glover's Bookery (862 South Broadway; 859-253-0614) is a house full of old books and prints, including many regional items.

In a quaint old church(1850!) on the Fayette/Jessamine county line, you’ll find ClaireBourne Antiques (4648 Nicholasville Road; 859-272-4648). The building houses some fine country pieces, quality furniture, mirrors and decorative items.

Bluegrass Note: Two monthly antique shows make their home in Lexington. An Antique Affair (859-296-2429) and Athens Schoolhouse Antiques (859-255-7309) are large shows offering an astounding array of antiques and collectibles from hundreds of dealers on selected weekends year round. Admission is free.

In the Region

In a state that’s as antique-laden as Kentucky, it takes a lot of bravado (and old stuff) to call yourself the "antiques capital." Georgetown , 13 miles north of Lexington, backs up its claim with twelve antique malls and shops downtown on Main Street alone. One of them, Georgetown Antique Mall (502-863-1891), encompasses two buildings and is open seven days a week. Another, Central Kentucky Antique Mall, is a great source for early silver, estate jewelry and civil war items. (502-863-4018). In the Oxford Antiques District, five miles east of Georgetown on US 62 you’ll find even more shops.

North of Lexington in the quaint town of Paris , go see Dan Graham at Graham’s Antiques on East 4th Street for antique and country furnishings as well as hand-tied rugs (859-987-5566). While in Paris, stop in at Loch Lea Antiques at 410 Main St. ( 859-987-7070 ), a favorite of antique lovers for the past 20 years.

Frankfort is more than just the seat of state government and home to the Kentucky History Center. It is also a haven for antique stores. You’ll find an assortment of shops featuring classic collectibles from furniture to linens and lace.

It might be worth your while to call ahead so you can explore the 10,000 square foot Lancaster Market (102 Hamilton Avenue, Lancaster. 859-792-4536). It’s open by appointment. Head out US 27 south to Lancaster, 35 miles from Lexington.

In Woodford County, west of Lexington, several shops are found in Midway and Versailles . But what is perhaps the most well-known of all Bluegrass antique shops is found in the tiny community of Nonesuch . The term "shop" hardly describes Irish Acres, 4205 Ford’s Mill Road (859-873-7235). You’ll find everything from affordable whatnots to pricey museum-quality pieces on three floors in this 32,000 square foot former school building. Take the beautiful country drive Tuesdays through Saturdays, mid-March through December. You’d better pack a lunch — or, even better, make reservations to have lunch in the on-site tearoom, The Glitz (859- 873-6956). You have to see it to believe it!

Blue Note: Wakefield-Scearce Galleries in Shelbyville, 47 miles west of Lexington via I-64, is a bit of the "British aisles" in the Bluegrass. Established in 1947, the shop specializes in imported English furniture, fine silver, paintings and objects of art. Sterling silver julep cups from Wakefield-Scearce are a popular Kentucky gift.

For more information contact the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-845-3959.

By Teresa Day, a freelance travel writer based in Georgetown, KY.
Updated June 2010

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