While small towns all over the Tar Heel State are hiding gems of all kinds, sometimes it’s the big cities that are home to buried treasures concealed in plain sight by the sheer size of the city. If you haven’t discovered the Sleepy Poet Antique Mall found within the old Kress & Co Five and Dime building on Gastonia’s Main Avenue, then you’re not alone. While many locals in this city of 77,000-plus residents are wild for the vintage finds here, most of North Carolina doesn’t even know it exists. If you’re among them, then here’s what you’ve been missing:
Sleepy Poet Antique Mall occupies the old Kress Building, found in the heart of Gastonia’s downtown historic district.
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It’s here that you’ll discover three complete floors of vintage goods, from furniture to toys, keepsakes, books, and more.
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More than 80 dealers and 120 booths display a variety of merchandise, all cleaned up and ready for a new home.
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You’ll find a mini-library filled with used books for sale, too. Come ready to take home an armload of affordable gently-loved reads. Whatever genre you favor is sure to be among this enormous collection.
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If it’s vintage toys you seek, then you’ve come to the right place.
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From small cast iron automobiles all the way to vintage machines guaranteed to bring out your inner pinball wizard, you can spend hours browsing this three-story mall for all of the items you simply can’t live without. You’ll also find vintage clothing, vinyl records, and loads of home decor.
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Be sure to carve out enough time to see everything the store has to offer — and wear comfortable shoes.
Facebook/Sleepy Poet Antique Mall of Gastonia
The best part about this hidden mall? The merchandise changes often, so you’ll want to visit again and again.
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Sleepy Poet Antique Mall is hidden in plain sight in the heart of Gastonia. It’s open seven days a week. The hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Learn more from the mall’s official website, and see what’s new on its Facebook page here. You can also visit Sleepy Poet Antique Mall’s Charlotte location, which has some expanded hours.
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Address: 111 W Main Ave, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA
