As Franklin has become a hotspot for vintage shopping, a new monthly event has provided a new outlet for home decor treasure hunters.
Vendors selling antiques, upcycled furniture, handmade decor and other quirky items have been gathering in downtown Franklin the third Saturday of each month for a summer market.
The event is organized by Trinkets N Threads, a local shop specializing in vintage and shabby chic. Shoppers have a chance to browse through a rotating lineup of vendors and unique items.
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Do-it-yourself classes and workshops give people tips about being crafty on their own.
“We truly don’t have anything like this, where you get your handmade items and antiques and repurposed. You get a little bit of everything here,” said Amy Harness, owner of Trinkets N Threads.
As shoppers pick through produce, flowers and craft items at the next-door Franklin Farmers Market, they could wander over to shop refurbished furniture, upcycled wooden decorations and vintage chic goods of all kinds.
With the group of vintage shops on East Jefferson Street hosting regular weekend events and markets, the summer market offers another option for people who come downtown.
The summer market is the second such monthly vintage event in the county. The Johnson County Antique Market is held the second Saturday of each month at the fairgrounds. Founded by Jennifer McAlpin, owner of local store Vintage Whimsy, people can find primitives, furniture, jewelry, glass, linens, tools, toys and a wide variety of other antique items.
An outdoor summer market downtown adds another destination for people to come to, Harness said.
“My whole goal is to bring more people to downtown Franklin, to get them shopping, to get them eating,” Harness said. “This is another way to do that.”
Harness envisioned the market being another way to draw people to downtown Franklin, benefiting not just her shop and vendors at the market, but other businesses here too.
“Some of the people who set up at the market are small business owners, but some are just little mom-and-pop operations, so how can something help them both?” she said. “And with it happening during the farmers market, how can it get more people down here.”
In order to set the summer market apart, Harness has focused on items such as antiques and repurposed furniture.
“It has to be handmade, antiques, repurposed. We don’t want any flea market type items or garage sale stuff, nothing like that,” Harness said.
The first summer market was held in late April. Since then, Harness has had at least 20 vendors set up each month. They rotate month by month, meaning that each market has a different selection of items and sellers, Harness said.
The hope is to grow it to include 40 to 50 vendors, Harness said.
Summer markets will continue on through October, with dates set for Saturday, Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20. Potentially, additional pop-up markets could be added for special events going on downtown, Harness said.
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Summer Vintage Market
What: A monthly gathering of vendors selling antiques, upcycled furniture, handmade decor and other items.
When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20.
Where: Trinkets N Threads, 229 W. Jefferson St., Franklin
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