Tennessee, one town in.
Eleven shops, all of them in Nashville so far — a year-round market and a clay studio in Germantown, two kitchen shops out Highway 100, vintage south of downtown, and a nursery that has been at it since 1932.
A state we're starting honestly: one city, eleven shops, every one of them researched rather than walked.
Tennessee begins here with one town and eleven shops, and we'd rather say that plainly than dress it up. Nashville is the whole of the state's list for now — garden and plant shops, kitchen and tabletop stores, two vintage halls, a general store, the market, a ceramics studio, and one furniture workshop. Nothing on this page carries a Hollow favorite star, because we haven't been.
Germantown is the densest corner of it: the Nashville Farmers Market open every day of the year, Gardens of Babylon tucked inside it, and Handmade Studio TN throwing everyday pieces a short walk off. If you have one morning, spend it there.
The rest is a drive. The Kitchen Nashville and Epergne sit out Highway 100 near Belle Meade — knives and cookware at one, tabletop and gifts at the other. Whites Mercantile holds down 12 South as a general store for the modern-day tastemaker. The vintage runs south of downtown: GasLamp off Powell Place for the long dealer-stall dig, STARLAND on 8th Avenue South for deadstock.
Memphis, Chattanooga, and Knoxville come later, the way we add anything — slowly, and only once there's something worth the drive. Until then this is a Nashville page wearing a state's name, and we'll keep saying so.
The ones we'd start with
Whites Mercantile
“A general store for the modern-day tastemaker,” on 12th South — the one stop that reads like the whole city in miniature.
Handmade Studio TN
A Germantown ceramics studio making intentional, everyday pieces — the kind you use rather than display.
Nashville Farmers Market
Produce, makers and shops under one roof in Germantown — open every day, year-round.
By town
Nashville
More towns
The slow route: Nashville, end to end
One day, four stops, one car — Germantown first while the market is honest, the west side after lunch, vintage before the light goes.
Germantown, on foot
Start at the Nashville Farmers Market — it's open every day, so this stop never fails you. Gardens of Babylon is inside it, and Handmade Studio TN is close enough to walk. Eat here before you drive anywhere.
Out Highway 100
The kitchen and tabletop pair sits west, near Belle Meade — The Kitchen Nashville for knives, cookware and cheese, Epergne for tabletop, accessories and gifts. Two shops, one errand.
Down to 12 South
Whites Mercantile on 12th South is the general store of the list — the stop where you find the thing you weren't shopping for. Easy walking once you've parked.
The vintage run, south of downtown
Finish with the dig: GasLamp Antiques & Decorating Mall off Powell Place in Berry Hill, then STARLAND Vintage & Unusual on 8th Avenue South for deadstock. Give the malls more time than you think.
Tennessee, in short
The short answers
Where are the best independent home shops in Tennessee?
Nashville holds all eleven listings. Whites Mercantile on 12 South for the general-store side, Handmade Studio TN in Germantown for ceramics, the Nashville Farmers Market for produce and makers under one roof, GasLamp off Powell Place for the long vintage dig.
How many shops are in the Tennessee directory?
Eleven, all in Nashville: three garden and plant shops, two kitchen and tabletop stores, two vintage halls, a general store, the year-round Farmers Market, a ceramics studio, and a furniture workshop.
Is the Nashville Farmers Market open year-round?
Yes — every day, year-round, in Germantown. Produce, makers and shops under one roof, which makes it the one reliable stop in any season.
How is Nashville laid out for shopping?
It's a driving city, not one walkable district. Germantown holds the market and the clay studio, 12 South the general store, the kitchen and tabletop shops sit out Highway 100 near Belle Meade, and the vintage is south of downtown in Berry Hill and Melrose.
How does a shop get listed here?
Listings are free and researched from public sources. Shopkeepers can claim theirs to fix it or write it themselves; in exchange we ask for a link back or a small affiliate.