Discovering Hendersonville
From the Early Spring 2004 Issue
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Every six months I sneak away to downtown Hendersonville, N.C., to have my wedding rings inspected and cleaned at Shelley’s Jewelry at 429 North Main Street. That doesn’t mean I limit my Hendersonville trips to twice a year; it just guarantees me a minimum of two delightful visits. It’s similar to reacquainting myself with an old friend as I drive down the serpentine Main Street, park, and then stroll beside planters filled with fragrant and colorful blossoms.

In Shelley’s I take time to ogle the bevy of sparkling gems and create a mental wish list of sapphire-studded bracelets and other items that strike my fancy. In the rear of the store, Shelley’s Auction House
(www.shelleysauction.com/gallery.html) offers bidders an array of exquisite estate jewelry, art, diamonds, high-end antiques and collectibles.

I’m always tempted when I leave Shelley’s to drop in for lunch at the Park Deli, 437 North Main, with its enticing menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and incredible desserts. Other days, I head to Hannah Flanagan’s at 300 North Main, or a new favorite of mine, the Charleston Grill, at 342 North Main. The Charleston Grill offers an intimate setting tucked in the back of A Touch of Charleston antique store, and café seating on the sidewalk.



Downtown Hendersonville enjoys a flurry of bustling activity year-round, yet in true small-town nature, it remains friendly and warm. People smile and speak as they pass – sometimes even striking up a conversation. It’s a place that lends itself to lingering, with benches scattered frequently to allow walkers a chance to rest or spend time people-watching. I enjoy slowing my pace as I focus on the intriguing and colorful window displays of Main Street’s myriad of boutiques and eclectic shops. 

Downtown Hendersonville is a delightful mix of gentle urban treasures and rural treats from the surrounding mountains. The “City of Four Seasons” is the focal point of Henderson County, with a population of more than 75,000.

My inner child awakens as I pass McFarland’s Bakery at 309 North Main. Even on days when I am pretending to watch my weight, I can’t resist walking in the door to drink in the aroma of fresh-baked pastries and breads. I pace beside the long glass counters lined with rows of cookies, doughnuts and jelly rolls and I am flooded with memories from my childhood of tasting sweet treats in this very same bakery. Sometimes I pull a small lemon cake from the top of the counter to purchase before I leave. 

My inner child has an additional ritual – visiting Enchantica at 423 Main, where fairie dust is sprinkled on the floor, and the art (featuring Andy Lakey angels), jewelry and hand-painted clothes reflect enchantment and magic. I usually peek behind the curtain in the back where they offer a room for little girls’ tea parties complete with costumes and a Fairy Godmother to help ensure the party’s success.


Jump Off Rock, in the Laurel Park section of Hendersonville, gets its name from the Native American legend of a maiden’s leap to death after learning of the death of her lover.

Another place I always visit is the Village Green Antique Mall at 424 North Main Street. Once in the door, I take an immediate right, climb the stairs, and lose track of time thumbing through old and rare books in the loft. Back on the main level, I enjoy browsing the impressive selection of antique furniture, jewelry and nostalgic items. Hendersonville is fortunate to be home to a generous assortment of antique stores. Don’t miss those tucked on side streets, which branch off from Main Street.

Tom Fazio-designed Champion Hills Golf Course is a part of the sprawling private community of Champion Hills, in Hendersonville.

I don’t always time it right, but when I do, a trip to the Henderson County Curb Market at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Church Street is an amazing treat. Sellers at this market, which has been in operation since 1924, are required to be residents of Henderson County. Some are third- and fourth-generation vendors who sell their crafts, baked goods, jellies, produce and other items. The hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from April-December, and Tuesday and Saturday from January-March. 

In March of 1988, Downtown Hendersonville became part of the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a town proud of its history and heritage, and also a town that enjoys getting everyone together. Many activities are staged on Main Street, from art shows to craft fairs to street dances to the North Carolina Apple Festival (www.ncapplefestival.org) held every year during Labor Day weekend. Last year Downtown Hendersonville Inc. and the Henderson County Arts Council created some unusual conversation pieces on Main Street with a “Bearfootin’ in Hendersonville” project. Twenty-six sponsors decorated a fiberglass bear for exhibition on Main Street from April to November 2003. The bears were auctioned, raising $15,000 for local charities. The town expects to display 30 bears in 2004 – look for them at various spots around Main Street (www.dhinc.org/bears.htm).

Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theater of North Carolina, is rated as one of the top 10 summer theaters in the nation. Actors at the playhouse come from all across the country, and have acting credits including Broadway, feature films, television and regional theater.

The Arts Center (www.theartscenterofhc.com), located on the second floor of the Skyland Hotel building at the corner of Main Street and Sixth Avenue, has brought some notable exhibits to Hendersonville including Ansel Adams photographs, Bob Timberlake original paintings, and Salvador Dali lithographs. From April 23 to June 12, 2004, you can see Asheville photographer Tim Barnwell’s exhibit, “The Face of Appalachia: Portraits from the Mountain Farm.” Barnwell published a book of the same name in August 2003. You can check its availability at the bookstore located across the street from The Arts Center. It’s called Mountain Lore Bookstore & Gifts at 555 North Main.

Antiques and collectibles are a strong part of the shopping mix in Hendersonville. Main Street is home to as many as a dozen shops dedicated to the old and precious.

It’s difficult to pull away from the offerings of downtown Hendersonville, but there are additional treasures to explore. Driving south out of downtown, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump (three miles) to the quaint little village of Flat Rock, also on the National Register of Historic Places. Here’s where you can see stellar performances at the Flat Rock Playhouse (www.flatrockplayhouse.org), the State Theatre of North Carolina. Next door, the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/carl) offers a glimpse of the peace and solitude that inspired Sandburg’s poems and writings. The Sandburgs moved to North Carolina in 1945, and wife Lilian raised prize-winning goats. I never tire of touring the home, hiking trails on the property, and petting the goats at the barn complex. It doesn’t take long to realize why the Sandburg family, and scores of others, set up residence in Henderson County, N.C.

--Marla Hardee Milling

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