Take A Road Trip To This Quaint Shopping Village In The Hills Of East Tennessee
By Meghan Kraft|Published May 12, 2019
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Gatlinburg is well known as a vacation and destination town, the kind of place that’s perfect for families and couples and single folk alike. Of course, most visit for the cabins and mountains, but what do you do when the need for a shopping spree hits you just right, or you find yourself in sudden need of a donut? Easy. Head to the place the locals call The Village Shops, one of the most unique and incredible little shopping complexes in the state, located right in the heart of the city.
The Shops at the Village in Gatlinburg, Tennessee is known as "shopping at its best," a cluster of 27 boutiques, eateries, and shops that are bound to make your whole party happy.
Known colloquially as The Village, this darling space evokes the feeling of a European village, complete with incredible architecture and aptly named businesses like the Candle Cottage or the Cheese Cupboard.
The Donut Friar is a local favorite, opening at 5 a.m. daily to regale visitors with donuts and pastries. Check out the Spice & Tea Exchange of Gatlinburg to bring home a little special something for sipping. Or maybe snag something new for your littles at Cartoon & Toys, Gatlinburg's "coolest" toy store.
Sure, it's a shopping center of sorts, but this is the kind of place you visit once and never forget. It's where you make memories with little ones and enjoy something sweet to eat after a long day in the mountains.
The history of the property is just as interesting, having been purchased in 1965 and carefully honed with a unique vision in mind. Construction began in 1968, eventually opening 18 shops in 1970 and growing to 27 shops in 1982.