Hickory, North Carolina, is the perfect place to seek out furniture finds
Fall is hunting season, when many outdoorsmen take to the woods in search of deer and other trophies. But if it’s interior decor you’re hunting for, head to Hickory, North Carolina.
The lovely drive is less than two hours from Greenville. From Gastonia, it’s an easy drive north through the North Carolina countryside via Highway 321, up through Dallas and Lincolnton. If you’ve visited Hickory in the past, get ready to be bewildered. Where did the sleepy little Southern town go? Downtown Hickory today is packed with retailers, coffee shops, restaurants, pocket parks, and mixed-use developments. They’ve even rebranded parts of downtown as the City Walk and Riverwalk, creating connectors within the central business district and along the Catawba River.
An Airbnb-style hotel with self-check-in and abundant parking near the river, the 2nd Street Inn is a smart choice for weekend lodging. Occupying an original box factory, the inn has just enough industrial elements—brick walls and wood beams—to feel historic while brandishing a new upfit.
Hickory Furniture Mart
Getting over to the Hickory Furniture Mart is easy and, yes, it is always open to the public (unlike the market at High Point). Hickory’s Mart is a massive four-story complex with more than one million square feet of furniture showrooms and manufacturers’ galleries. Yes, you can buy off the floor; yes, you can order things to be delivered; yes, you can customize, tweak, and make changes directly with the manufacturer. In Hickory, the answer is always “yes.”
An industry secret worth seeking out at the Furniture Mart is an upgrade request called Eight-Way Hand-Tied. It’s a sofa- and chair-construction technique perfected by North Carolina craftsmen to eliminate sagging for the lifetime of the piece. Coil springs are secured to a hardwood frame and tied down with hand-threading and knotting in eight different directions. It’s a fascinating process to watch while you chat with the on-site craftsmen about it. Hickory Park Furniture is a great source for Eight-Way Hand-Tied orders at their exquisite showrooms on three floors of the Mart. (Pro tip: Hickory Park also has a clearance center on Level 2.)
Stickley can be found near the north entrance. This American furniture company, known for its exquisite craftsmanship and sustainable practices, turned 125 this year. Just a few doors down, you’ll find Roya Rugs, which weaves its luxurious old-world-style rugs on-site and is a go-to for designers. Imagine ordering a rug for your living room to the exact dimensions of the room—here, it’s possible.
How about a leather couch with one extra section added and a different finish to the hide? Sure, no problem. Leather & More is on Level 1, conveniently adjacent to Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse, a cute spot for lunch. If you’re interested, the folks at Leather & More will walk you through the entire tanning and finishing process, detailing options like nail-head trim, leather bullion fringe, and button tufting.
Hickory Furniture Mart even offers consolidated shipping, so if you purchase items from different showrooms, the Mart’s team will pack and ship all your purchases straight to your door as if it’s one order. How’s that for happy hunting?
Where to Play and Eat in Hickory
Play
Bunker Hill Covered Bridge – A great photo op, the 1894 bridge is one of the last standing covered bridges in the South. Hwy. 70, Claremont, NC,
Harper House – The 1887 Queen Anne-style mansion forms part of the Hickory History Center. 310 N. Center St., Hickory, NC,
Murray’s Mill – Take a step back in time at this 1913 gristmill, complete with a working waterwheel. 1489 Murray’s Mill Rd., Catawba, NC,
EAT
Frothy Rooster – Breakfast is delightful at this airy cafe, where orders arrive with a signature mini-skillet pancake. 1 N. Center St., Hickory, NC,
Main Chick Jammin’ Biscuits – Across from the 2nd Street Inn, Main Chick’s scratch-made biscuits and fresh-squeezed orange juice start the day right. 205 Main Ave. N.E., Hickory, NC,
Vintage House – Fine dining is de rigueur at this elegant American bistro, set inside the 1915 Abernathy House. 271 3rd Ave. N.W., Hickory, NC,
What’s in a Name?
In the 1850s, Henry Robinson constructed a tavern made of logs under a large hickory tree along the shores of the Catawba River. As it became a welcome stop for stagecoach travelers, the Town of Hickory Tavern began showing up on early maps of North Carolina. The town was chartered in 1863, and the name was changed to the City of Hickory in 1889.
