Shopping Tour of Frenchtown

Frenchtown is small in size, but big in shopping. The town’s about the size of a postage stamp, but it has quite a few neat shops. On a recent shopping trip, we recorded what we found in some of our favorite stores. This virtual tour features Revelations Sacred Antiquities, Thistle, Brooks Antiques, European Country Designs and Seasons Home & Garden.

All of the stores on this Fall 2004 shopping trip are located in the heart of Frenchtown. The photo on the right was taken at Thistle on Bridge Street.

Frenchtown Shopping

Primitive Antiques + (Seasonal + Home Decor) + Angels:

Large Pond Boat – Sail Boat from Brooks Antiques in Frenchtown NJ (Click here for larger view)

Brooks Antiques is my favorite antique store of all time. Owners Dorothy and Abbie Brooks are incredibly talented in finding wonderful rare primitive treasures and folk art. In the main gallery on the right side of their store, they display their own antiques, and in the annex gallery on the left side of the store, you’ll find select antiques from their friends in the business.

Handmade Black Americana “Mammy Doll” from Brooks Antiques (Click here for larger view)

This charming little doll sits in a primitive cupboard in the store. The primitive cupboard shelf features original paint, while the doll features a hand stitched nose and mouth and button eyes.

Antique Gold Leaf “TOO” Sign Letters and Spongeware from Brooks Antiques (Click for larger view)

The “TOO” sign is a good example of the type of items that you find hidden inside this little antique store in our small Hunterdon County New Jersey rivertown. The letters hang on the original clapboard walls accompanied by some rare Spongeware Bowls.

Primitive and Country Antiques in Brooks Antiques (Click for larger view)

This photo shows the annex gallery in Brooks. It features a hand hooked rug, a country table, primitive folk art paintings, architectural antiques, and funky dressers and chests of drawers.

Brightly Colored Primitive Home Decor and Antiques in the Annex Gallery (Click for larger view)

A vintage metal porch bench in great old barn red original paint accompanies a hayfork, and an old gameboard in the foreground, while a painted cottage style dresser glows in the background in it’s marvelous yellow-gold original paint.

Seasonal Home Decor and Birdhouses from Thistle (Click for larger view)

Bucket Ghosts Luminaries, and Country Birdhouses are featured in this photo from outside Thistle’s new location in Frenchtown New Jersey. The new store is located next door to the Frenchtown Cafe just one door down from the old location. Thistle now features a larger selection of tabletop items, an extensive selection of candles in every shape, color and scent, and country furniture from tables to cupboards.

Halloween Decor from Thistle (Click for larger view)

Witches, Pumpkin Rugs, and Black Cats and more greet you as you enter the store. The witch is a softsculpture creation that sits atop a small chest of drawers and a primitive small cupboard.

Colorful Bowls, Dishes and Platters at Thistle (Click for larger view)

Marvelous pastel dinnerware nested in a painted country sideboard cabinet with coordinating linens, napkins, and garlands are featured in this photo. Thistle can help you put the whole look together for your fall parties and holiday entertaining.

Bouquets and Country Home Decor Items from Seasons Home and Garden (Click for larger view)

This photo features some seasonal bouquets of dried flowers sitting in a tool carrier sitting just outside the door of Seasons Home and Garden located at the center of “downtown” Frenchtown NJ. Seasons always has an incredible display set up outside their store, which gives you a hint of the what’s inside. The store specializes in home furnishings, couches and chairs, painted sidetables and cupboards.

Home Decor from European Country Designs in Frenchtown NJ (Click for larger view)

This photo was our favorite from our virtual shopping trip. The color and style stopped us dead in our tracks as we walked down Bridge Street. Shown in the photo is a French style bench with a throw in brilliant warm shades of fall, and a Provence style ceramic platter. European Country Designs is new to town and specializes in home furnishings, accents and personal accessories reminiscent of the Mediterranean countryside. The store also features hand-painted ceramics from Provence artisans, fine linens and tablecloths, and hand-crafted natural soaps.

Bridge Street in Frenchtown NJ (Click for larger view)

The Market Cafe and Bakery and Sassafras are shown in this photo from Bridge Street. The Market Cafe features homemade breads, coffee, desserts and sandwiches. Sassafras specializes in fun and funky and artistic greeting cards, gifts and modern to oriental home furnishings and decor that are unique to Frenchtown.

Antique “Expulsion from Paradise Painting” from Revelations Sacred Antiquities (Click for larger view)

Frenchtown New Jersey has a new business that features exceptionally rare items that you don’t normally see with outside of a museum or a trip to Europe. Revelations Sacred Antiquities is owned by longtime Frenchtown Resident Donna Miller. On an extended trip to Europe, Donna was inspired to bring these cherished treasures to our laid back little town in Hunterdon County NJ. Walking in the gallery you feel as if you have been transported to a French Cathedral and marvel at the sacred objects that you find there. The gallery features original oils, sculpture, and sacred artifacts from the 15th – 19th century.

One of a Pair of Antique Terra Cotta Cherub Figures (Click for larger view)

Angels, Saints, Cherubs, Icons and Alterpieces await you inside Revelations Sacred Antiquities. These two cherub figures grace the walls of this “Frenchtown Cathedral Gallery”, with a patina only acquired through hundreds of years of aging, veneration and careful preservation.

Update, April 24, 2011: Seasons, Revelations and European Country Designs are no longer in business in Frenchtown. Brooks Antiques is still going strong and Thistle is now in their new location a few doors down from their old location.

New York City to Philadelphia to Frenchtown NJ:

Our Frenchtown New Jersey art gallery district is located about half way between New York City and Philadelphia. From the NYC, We are an hour and a half drive west on I-78 getting off at the Clinton exit, and then traveling over the rolling hills of Eastern Hunterdon County NJ past Pittstown and Everittstown NJ. From Philly, Frenchtown is about an hour and a half drive East on I-95, and then North on Route 29. (More Complete Directions Here)

New Hope and Lambertville to Frenchtown NJ:

Our trendy sister cities, New Hope PA and Lambertville NJ are a 30 minute drive through Hunterdon County NJ or Bucks County in the country. The quickest route from either town is on the New Jersey side on Route 29 North through Stockton, and Bryam NJ. The slower scenic route is up PA Route 32, River Road through Lumberville, Point Pleasant and Erwinna. You will pass Bucks County Tinicum Park just before you get to Frenchtown New Jersey. (More Complete Directions Here)

Somerville and Flemington to Frenchtown NJ

Our big sister cities to the east, are a short drive through some of the most beautiful old farmland in Hunterdon County. From Somerville, (about 45 ,minutes away), you will take Route 202 through Flemington following the signs for Route 12. You will pass through Croton, Baptistown, and Kingwood. From Flemington and Liberty Village Outlets, we are a short 15 minute drive out Route 12. (More Complete Directions Here)

Easton PA and Phillipsburg New Jersey to Frenchtown NJ:

From Easton and Phillipsburg you’ve got two choices to reach our Frenchtown New Jersey Art Community. On the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River, you can take Route 611 past Raubsville, Riegelsville, and Upper Black Eddy to Uhlerstown. This route can be quite frustrating. The other route is to take Route 519 south out of Phillipsburg over a large mountain, through Holland Township. (More Complete Directions Here)