A Day Thrifting In Southport NC – Thrifting With The Gals

Have you ever been to Southport, NC? We recently went on a thrifting adventure to explore shopping options in downtown Southport, NC. It was a fun day exploring this quaint coastal town and enjoying a nice lunch at a restaurant on the water.

I thought you’d like to see what we discovered.

Where Is Southport, NC?

We’ve been to Southport, NC, several times, as it’s just a ferry ride from our beach cottage in Kure Beach.

If you are traveling from Pleasure Island, riding the ferry adds to the adventure and takes less time than driving around through Wilmington.

The Fort Fisher/Southport Ferry departs approximately every 45 minutes, but the schedule isn’t always consistent, so be sure to check the schedule before traveling.

If you like strolling through the streets of a coastal village filled with historical charm, you will love visiting Southport.

You will have plenty of water views as this historical town is located on Cape Fear River as it joins the Atlantic Ocean.

Thrifting with the Gals

Today’s post is part of our monthly series, Thrifting with the Gals.

If you are new to our series, we are friends who share a love for vintage and thrifted decorating.

We all live in different parts of the country, but we come together once a month to share thrift store shopping ideas and tips on decorating with your treasures.

Here are the Gals:

• Ann from Dabbling and Decorating finds her treasures as she travels between Vermont and Maine. She decorates both homes with so many vintage treasures.
• Robyn from Robyn’s French Nest loves to travel and bring her vintage treasure to her lovely Florida Home.
• Lora from Lora Bloomquist Create and Ponder is joining us as a permanent addition to Thrifting with the Gals. We are so happy to have another vintage lover among us.
• I am from North Carolina, and I love filling my farmhouse and beach cottage with thrift store finds. I focus on budget-friendly decorating and DIY projects.
• This month, our guest host is the talented Cindy at County Road 407. Cindy is the host of the monthly Pinterest Challenge and bi-monthly Lifestyle of Love series.

We are excited to have Cindy at County Road 407 join us this month. Cindy is in Texas and always has great ideas for her thrifted finds.

Where Do You Shop in Southport, NC?

First, almost everything is within walking distance. The shops and restaurants are primarily located along Howe Street and Moore Street. Howe Street ends at Bay Street, where the Riverwalk and more restaurants are located.

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Shopping in Southport, NC – Howe Street Shops

To begin our shopping in Southport, NC, we parked along Howe Street. From here, we could walk to all our destinations except one.

Let’s begin at the North end of Howe Street and work our way to the water.

The Painted Mermaid

We were disappointed that our first destination, The Painted Mermaid, was closed. We were disappointed because it was highly recommended. However, glancing through the windows, it seemed like a treasure trove of vintage decor.

We discovered that the shop is only open Friday – Sunday, so we will take another ferry ride on our next beach trip.

Three Sister’s Consignment

Our next stop was Three Sister’s Consignment, with rooms filled with books and antiques. The shop has a quaint, refined vibe with many fine antiques.

Wicked Good Retro

Wicked Good Retro was an interesting shop with more vintage bottles than I’ve seen anywhere. I’d say it was a unique shop, and if you love old bottles, be sure to stop in.

Although not a vintage or thrift store, Wild by Nature was such a cute flower shop that I had to include it. Don’t you want to go inside? Half the fun of shopping in Southport is how cute the shops are.

Moore Street Vintage Shopping in Southport, NC

Moore Street intersects with Howe Street, and many more shops and restaurants are within walking distance.

Northrop Antique Mall

If you want to browse various booths of antique finds, Northrop Antique Mall is the perfect spot.

Brad and Rudy found a comfortable spot to relax while I shopped inside.

The shop is filled with authentic antiques, from rustic to traditional. You can spend hours browsing in this one shop.

Unfortunately, Brad and Rudy were waiting, so I made a quick run-through. This shop is one I’ll be returning to soon.

Dosher Flea Market

Wander further down Moore Street, and you’ll find Dosher Hospital Volunteers’ Flea Market. It is a charity donation shop that benefits the Dosher Hospital.

Here you’ll find everything from clothing to tableware.

This is a must-stop on every trip to Southport, NC.

Although I didn’t bring anything home this trip, I have found some great deals in the past.

I’ve already shared the vintage blue dessert glasses on the Spring Fling Supper Club Table.

Timeless Treasures

Next, we crossed the street and started back down Moore Street. More antique shops await use, and Timeless Treasures has a rustic vintage vibe that I love.

Old Elegance Antiques is right next door. We were hungry, so we didn’t stop on this trip.

Back To Howe Street

A final stop was not within walking distance. Therefore, we decided to visit this shop before leaving Southport.

CIS Thrift Shop Communities in School

CIS Thrift Shop was a treasure trove of fun donations, and the price was right.

Thrift shop purchases support CIS programs and services provided to students in Brunswick County Schools and have 4 locations.

A combination of vintage and newer items priced to move filled this charity donation shop.

Shopping charity donation thrift stores is a great way to give back to the community, and you most likely will find the best deals here.

You can see more from a previous Thrifting with the Gals feature, 17 Reasons To Shop Charity Resale Stores.

The blue water goblets and those Dutch antique spice jars made their way home with me on this trip.

Click the image to shop

Southport NC Restaurants

The first thing I do when planning a day trip is to check out the dining situation.

Our first experience in Southport, NC, restaurants was visiting Provision Company. I had read an article in Southern Living Magazine about this casual dockside dining experience, and away we went.

It’s a fun, laid-back restaurant adventure with views of the Cape Fear River and Intercoastal Waterway. You can find Provision Company on Yacht Basin Drive.

Another good choice, if you’re on Yacht Basin Drive, is Fishy Fishy Cafe which also has excellent water views.

After checking in with a friend familiar with the dining landscape, we planned to visit LOCO Jo’s for lunch. It’s conveniently located on Howe Street, where several shops we were visiting are located, and the menu looked yummy.

Other Southport Restaurants that looked interesting on Howe Street are – Port of Call and Saucy Southerner.

Dog-Friendly Southport, NC Restaurant

Many Southport, NC restaurants are dog-friendly, and Rudy traveled with us.

Due to the high winds that day, we chose a waterfront view with an enclosed patio.

Lunch at Oliver’s on The Cape Fear was delicious and worked seamlessly into our thrifting adventure.

Another highly recommended dining location on Bay Street is The Frying Pan.

We were also intrigued by some restaurants we noticed on Moore Street.

Because we love oysters, Moore Street Oyster Bar looked interesting. As well as Blue Cow Grill and Southport Coffee Company.

If you need a break from site seeing and shopping, you can also check out The Wine Rack or Silver Coast Winery.

I’ve stopped in at The Wine Rack on previous visits, and it’s a great spot to people-watch as you relax.

Historic Homes

If you tire of shopping, take a stroll down the sidewalk-lined streets and take in the historic beauty of this charming coastal town.

If you love historic Southern architecture, mossy trees, and water views, you’ll want to save some energy for strolling the streets.

Conclusion

Thank you for joining us on our journey through this delightful town. Southport, NC, is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling along the beautiful North Carolina coast.

If you’re planning a trip to Wilmington or Myrtle Beach, don’t forget to add South Port to your list of places to visit.

More Thrifting With The Gals

Now it’s time to see what the other gals have been up to this month. Up next is Cindy at County Road 407, sharing her summer finds. Be sure to click on the image caption to follow along on all the thrifting adventures. You may also want to check out our New England Tour.

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