Patterson's Mill Country Store   

5109 Farrington Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
919-493-8149
www.durham-nc.com/planners/group_tours/pattersons_mill.php

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The Scoop: Shop for something new and compare it with something you might be buying in a turn-of-the-century store. Patterson's Mill Country Store has the look and feel of an old store, but it was actually built in 1973 from old building materials. The real antiques are inside and decorating every nook and corner: old coffee cans, lard buckets and signage advertising various brands of milk, cigarettes and colas. In one section of the store is a replica of a 1920s-style doctor's office and a pharmacy with all the wonder medicines, salves and ointments of the good old days. A variety of newer items are available for sale, including fine handcrafted pottery, sterling silver jewelry and Christmas ornaments made by local artisans. There are dolls, sock-monkey puppets and penny candy (that truly sells for a penny). The store's most popular products include its own line of jams and jellies, which are produced in the mountains, and dollhouse kits, furniture and accessories. The Scene: This shop-cum-museum is a bit off the beaten track but is conveniently located within equal distance of the downtown areas of Durham and Chapel Hill. It's a popular tourist destination with as many as 50,000 people visiting annually. October to Christmas marks the busiest season with the locals, who make their annual pilgrimage for holiday gifts and Christmas trees. Insider Tips: The store offers informal tours to both small and large groups. One of the best days to visit is when the store kicks off the holiday shopping season with its annual open house on the first or second weekend of November (Nov. 9-10, 2002). It's a time when it's bursting with gifts and free samples of foods and hot mulled cider. -- Linda Frahm