Alabama is home to several shopping destinations, including a variety of flea markets. One of the state's best flea markets, in which you'll find a variety of items, is Lee County Flea Market. For information about this year-round flea market, take a look below.
Lee County Flea Market is located in Smiths Station, Alabama. With 400+ tables of goods, it's one of the state's largest outdoor flea markets.
Since opening for business in 1988, this open air flea market has attracted numerous visitors from all across the Yellowhammer State and beyond. After all, it's a wonderful place to shop if you enjoy finding great deals.
advertisement
Speaking of shopping, Lee County Flea Market sells a variety of new, old, and gently used items. From costume jewelry and apparel for all ages, to...
...antique housewares and vintage toys, there's something for everyone.
During your visit, you'll also find lots of furniture, some of which is handmade, and...
advertisement
...have access to lots of fresh produce grown by local farmers.
The next time you're passing through Smiths Station, Alabama on a weekend, consider stopping by Lee County Flea Market to do a little shopping. With such a variety of items for sale, not to mention great deals, you won't leave empty handed.
For more information about Lee County Flea Market, you can view its website here. Hours: Saturday-Sunday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine.
Have you ever shopped at Lee County Flea Market in Smiths Station, Alabama? If so, please share your experience with us in the comments below.
I Discovered Great Deals at This Alabama Outdoor Apparel Store That’s Been Around Since 1953
Shop deep discounts on big brands at Wiley's Trading Company, a longtime, family-owned outdoor apparel store in Decatur, Alabama that's been in business over 70 years.
Anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors knows being dressed for success makes a world of difference. And by "time outdoors," I mean everything from backpacking and camping in extreme climates to dog walking and grilling burgers poolside. Admittedly, while I fall in the latter categories, even I can appreciate feeling a little fancy with nice hiking shoes and a top-quality hammock on the easiest of trails. Especially when I can get a deal on them!
advertisement
That fact, a friend's recommendation, and seeing frequent comedic ads in my social feed led me to explore Wiley's Trading Company, our hometown, independent outdoor apparel store in Decatur, Alabama.
The store, founded in 1953, is among the River City's longest-running businesses. Until the mid-1970s, the store operated in the heart of downtown Decatur, at the intersection of Bank and Lee streets. Customers today know to find it on the southern end of Gateway Shopping Center on Sixth Avenue, where it's been the last quarter of a century.
Those who've been around awhile might recall it was the former location of a Sears, and that big space is necessary to contain all the inventory you'll find at Wiley's – "better brands and even better prices," as second-generation owner David Wiley says.
When I say I've seen many "comedic ads," I mean the tone has a delivery style similar to the late Southern comedian Jerry Clower: "This cool stuff has Gotta Go! ... Gotta get to Wiley's! ... Tell your friends! Tell you momma! Tell Marcel & 'em!" one promoted post reads. I couldn't pin down the reference and asked friends, who quickly came to the rescue. Some poked a little fun at me for not being more culturally tuned in. It wasn't that I hadn't heard of Clower; I just didn't remember many details. (I guess my mind is getting full.)
Fun fact: Clower, who passed in 1998, was an early customer of the store back when he traveled as a seed and fertilizer salesman in the 1950s, Wiley told me.
And from what I can tell, the deals are worth all the shoutin'. I saw a pair of men's Teva mocs at a price lower than I've ever found on them, and I am working on my third pair. You'll find other discounts on brands like The North Face, ENO, Patagonia, YETI, Life is Good, Chaco, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Southern Shirt, TurtleBox, Big Green Egg ... and that's just a handful. Most prices are marked, and if you have something special in mind, Wiley may be able to cut you an even better deal on the spot. He has that flexibility since the store is independent, allowing him to build relationships with suppliers over many years of business, control inventory, and adjust profit margins.
While thinking over a great deal on a new ENO hammock – and I don't really need a new one, but certainly want a new one for the deal offered – I wandered to the history display for the store. I noticed the row of beautiful images I recognized as scenes from our beautiful Point Mallard Park. Like many people here, I wholly love the Point Mallard Trails for the treasure they are in every season. It's for good reason they top the list of local trails on AllTrails. (Sign up for AllTrails to get exclusive details on these trails and thousands more).
When I asked about the photos, I learned Wiley took them all. Both main trailheads for the Point Mallard Trails are just three miles east of the store.
"That's the big reason we're here," Wiley says "I walked our dogs there every day for years," pointing to his late pups' portraits in line with all of the landscapes.
Now, a dog story is usually all it takes to sell me on anything, so consider me sold on Wiley's Trading Company. Pup stories aside, I can't think of a better place to stop and shop locally on your way to the trails – or any other outdoor adventure. You'll show up in style and save money you can instead spend elsewhere on whatever you've got planned.
Have you had a chance to explore this outdoor apparel store in Decatur, Alabama? We'd love to hear about your best finds!
Sip a mocha latte, assemble an uncommon flower arrangement, and find the perfect permanent jewelry at Gas Light Alley. And that's just a few of the fun things you'll find within this charming village of shops in Huntsville, Alabama. It's a must-explore section of the city's growing Stovehouse district, which began to blossom around 2018. What's in the name? The district's centerpiece development was the site of a stove factory from the late 1920s through 2000.
advertisement
Today, it has about three dozen spots to eat, play, lounge, hear live music, meet, and do business in style.
The latest additions at Stovehouse are the shops of Gas Light Alley. While the shops are on-trend, very Now, and fun to browse, there's even more than meets the eye, individually and collectively. All of the shops are woman-owned, independent, small businesses. While that wasn't a lease requirement or anything, serendipity made it so.
And it gets better: Some are social enterprises benefiting local causes. For example, the cute corner coffee shop, Charlie Foster's, employs people with special needs. Meanwhile, Noella's Flowers benefits a nonprofit the owner founded with her husband, called Make It Matter: The Collective, which serves foster teens. The organization connects them with mentoring, housing assistance, and other services as they age out of the child welfare system and into independent living.
At The Vessel, you can support local artists by shopping for one-of-a-kind pottery or develop and hone your talents through classes and workshops. There's also an option for experienced potters to purchase time and materials to use the studio space and equipment.
Fashion-forward folks will enjoy the colorful boutique, Belle Maison Collection, which specializes in clothing, home goods, and gift items.
Specializing in permanent jewelry and other handcrafted pieces, Lauren Kenzie has an artfully presented array of accessories to complement (or make) any ensemble.
advertisement
These are simply a sampling of the small businesses that make up Gas Light Alley. It also includes a party planning shop, gift shop, a clothier, a pilates studio and boutique, a group fitness training studio, a home furnishings shop, and more.
As for where and what to eat, just around the corner from Gas Light Alley are more than a half-dozen varied options from crepes to barbecue to ramen. Don't forget there's also a sweet spot for decadent milkshakes and other treats. While people love to eat outdoors in the courtyard when weather permits, there is an adjacent indoor dining space called The Booth.
If nothing strikes your fancy in the food court, keep in mind that a longtime local favorite for downhome country cooking, The Blue Plate Cafe, is just around the corner. Or you can save that one for the next day. As one of the hottest cities in the country and always with something happening, Huntsville merits a stay. We recommend at least a couple of days just to see a few of the highlights.
You can learn more about Gas Light Alley on the Stovehouse website and keep up with its latest news on the Stovehouse Facebook page.
What do you think about this charming village of shops in Huntsville, Alabama? We'd love to hear your thoughts and please share tips if you're a regular.