Treasure hunters around the state and beyond know to make University Pickers a first stop when seeking a conversation piece of furniture, unusual home décor, or the perfect gift. Recently it's become a stop for delicious Filipino specialty drinks, too.

This décor and antique market in Huntsville, Alabama has been around since 2013, when sisters Tricia Gleason and Cindi Pope launched their business as a booth.

These days, their enterprise covers 24,000 square feet and two floors of more than 200 businesses. Each vendor showcases their fabulous finds and creative products in thoughtfully curated shops filled with handmade, vintage, and antique furniture, plus fashion, art, and gifts. Visitors have told them it's like "Pinterest come alive." A calendar packed with special events and DIY classes enhances that vibe.

Make the most of your time exploring all the goods by stopping at one of the newer businesses inside University Pickers, Kape Tayo, a Filipino Coffee Shop serving classic coffee drinks and Filipino specialties. Kape Tayo translates to "Let's have coffee," and people have been eager to take the invitation. Customers love the shop's signature drink, Ube Kape, or "purple coffee" as folks call it for its bold color that comes from a key ingredient – ube, a sweet purple yam.

A couple of years ago, owners Gordon and Riza Krom moved to Alabama from Oregon, where they had a popular food truck offering Filipino cuisine. When Gordon retired from his day job, the couple decided to sell the business and move South for their retirement adventures. While they've been enjoying time being closer to friends and family here, they couldn't find anywhere local making the delicious Filipino drinks they were used to serving (and enjoying themselves!). So they launched Kape Tayo, much to the joy of their growing fan base. You can learn more about their menu and featured drinks by following Kape Tayo, LLC on Facebook.

University Pickers is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. The second Saturday of each month is a prime time to visit when the business hosts the Merrimack Market, named for the historic Merrimack District in which it's located. Besides the usual great vendors you find indoors, the outdoor area fills with pop-up vendors selling everything from fresh veggies and baked goods to handmade jewelry and art. If you are looking for a stylish place to stay in the Rocket City, I recommend 106 Jefferson in the heart of downtown.

You can find the full events calendar on the University Pickers website and catch the latest news on the University Pickers Facebook page. Have you shopped at this décor and antique market in Huntsville, Alabama? We'd love to hear all about your favorite businesses there.