This Historic Gas Station Is Now Home To Kentucky's Most Charming Antique Shop
By Andrea Limke|Published February 02, 2019
×
Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
When driving through a Kentucky town, you’ll often pass an old building, standing vacant and awaiting a new life. You may not give these structures much thought beyond wondering what they once were, but thankfully, some locals step up and try to bring these buildings back to life. In Paducah, a local couple saw the potential in a historic gas station on a street corner in town. This gas station is now Frenchtown Station, and it happens to be Kentucky’s most charming antique shop.
On a street corner in the historic Frenchtown area of Paducah once sat a gas station that had been built in the 1930s. As most residents weren't thrilled with these new filling stations being constructed in their neighborhoods, designer Ray Black modeled it after an English cottage to make it appear more like a home than an eye sore.
This unique little building was, indeed, a gas station for a number of years, as well as a cosmetic studio, beauty salon, and a photography studio. It then sat empty for two decades until 2016 when a local couple decided to bring it back to life.
Chris and Ginny Hutson definitely achieved their goal of restoring this little beauty to her former glory while also breathing 21st-century life into her walls. The former gas station is now an antique shop that's filled with a variety of items that are sure to bring joy to any space in your life.
When paying this shop a visit, be prepared to have a permanent smile on your face, as Frenchtown Station is even more charming on the inside than it is on the exterior. The space isn't large, but you'll be surprised how many treasures you'll find inside.
The owners carefully select each item that graces the shelves, which are filled with antiques, vintage items, as well as reclaimed and repurposed pieces. You're bound to find something that catches your eye.
The atmosphere of this shop is what makes it so special and charming. Of course, the vintage items have a lot to do with it, but the restoration of the building itself also makes this shopping destination just as interesting as the items inside.
That original designer of the gas station, the one who designed it as this charming cottage, actually had a hand in bringing it back to life as well. He went on to create a successful construction business, and it was his grandson, great-grandson, and their family company who helped to renew the purpose of this lovely Paducah building.
Frenchtown Station is a wonderful example of the joy that comes from bringing a historic building back to life. And anyone who visits can benefit from its restoration, as it is now the most charming antique shop in Kentucky.
Frenchtown Station was originally built to evoke feelings of home, and it’s incredible that it is able to continue on in this manner with its new life as an adorable antique shop. Have you visited this charming shop? Let us know what you think and feel free to share similar places with us in the comments!
Frenchtown Station is located at 1102 Jefferson St., Paducah, KY 42001. For more information, visit its website here and follow along on Facebook here. The shop is open on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Sunday and Monday.
And for another can’t-miss attraction in Paducah, check out our previous article here.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
