FAIRHOPE, Ala. — When Edward C. Skinner opened Edward C. Skinner Antiques 35 years ago in Rockville, Md., he never dreamed it would bring him to downtown Fairhope. Yet for the last three years he has been comfortably nestled in next to Betty G. Haynie Antiques and Fine Art and more than 10 other antique stores in the downtown area.

Fellow antique shop owner, Kevin McCandless, seemed to agree with Skinner when he laughed “How can you come to Fairhope and not stay?”

McCandless, who bought A Fairhope Find last February, says his store is full of “personality” and variety with over 15 dealers to choose from.

“Fairhope is a ‘walking town’ reminiscent of what towns used to be like in the Old South making it a great place to own a small business” said Baxter Fargason, one of the owners of Crown Colony Antiques Etc. Beside Crown Colony Antiques Etc., The Fargasons own Aubergine and R.F. Architectural & Garden, all of which specialize in European imported antiques they personally collect while travelling abroad.

One of the largest shops in town is the Fairhope Antiquery owned by husband and wife, Keith and Jennifer Schmitt. The Schmitts and their three boys moved here from New Orleans in July 2007 and love this quaint city. The Fairhope Antiquery has over 35 dealers and specializes in diversity. Old items from the Grand Hotel in Point Clear are some of their best sellers.

“The variety at the Antiquery is interesting” commented Tina Wettermark of Fairhope. “The hope that I might find that one special thing I want to take home” is what appeals to Wettermark about antique shopping at the Schmitt’s store.

Michelle Craft, one of the three owners of Downtown Antiques, has lived here most of her life said, “I do business here because Fairhope is home.” Her store features Depression glass and coins.

Mother/daughter team, Shea Dunigan and Gayla Young, owners of Orleans Antiques and Gifts have been in business for 11 years and love Fairhope for its “charm and quaintness.” They specialize in French, English and American Classical fine antiques and also antique rugs.

Third generation, Fairhope native, John Nelson of Nelson Galleries, has not been in the antique business as long as he and his family been in Fairhope. He and his wife, Mary-Ann, retired after 25 years at Mary Ann’s Deli downtown. After three years he “retired from retirement” and opened Nelson Galleries last March. Nelson Galleries specializes in antiques, rare gourmet items and art, but one thing really unique to this store is their “antique soap.”

The story behind Fels-Naptha Heavy Duty Laundry Soap is that over 100 years ago, Joseph Fels (Fels Avenue is named after him) made his fortune in Philadelphia, Pa. and used that fortune to buy land and help settle property known today as the Single Tax Colony of Fairhope. By definition an antique is something over 100 years old. While the soap’s formula is over 100 years old, the soap is new in the box, so technically it probably does not count as an antique, but it’s a great souvenir for a shopper to remember their day antiquing in downtown Fairhope.

P.J. Bass McAleer, owner of the Silver Market and Lace Emporium, has learned what draws people to her store over the last 27 years she has been in business in Fairhope.

‘“It is the thing within the thing,’ that is so appealing about antiques to many people,” she said. “It is not about owning the fancy lace or auspicious silver, it is the time shared over these old items, the history and sentiment passed down from generation to generation that turns the antiques into family traditions and heirlooms.”

Antique shoppers, George and Donna Fletcher of Franklin, Tenn., share the same sentiment as McAleer.

“We spend a month in Orange Beach every year and be sure to come antiquing in Fairhope at least twice during our stay” said George as he browsed around Copper Roof Antiques. “We like antiques — too much some times,” George laughed.

His wife, Donna, said, “It is like a treasure hunt. It is getting so hard to find some of the things I grew up with, but when you do manage to, what a great feeling.

Even though a love of the past is what keeps these shops in business, with shoppers like Fletcher on the hunt for nostalgic treasures, Fairhope’s antique district’s future looks like it will be making history for a long time to come.

A Fairhope Antiquery

100 North Section Street

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

Specialties: Features over 35 dealers with high quality antiques at antique mall prices

Copper Roof Antiques

416 Fairhope Avenue

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

Specialties: collectibles

Downtown Antiques

31 South Section Street

Mon- Sat 10am-5:30pm

Specialties: coin and Depression glass

The Silver Market

19164 Scenic Hwy 98

(also featured inside Nelson Galleries)

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm and by appointment

Specialties: antique sterling silver and handmade laces and linens from the late 1800’s.

Nelson Galleries

56 South Section Street

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

Specialties: Antiques, fine art, specialty gourmet items.

A Fairhope Find

52 South Section Street

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

Specialties: “Personality” and diversity

Edwin C. Skinner Antiques

33 North Section Street

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

Specialties: Period piece furnishings, specifically pre-1830 American and English furniture, silver and art

Aubergine

315 A-De La Mar

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

Specialties: French Culinary Antiques

R.F. Architectural and Garden

207 Fels Avenue

Mon- Sat 10am-5pm

Specialties: direct importers of French, English, Italian and Belgium antiques specializing in architectural and garden antiques.

Orleans Antiques and Gifts

Mon- Fri 10am-5pm Sat 10-3pm

Specialties: fine art, antique rugs, French, English and American Classical Antiques

Betty G. Haynie Antiques and Fine Art

15 North Section Street

Mon- Sat 11am-5pm

Specialties: American, English and Country French furniture plus ceramics, silver, paintings and decorative accessories.