By Jacqueline Chandler/Messenger Correspondent
Often referred to as Antique Alley, The City of Attalla draws in those who love to hunt for hidden treasures in the many antique shops located in the downtown area.
Last weekend, this rich history was celebrated as the first biannual Treasures in the Street kicked off.
Vendors traveled from states such as Tennessee, Ohio and North Carolina to participate. Downtown merchants stayed open late and throughout the weekend as well. Friday evening, the Strait Way Quartet performed in the gazebo and a welcome dinner was provided to the visiting antique merchants. Gary and Pat Cardwell, vendors from Knoxville, Tenn., said they have never been treated with such hospitality as they were in Attalla.
The event was a wonderful opportunity for antique lovers and local businesses to come together for a weekend of entertainment, food and excellent deals. Vendors had everything from fine furniture to primitives. There was something for everyone looking for that certain piece of history that spoke to him/her. People could also stop in and try a banana split at the new ice cream shop/antique store located next to the Cupboard Restaurant.
Ursula and Tom Ricker of Ursula’s Vintage Collections enjoyed the town and felt that the event would continue to grow much like the show put on in Clinton, Tenn., that coordinators patterned Treasures in the Street after.
Carol Kovacevich, from Canton, North Carolina, does about 13 shows a year throughout the southeast. She loved all the antique shops downtown because that isn’t something they have in Canton. She agreed the show would grow in the coming years.
“It’s a vigorous endeavor and I give them a lot of credit for doing it,” Kovacevich added.
Attalla’s next Treasures in the Street event is scheduled for April 25 and 26, 2015.