Which is more fun when it comes to antiques shopping – the hunting or the gathering? With one of Norfolk’s newest players on the vintage shopping scene, you can accomplish both at the same time.
Owned by local antiques dealer Michael Millard-Lowe, Hunt and Gather is a one-of-a-kind hot spot for treasure seekers situated in a spacious building off 21st Street in Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood. The sprawling space features a carefully curated selection of vintage finds and handcrafted delights from local vendors and makers, offering a little bit of something for everyone.
Store manager Emily Holt is one of 66 vendors across 79 booths selling everything from Mid-Century Modern home decor to antiques, vintage electronics, handcrafted jewelry, books and even some more contemporary finds dating back to the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Holt’s booth, named Happy Pig Co. is a self-described “sweet little boutique filled with frivolous necessities.” Some of those necessities include eye-catching car air fresheners in a variety of scents and designs – from happy pigs to aliens and floral patterns. As with some of the other vendors, Holt also sells her wares on online platforms like Etsy.
An Upscale Flea Market
Running the shop, she says, is a dream come true. Quite a bit of hard work has gone into transforming Hunt and Gather into the hand-picked experience it is today.
“Before, it was a bit overwhelming,” Holt says of the space that reopened under new ownership in February 2023. “Like a big palette of paint mixed together.”
Now, themed booths allow each vendor to showcase their own personal aesthetic. One booth features hand-sewn aprons, pillows and bags, while another is occupied by popular local seller Hank’s Vintage. This mix of styles allows shoppers to travel back in time from the 19th Century to modern times, shopping on their own terms while they discover their next great find.
”This is the thrifting experience for people who don’t want to go thrifting,” Holt says. “Some people find thrift stores to be too chaotic. Here, I can see the vendor’s aesthetic and I don’t have to think too hard about what I want.”
Holt grew up shopping with her Mom for antiques in Maryland and always dreamed of being a part of a curated experience like Hunt and Gather.
“I wanted this store to be like that. People could come in and see everything at every price point and aesthetic.”
Currently, Hunt and Gather has a wait list for vendors, but has recently added a new space for micro businesses who don’t need a full booth but want to share their collection with the broad audience.
With several vendors refreshing their items daily, Holt says, “There’s no other store like this in Norfolk. We tried to make sure we had a lighter, more airy space for the locals here.”
As for the future of Hunt and Gather, Holt says it’s bright.
“It’s a river right now, but eventually, it’ll become the Grand Canyon.”
Hunt and Gather is located at 110 W. 21st St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Follow them on Instagram.
