Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
The Chelsea Peddler owner Bobbye Hudspeth made necessary repairs to the building at 11580 Shelby County 47 to open her shop in April. She carries unique vintage items and said her inventory will constantly be changing.
One of the vacated buildings near Chelsea City Hall recently gained a new tenant. Bobbye Hudspeth opened The Chelsea Peddler, a shop full of vintage items, on April 13.
Located in the former Sherry’s Hair Designs, the building was built in the 1940s at the intersection of Shelby County 39 and Shelby County 47 across from City Hall.
Hudspeth is bringing life back into the space that has been vacant for six years. She said she is a history buff and it brings her great joy to feel the past there.
After spending her entire life on her family’s farm in Marshall County, Hudspeth decided to make the move to Chelsea and make a new start after her husband passed away.
“I had a friend who lived in Chelsea who thought I would love it,” she said. “Chelsea just sounded cute and cool. I didn’t have any family left and was alone and decided I could go anywhere I wanted and do anything I wanted.”
After getting settled in her fixer-upper home with help from friends, Hudspeth said she felt lost. Because she had dabbled with vintage items and had antique mall booths and a love of thrift shopping, she decided she would start flipping furniture. She kept driving by the old building and knew she wanted to have a store there.
After contacting the owner, she was told if she would make the needed repairs, she could rent it. She took care of most of the necessary repairs, but the building still has no water or electricity.
Hudspeth said her store has unique treasures and will have vintage farmhouse furniture, signs, custom painted pieces and vintage and quirky art, as well as funky junk and odds and ends. They also offer bulk dried herbs for crafting.
Photo by Leah Ingram Eagle.
The Chelsea Peddler owner Bobbye Hudspeth made necessary repairs to the building at 11580 Shelby County 47 to open her shop in April. She carries unique vintage items and said her inventory will constantly be changing.
The inventory will constantly be changing. Hudspeth will go to estate sales, auctions and thrift stores to find items for her shop. She even travels to Ohio to find items and brings them back in her truck.
“If you come and don’t like what’s here, don’t judge by that day,” she said. “I have people bringing stuff in, and I am out and about. It’s not like a regular store that has certain stock and inventory — it changes.”
She will offer a variety of classes, including furniture painting and classes for kids. A writer for 35 years, Hudspeth may also offer writing and blogging classes.
“For 40 years I’ve been avid crafter,” she said. “I’ve done almost every craft there is, and I’m getting old enough now that I’m feeling I want to share the things I’ve learned.”
Hudspeth said she loves giving life to something that had no chance and felt like that’s what happened to her.
“I was at the bottom, and now I’m crawling back up,” she said. “I love the idea of making something useless useful again.”
During her open house, a former owner of the building stopped by to chat with her about the vintage store she had there 45 years ago.
“I will take this old building without power and water over any mall shop any day,” Hudspeth said. “This building fits me. I’m not offended at all to be called a junk store. I’ve been a junk gypsy from way back. I am so happy when I’m rambling through and am always looking in something needs to be rescued.”
The Chelsea Peddler is located at 11580 Shelby County 47. Regular hours will be10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to2 p.m. Saturdays.
If people stop by and the doors are open, it means Hudspeth is there, and she said they are welcome to come in. If the door is closed and they can wait a few minutes, call 618-9834 or text her at 517-2752 and she will come open up.
For class information, visit thechelseapeddler.com.