Mechanicsville Shopping

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I'm not normally keen on antiques, but my friend and fellow VTer Lee Mitchell grooves on them a little bit. He was looking for some specific things for his new townhouse.

MECHANICSVILLE FLEA DEPOT

In the old Safeway slot at Mechanicsville Shopping Centre is a flea market. Dozens of vendors pay rent for the right to sell their wares under this gigantic roof. They offer everything from tiny collectibles to large pieces of furniture. Lee found a small table on which to place a lamp on his stairwell for a reasonable $10. To some, the things offered here may appear to be junk, but one man's rubbish is another's treasure.

Address: 7508 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Telephone Number: (804) 559-9100
General Area/Directions: at Mechanicsville Shopping Centre. Directions in that tip.

VILLAGE SHOPPES

Cattywampus from the Mechanicsville Shopping Centre is another antique store. This one, in the old Producers and Southern States (feed store) building, offers slightly more upmarket than across the street.

Address: 8034 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville, VA 23111
Telephone Number: (804) 746-7337
General Area/Directions: at the intersection of Atlee Road and the Mechanicsville Turnpike bypass.

Mechanicsville Shopping Centre is a small but significant shopping centre in downtown Mechanicsville. The strip mall is anchored by the Mechanicsville Flea Depot and a Dollar General store. Among the other tenants are Westbury Pharmacy which still has a lunch counter, a dance studio, a fish and tackle shop, and an Irish pub. In the spring, summer, and early autumn, there is a seasonal snow cone stand in the parking lot. If they wanted to keep busy the year round, they might better sell cider and hot chocolate during the autumn and winter. This shopping centre has been here for a long time, but it has adapted well to the changes. Unlike many older shopping centres in the area, this one is fully occupied as of May, 2008. When I was a child through to my early 20s, a Safeway grocery store was in the place closest to Mechanicsville Turnpike where the flea market is today.

Local farmers have their produce sold fresh here in the spring, summer, and the first half of autumn. All manner of locally grown fruit and vegetable can be found, together with jams, jellies, and vegetable-based condiment. The tomatoes can't be any fresher and the corn can't be any sweeter. This is one vestige of Mechanicsville's rural heritage that hasn't been drowned in a sea of concrete and cement.

What to buy: My favourite thing to get here is Hanover tomatoes, as well as Vidalia-style onions, and locally grown corn and melons.

For those of y'all who come to see me and stay a long time, that's the place where you go to mail your postcards and whatnots to the folks back home. I know the whole staff personally. They'll bend over backwards to help you out.

What to buy: Aside from packaging, they sell stamps, paper, and office supplies.

What to pay: You'll pay a little more than at the post office, but the service you get is much better than the little bit extra you pay.

Creighton Crossing Shopping Centre is a small strip mall located at the intersection of Mechanicsville Turnpike (Route 360 East) and Creighton Road. It is anchored by Kroger Supermarkets, but other tenants include Family Fitness Centre, the U.P.S. Store, Great Clips, Riverbound Cafe, and several other stores and services.

Anchored by Ukrop's Supermarket on one end and Kohl's Department Store and Dollar Tree on the other, Hanover Square is conveniently located between Mechanicsville Turnpike and Cold Harbor Road. Other stores and restaurants include Mrs. Wong's Chinese Restaurant and Buffet, Play It Again Sports, General Nutrition Center, Gus' Italian Cafe, Kay Bee Toys, Radio Shack, Payless Shoes and others.

The Shoppes at Bell Creek is a relatively newly-constructed strip mall in the area (as if we needed another one). It does have a few good spots like Food Lion, Mimmo's (Italian) Restaurant, Coffee Lane Cafe, Subway, Movie Gallery, and a few other places.

What to buy: When I go here, it is usually to Food Lion which sometimes has more of a selection than the one closer to me at Brandy Hill Plaza. Sometimes, however, I'll go into the coffee shop and see what they have.

What to pay: Everything here is relatively moderate in price.

Mechanicsville needs another strip mall / shopping centre about like the human body needs a third armpit. Having said that, it does come in handy to have a PetsMart nearby with a new puppy. Hanover Square just opened and there will be more than just Target, PetsMart, and Dress Barn.

What to buy: With Target in the mix, you can find just about everything here, but if you are tired of your pet using you as a chew toy, you can go to the PetsMart and bring him or her back some whatnots. A Panera bakery has also opened.