Nestled in the corner of Carrollton’s West Center Street and Minden Avenue lies an enchanting stop in Georgia’s Antique Trail. Going on three years now, Wanderin’ Rose Treasures & Antiques hosts a variety of vendors – all local – who display some of the best craftsmanship in the West Georgia area.
Owners Wanda Akin, LaVonda Summerville, and LaRessa Altman take antiquing and crafts sales to the next level by cultivating a culture of genuine interest in anyone who wants to show their artwork to the world. From homemade candles to baby clothes to vintage furniture, Summerville and her team carefully selected and skillfully arranged twenty vendors in their tiny shop resting on a little less than a fifth of an acre. Many customers who come in express their surprise at how large the place seems in comparison to outside appearances.
Ultimately, that’s what Wanda and her two daughters, LaVonda Summerville and LaRessa Altman, seek to accomplish via the furniture into which they breathe new life. You’ll see themes of restoration as you wander through the various booths and wall displays – even their holiday decorations have had previous lives.
What the girls and their mama called “junkin’” back in the day – trinket and antique excursions – built up inspiration for Wanderin’ Rose. The trio would go to various antique malls and shops and see potential for new life in many of the items that others would cast aside. Wanda herself had dreamed for years of having her own stall at a flea market or antique shop, so when she retired from the Carroll County School System in 2019, she decided to give furniture restoration a shot. A local antique shop rented out a booth to her, which, even through a six-week closure during the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, turned out to be wildly successful.
“When I retired, my kids knew I was going to be so bored,” Wanda laughs.
The boredom didn’t last for long. Soon she and her daughters were searching for a larger space, one that would fit not only their own restorations, but other’s creations as well. It didn’t take long for the women to snag small-time vendors who started out in a similar way they themselves had just a few years prior.
“We weren’t even looking for a place to buy, we were just looking for a larger place to rent,” Wanda says. “But after we looked at a place in downtown Carrollton, we held hands and said a prayer to ask the Lord if this was a good idea. As soon as we finished praying, someone called us to say they were willing to sell the building to us!”
After settling with a loan, the women immediately went to work setting up their website and Facebook to get the word out. Knowing that the location sat in a place where people tend to whiz by, they want everyone to know that they are just across the street from Carrollton’s Dairy Queen.
Wanderin’ Rose celebrates new arrivals regularly by not only posting frequently on their Facebook, but also by hosting monthly events where vendors and customers alike can enjoy time with their loved ones. Some months offer DIY workshops or tea parties; other months, like for Easter, hold egg hunts in the shop and out on the lawn. They even had an Easter Bunny visit with discounts hidden all throughout the store.
For June, Wanderin’ Rose will be holding a Sock Hop event on the 22nd. You can stay updated with the details on their Facebook.
On July 27, Wanderin’ Rose will celebrate their big three year anniversary where they will have swag bags and giveaways. LaVonda says, “We always celebrate big for our anniversary each year”.
In August, LaVonda plans to host the Kid’s Market where crafty kids can sell anything they’ve made over their summer break. The Kid’s Market reflects the womens’ desire to cultivate creativity within the community by offering children a chance to experience how their art can make someone’s day. Even now Wanderin’ Rose’s hosts a vendor only ten years old whose paintings have brought smiles – and sales – to the shop.
Find your next unique gift or treasure at Wanderin’ Rose, located at 208 West Center Street in Carrollton. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 A. M. to 5:30 P. M. and are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The new Sassy Sugar Shead, located inside Wanderin’ Rose is a sweet place indeed with iced coffee, specialty drinks, fried pies, and more. That is open just Thursday – Saturday.
Interested vendors and customers can give them a call at 678-601-3779. For more information regarding their events and products, visit their Facebook or their website, www.wanderinrosetreasures.antiquetrail.com.
