6 Shops to Visit in Marshall, NC (From an NC Native)

Marshall, North Carolina, is a picturesque mountain town, sandwiched around the French Broad River. It’s conveniently located less than 30 minutes from downtown Asheville, NC. Making for an easy afternoon trip, perfect for exploring the various shops in Marshall.

Also, the views of the river with the mountain backdrop as you wind towards the town are *travelers kiss*.

The town saw record flooding as a result of Hurricane Helene in 2024. Due to excessive rainfall and the location of the river, the downtown area was covered in water, reaching up to the first-floor ceilings of establishments like Zadie’s Market.

I hadn’t heard of Marshall until watching videos of the storm’s destruction. Sad but true. I knew once it started to reopen, I was going to make it my mission to visit. My mom and I spent 5 days touring across multiple mountain towns near Asheville, so we dedicated an afternoon to exploring the shops in Marshall.

While the effects of Hurricane Helene are very visible as you drive into town, so is the resilience of the residents. You’ll see workers and volunteers building (and rebuilding) structures around open and many still closed stores. It’s amazing to hear the store owners talk of the town’s support as they’ve worked to rebuild. The beauty of a tight-knit community.

With all that, there are plenty of shops open to make for a nice afternoon to eat, shop, and stroll. Businesses that are now open, like the ones below in Marshall, are in desperate need of tourism. Plus, seeing the devastation up close further instills the continual support towns like Marshall across Western North Carolina need (see how you can help here).

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE SHOPS IN MARSHALL, NC

• Zadie’s Market: Perfect spot to grab a bite to eat (love the mac and cheese!), a beverage, and a spot outside next to the river. Also had my first Devil’s Foot sparkling strawberry-lemonade soda here and 10/10 recommend.
• Flow: Large shop featuring a range of work from local Western NC artists (and run by artists)! It was amazing to speak to the woman who was running the counter the day we visited and learn how they repaired the shop after the floods. You’ll notice different woods make up the floor, some of which were there before (and able to be salvaged), fitted with the new panels that came from other buildings around town. Like a beautiful community hardwood patchwork. 
• Main Street Comics & Games: Small shop with plenty of games and comics to choose from (as the name suggests). Plus, tables where you can play some of your favorite games with others.
• Ginny Lou’s: One of my favorite shops in Marshall. Stop in for a new plant, some art, or even a tea!
• The Bobo Market: Cute little shop with an array of sustainable goods, knick-knacks, and even homemade ice cream.
• Madison Natural Foods: I was so impressed by how robust this small natural grocery store is! Lots to choose from, from produce and dairy to snacks, drinks, and even a refillable section with nuts, grains, and more! Love that it’s a family-owned establishment as well.

If you check out any of these shops, tag @accentgolden in your posts on social so I can see what you get up to! Check out my full video recap on Marshall, NC, here.

There were a few other shops open for business that simply weren’t open the afternoon we visited. But I’m more than happy to go back to this little town for another explore. 

For the latest travel experiences and itineraries, sign up for my newsletter and follow @accentgolden across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest!