Day Tripper: Time to deck the Halls, Tennessee
Holiday decorations are in abundance at Charlene's Colony of Shoppes, a collection of shops in a compound of farmhouses in Halls, Tenn. “It started out with just gifts, and then my customers wanted stuff for their home, so then we had rugs. Then I started selling antiques, and then furniture and on and on,” said owner Charlene Roberts. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Charlene's is the largest store in the collection of shops. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Holiday decorations are in abundance at Charlene's Colony in Halls, Tenn. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Customers at Charlene's browse knickknacks among the holiday decorations. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Christmas is everywhere at Charlene’s Colony, from trees to garlands to wreaths to ornaments to stockings to ribbon. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
The Just Divine Tea Room is housed in the former Hale’s Point Baptist Church, which sat on stilts down the road in the Mississippi bottoms. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Customers enjoy lunch at the Just Divine Tea Room at Charlene’s Colony in Halls, Tenn. “I had to have a place for people to eat because it’s not like there’s a lot around here, and we needed something,” said owner Charlene Roberts. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Neely’s Farmhouse, part of the colony, is in a building that was the World War II hospital at the Halls Air Base. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
While it’s all about the holidays right now (the Christmas sale started Dec. 1), Charlene’s Colony of Shoppes in Halls, Tenn., is a destination year-round. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
Charlene's Colony of Shoppes is located at 2257 Highway 88 in Halls, Tenn. “Most people drive over an hour to get to us and some drive three or four,” said owner Charlene Roberts. “We appreciate that ... .” (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian)
A sprawling collection of mostly historic buildings and farmhouses makes up Charlene’s Colony in Halls, Tennessee, which is decked out with more holiday decorations than you’ve likely seen in one place.
Topics
Day Tripper Charlene's Colony Charlene Roberts Rachel Cunningham HallsJennifer Biggs
Jennifer Biggs is a native Memphian and veteran food writer and journalist who covers all things food, dining and spirits related for The Daily Memphian.
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