Retropolitan

This store is no longer here — they’ve moved to another state.

Beautifully, well-​curated, unique pieces. I didn’t find they were overly expensive (it was a mix of semi-​pricey and reasonably affordable). I only just discovered Retropolitan and was devastated to hear they were closing in mid-​November – and then instantly relieved to find that they are just moving over to the Gaslamp antiques mall near 100 Oaks. Whew! Will be back.

I would literally own 80% of this store if I was independently wealthy… straight up. They were having a 30% off the entire store sale last Saturday and I was tempted to pull the trigger on damn near everything. The only thing that halted me was that I need to put a plan of action together for dressing up my new loft space. I should have done this months ago but my schedule just hasn’t permitted me to doing so… ah, excuses!
Ranging from beautiful vintage dining room tables to quirky chairs and pillows, you can find unique focal pieces here very easily. Prices range from affordable to high-​end but I feel as if they have a nice balance of inventory. Some artwork was also displayed near the front along with curated jewelry and some other local finds.
If you’re looking for ordinary (or vanilla) pieces, this is not the place for you.
Example:I have a couple of kitschy (yet beautiful) framed flamenco dancers in my home already and everyone seems to notice them immediately when they walk into my home.
I know that when I actually do dedicate some time, Retropolitan will be a frequent resource for me.

So I finally got to go to Retropolitan after my dentist appt today.
The first time I went I got there at 10:15AM on a Saturday because they are supposed to open at 10 and I wanted to get there early so I wouldn’t have to fight the restaurant/​bar traffic. No luck — still closed despite the sign on the door that said 10AM. Tried again after going somewhere else… this time about 11AM. Doors still closed, lights off. If you want people to come and spend $$$ you need to be open when you say you will. It’s been over a month now for me to randomly end up coming back. If I hadn’t been a block away at the dentist I probably wouldn’t have. Just saying.
Aaaah the stuff in here though is so freakin cool. The white corduroy couch with the red puffy pillows on it… want! The silver burst mirror — want! The curved white leather chair in the window — want! Cool light fixtures, fun lamps, retro chairs and tables — want want want! Not a cheaply priced place but the furniture is nice. Oh and a couple of really cool rugs too. Man, I could spend a ton of money in that place if only I had a ton of money to spend! If you like retro furniture with a fun, funky, mod vibe then you are going to dig it. They also randomly had a selection of purses and some shirts in the back.
Overall it was cool and a 4 star for the stuff in there… but minus one for not opening when they say they will. Probably a one time thing… at least I hope so!

This store leaves a lot to be desired… I had high hopes for a retro inspired design showroom. I’m not in the market for any furniture at this point in time, but I still enjoy visiting places like this just for «ooh’s and ahh’s».
They do have vintage and antique furniture, but the showroom is so big that the few pieces they have barely made an impression on me. There is a gorgeous retro armoir from the mid 1930’s (on hold), with no price and the other main piece is a 1950’s snow white cocktail settee (or «couch» for all of you non-​anglophiles).
Another main thing that caught my eye were the paper lamps and paper parasols hanging from the ceiling. They seemed a bit overpriced. Oh, and one last thing: there was original art hanging on the walls seemingly for sale. One that stands out in my mind was the giraffe riding a motorcycle. Very cute and original, though I didn’t feel that the art they are selling would appeal to the sort that shops in antique shops.
Over all, I felt the store has a lot of potential, but it is a mishmash of a couple of different styles (think retro meets cutesy 12 year old meets oriental traders).
Perhaps I walked in on a bad day and they don’t have much inventory right now. I’ll probably go back to see what they have in a few months. I can’t really expect a place like this to carry stock that’s always the same.

My Favorite design store in Nashville! Amy and Katie are GREAT.
Molly Malone

Retropolitan is a slice of Apartment Therapy right in Nashville. Actually, it’s more like stepping into a magazine spread. Think Real Simple, Domino (R.I.P.) and the like.
It’s got the mod-​chic thing down, and the pages turn from one exceptionally staged «room» to another without any of those annoying advertisements for Oil of Olay that you might find in a real magazine. You’ll find unique light fixtures, velvet drapery, fleur de lis prints, mirrored fixtures, cowhide throw pillows, textured sofas… I could go on for a while.
There’s no way I could fit any of these things into my carry-​on to take back to Minneapolis with me, so I wasn’t closely examining the price tags. Nothing seemed outlandish though.
Nashville, you’re lucky to have this place in town!