John T.
Yelp
3.5
I'll admit from the bat: I didn't come to Apple & Oak and have a typical experience so ymmv with my review. I didn't come in search of home furnishings and I didn't avail myself of the rugs they're known for. I did see a mirror that caught my eye but it was at a price point I didn't want to explore so I kept it moving. Know this: the store is very small and if you're the only patron, it will feel a bit awkward walking around. When I find myself in these situations, I buy things. I buy things not because I want them or think the purchases make sense. I buy them because I feel badly about being in the store with the owner and I *don't* want to buy anything. I'm not good at browsing. Does that make sense? I mean, I know it doesn't make sense but can you follow my train of thought?
So, Apple & Oak. Small store. Furniture-ish (there's more than just home furnishings) store. Very sweet owner. I walked in not knowing what to expect and found myself in an episode of The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl but instead of Black Girl it's Black Guy and instead of Issa Rae's millions and awards, I'm making due without... for now. But we're both still awkward! Once I walked in and realized a.) the owner was arm's length away from me and b.) I didn't see anything I wanted to buy, I realized that I needed to walk around until I could find something to buy. I probably wore a hole in the concrete, pacing back and forth, all the while sorting of smiling and keeping my head down... which was probably creepy. Ugh. Why wasn't there someone else in the store so I could make my getaway?
I looked at art (nice but nothing I could give as a present). I checked out some jewelry (the Branded Collective; very important but a bit too heavy for whom I was shopping). I looked at some rugs (what the heck was I doing looking at rugs?). I was starting to panic a bit. Why couldn't I just thank the owner, wave and leave? This is why I don't go shopping on a regular basis. Rounding the corner for the third time, I happened upon a pink 'Nashville' hat. Perfect. I'll take it. Appropriately 'girly.' Something that could be used with regularity. A present that was local and (somewhat) personal. I'll take it. Because I don't know when enough is enough, I also picked up an ornament. The ornament looked nicer on the box than outside of it but I'd picked it up. I'd committed. I was doing this. I brought my items to the owner to pay. I smiled, swiped my card, made some small talk... and another patron walked in the door.
Of course.