Longtime downtown Franklin business owner Marianne DeMeyers is celebrating the rebirth of Tin Cottage—a unique home and gift store that honors the art of hospitality—with a grand opening event Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6-8 p.m.
Located in the area’s Second South District, Tin Cottage first came onto the scene nearly two decades ago: DeMeyers owned the shop from 1998-2006, providing locals with a destination for home, table and gift items. As the owner of Honey’s Vintage Sweets, DeMeyers says she was constantly caught in conversations that turned to fond memories of her first business, which encouraged her to reimagine the Tin Cottage’s future. She first welcomed customers back to the new store at the beginning of September.
“It’s rewarding when people remember things from 10 or 15 years ago, and I began to realize how much people missed Tin Cottage,” DeMeyers said. “A lot has changed in downtown Franklin since then, but the art of entertaining and hospitality is as popular as ever. This is going to be a lot of fun.”
In honor of Tin Cottage’s reopening, DeMeyers will host a celebratory event on Sept. 25, where the public will be able to enjoy light fare and refreshments, giveaways and live music on the store’s front for a porch “pickin’” feel.
In addition, those in attendance will have the chance to become more familiar with the store’s merchandise mix, largely sourced from Middle Tennessee and Southern artisans and geared toward entertaining. Featured items at the grand opening will include serving pieces crafted from reclaimed wood, locally made jewelry, Franklin and Nashville-area food products such as Moose Head Kettle Corn, Tucker’s Nut Butters and Olive & Sinclair chocolates, curated vintage pieces, unique table top accessories, and more that will be sold in the store.
DeMeyers says her inspiration for Tin Cottage can be traced back to her family’s porch hangs with her grandparents, where her grandfather’s tales and granny’s cooking reigned supreme. She hopes that her store can be a catalyst for those same kinds of traditions throughout Franklin.
“For me, Tin Cottage is the conceptualization of bringing back the art of hospitality. And creating your own front porch,” she said. “I hope that people find their own style and invite someone over to share a story or experience.”
Attendees will also learn more about the Tin Cottage workshop series, which will also center on entertaining within a communal setting. The first event will be a Pie Party held October 9, where guests will mingle with hostess Katie Jacobs, who recently styled the cookbook Me, Myself, and Pie—where she baked more than 100 pies in 45 days. Jacobs will share tips, recipes and advice on how to create the perfect setting, and the store will offer paired wines with each dessert.
To help promote the event and to encourage attendance, guests at the grand opening will have the opportunity to sign up for the first workshop at a discounted rate. Each event will be ticketed, with limited space available.
The Tin Cottage is now open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. For more information, visit the Tin Cottage website at www.tincottage.com, or “like” the shop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tincottage.