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Cars zip by on Charlotte Avenue, but the atmosphere inside Oak Nashville remains calm and relaxing. A cool aesthetic and assorted knickknacks give the storefront a charm you don't find many other places in Nashville.
The home storewhose name is an acronym for 'one of a kind”started as an idea in owner Ginny Pope's garage after a quarter-life crisis prompted her to quit her corporate job. Her new venture combines her love of building, refinishing, and painting furniture with a vision of offering items that no other stores carry at an affordable price. The store's tagline says it best: They create and curate one-of-a-kind pieces that inspire you to reimagine your space and redefine how you live in it. 'We wanted to be [a place] where you can get cool pieces that speak to you, who you are, [and] what you love to do,” says Pope.
Aside from furniture, Oak offers a variety of smaller products, like candles, t-shirts, and Bloody Mary mix. More than 60 percent of the items are from local merchants, and all of them are tested and approved by the Oak staff. The store's location is strategic for reasons other than being near Sylvan Park, where Pope lives.
'The reality is that everything is on the east sideall of the craftsmen and artisans and all these cool shops. The west side is getting there, but it's not there yet,” she explains. 'We not only wanted to be invested in the community we live in, but also open up in an area of town that didn't have these resources or services. You can come in here and find anything you need. If you can't, we will go out and find it for you.”
Pope is also excited about the community of craftsmen and artisans that Oak has created. She's partnered with interior designer Amanda Totoro and looks forward to connecting with additional local businesses. 'We're here to expand and support other people's businesses, and you can't do that unless you believe in them,” she says.
4200 Charlotte Ave.; oaknashville.com