Another Indiana county checked off our antique-shopping challenge!
If you've been following along, you know we're on a mission to visit every antique mall in Indiana, one county at a time. This week's adventure took us to Rochester in Fulton County for a full day of antique hunting, local shops, and a couple of coffee stops.
We found some great vintage treasures, added a few unexpected pieces to our collections, and discovered that while Rochester has plenty to offer antique lovers, the coffee scene didn't quite win me over this time.
Here's how I'd spend a day exploring Rochester, Indiana.
Start Your Morning at Mellow Mug Café
Begin your day at Mellow Mug Café in downtown Rochester.
From the outside, the building has a rustic, vintage feel, but once you step inside, it's giving antique store meets plant shop meets cozy coffeehouse.
I loved the atmosphere!
The space is warm and inviting, with plenty of little details that make you want to settle in and stay awhile.
Now, let's talk about the coffee.
If you've followed my coffee adventures, you know I'm a little particular about my cappuccinos. I don't love overly sweet lattes, but I don't drink my coffee black either. I'm somewhere right in the middle—a semi-sweet coffee drinker.
When I was asked whether I wanted a 16- or 20-ounce cappuccino, I had a feeling it might not be the traditional cappuccino I was hoping for.
And unfortunately, it wasn't my favorite.
That doesn't mean you won't find a drink you love here, but if you're looking for a classic cappuccino with the right balance of espresso and steamed milk, you might want to ask how they prepare theirs.
The good news? Their freshly made donuts were delicious!
Treasure Hunting at Mustard Seed Mercantile
With coffee in hand, head a couple of blocks down to Mustard Seed Mercantile.
This shop has a fun mixture of old and new, making it a great place to browse if you enjoy both vintage finds and new home décor.
You'll find handmade soaps, candles, seasonal decorations, antiques, and plenty of other treasures throughout the building.
They even had a pop-up permanent jewelry event happening during our visit.
Katie spotted a beautiful pink hen-on-nest dish almost immediately, and we found plenty of glassware, brass pieces, and fairy lamps to keep us busy.
Then, just as we were finishing up, I spotted something I hadn't expected to buy.
A vintage blow-mold Santa!
I've never been particularly drawn to blow-mold Christmas decorations, but after seeing so many of them at America's Antique Mall a few weeks ago, something apparently changed.
I fell in love with this Santa and decided he needed to come home with me.
Now I just have to figure out how to style him on my front porch!
Explore Northern Traders
Next, head over to Northern Traders.
This place has two large barns filled with vendor booths, so be prepared to spend some time exploring.
There was a little bit of everything, including plenty of vintage finds, collectibles, home décor, and seasonal decorations.
We spotted more Christmas blow molds, and Katie ended up buying two soldiers for her front door.
They also had several of those popular porch geese that people dress up for different holidays and seasons.
One thing I noticed while browsing was a couple of newer replica hen-on-nest dishes mixed in with the vintage glassware.
A Little Antique Shopping Tip
As I've been learning more about collecting hen-on-nest dishes, I've discovered that there are quite a few modern reproductions out there.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with buying a newer hen-on-nest dish. In fact, they're often much more affordable than the vintage versions.
But it's important to know what you're buying.
We spotted a couple of replicas that weren't labeled as reproductions, and I think that's something antique shoppers should be aware of. A newer piece shouldn't automatically carry the same price as a collectible vintage original.
I'm hoping to share more about identifying authentic vintage hen-on-nest dishes as I continue learning, so stay tuned!
Lunch at Jerrety's
After a morning of antique shopping, head back downtown for lunch at Jerrety's.
This local café has a great menu featuring paninis, salads, pizzas, and other lunch favorites.
They also have a coffee bar, which I wish I'd tried during our visit!
It's a nice place to take a break, enjoy lunch, and talk about all the treasures you've found so far.
More Antiques at Craft Crossing
After lunch, continue your treasure hunting at Craft Crossing Antiques.
This is one of those antique stores where you really have to dig.
The space is packed with items, so take your time looking through everything. You'll find vintage décor, collectibles, furniture, and plenty of seasonal pieces.
They had lots of Christmas decorations out during our visit, which made it especially fun to browse.
There are also outdoor areas with furniture and other larger items, so don't forget to check those before leaving.
If you still have some energy left, make one more stop at Petunia's Antiques.
It's a smaller shop and doesn't take long to browse, making it an easy addition to your afternoon.
One Last Coffee Stop at Rochester Bagel
You know I love ending an antique-shopping day with an iced coffee for the drive home.
Our final stop was Rochester Bagel, which has a pretty extensive menu and some delicious-looking bagels.
I ordered an iced latte with half the sweetness, but unfortunately, this coffee wasn't quite what I was hoping for either.
They didn't offer cold foam, which is something I usually enjoy with my iced Americanos, so I decided to try the latte instead.
It was okay, just not particularly memorable.
I will say, though, that the food menu looked great, and I'd be interested in coming back to try one of their breakfast sandwiches.
Final Thoughts
Rochester turned out to be a fun destination for a day of antique shopping, especially if you enjoy a mix of vintage treasures, collectibles, seasonal décor, and locally owned shops.
Mustard Seed Mercantile and Northern Traders were two of our favorite stops, and I was pretty excited to come home with a vintage blow-mold Santa I hadn't even known I wanted!
As for the coffee, I didn't find a new favorite this time around, but I'm always willing to give a place another try and order something different.
So Rochester, if there's a local coffee shop making an amazing cappuccino or iced Americano with cold foam that I missed, I'd love to hear about it!
Another county checked off our list, a few more treasures in the car, and another Indiana town explored.
On to the next antique adventure!
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