Antique Hunting & Coffee in Small-Town Indiana: A Day Trip to Grabill

If your idea of a perfect day trip includes a good coffee shop, hours of antique treasure hunting, and a delicious local lunch, put Grabill, Indiana, on your list. This tiny town in northeast Indiana may not be the first place that comes to mind for a day trip, but that's part of what makes it such a fun hidden gem.

Grab a friend, clear some space in the trunk, and plan to spend the day hunting for treasures!

Start Your Morning at Common Grounds

Start your day at Common Grounds, conveniently located right next door to The Country Shoppes of Grabill. Grab a coffee and breakfast sandwich, and you'll be ready for a morning of serious antique shopping.

The coffee shop has a cozy, one-room cabin feel with a small selection of home décor and boutique items to browse while you wait for your order. They also serve lunch options like white chicken chili and chicken salad croissants.

I ordered an iced Americano with pistachio cold foam, and it was delicious.

The best part? When you're finished, you can simply walk next door with coffee in hand and start treasure hunting.

Spend the Morning at The Country Shoppes of Grabill

Your first—and largest—antique stop of the day is The Country Shoppes of Grabill.

This place is HUGE, so give yourself plenty of time. There are two levels with rooms branching off in every direction, and I'm honestly not sure we even made it into every space!

One thing that makes this antique mall especially memorable is the collection of taxidermy animals displayed throughout the building. You'll definitely spot a few things you weren't expecting.

There's also a popcorn shop inside that smells amazing, shopping baskets throughout the store for all those treasures you're going to find, and a restroom near the front desk. All important details when you're settling in for a few hours of antique hunting!

We had such a fun morning here. Everyone left with at least a treasure or two...although Katie may have left with an entire box. She's getting ready to open an antique booth, so we'll say she was stocking inventory!

Lunch at Isabel's Tacos

Once you've gotten your fill of antiques, head over to Isabel's Tacos for lunch. You can easily walk from The Country Shoppes or drive if your feet are telling you they've had enough.

This locally owned restaurant serves delicious Mexican food in a casual setting. Our group tried the house-made chips and salsa, tacos, enchiladas, and quesadillas, and everything was delicious.

One thing to know before you go: service was a little slower during our visit, so don't plan this as a quick lunch stop. Instead, sit back, relax, and enjoy catching up with your friends while comparing everything you found that morning.

After a few hours of antique shopping, you'll probably appreciate the break anyway!

Dig for Treasures at My Heart and Home

After lunch, head across the street from The Country Shoppes to My Heart and Home, located inside a little white house.

If The Country Shoppes is your organized antique-shopping experience, this one is for the diggers.

It's packed with items, the prices are good, and you'll need to take your time looking through everything. If you love the thrill of wondering what might be hiding underneath or behind something else, this is your kind of shop.

Sometimes those are the places where you find the best treasures!

Explore a Few More Grabill Favorites

Before heading home, stop by H. Souder & Son's General Store to browse candy, home décor, kitchen items, and old-fashioned general store finds.

And, of course, you can't end a small-town day trip without something sweet.

Head to Grabill Dairy Sweet for an ice cream treat before you hit the road. After a full day of coffee, antique hunting, local food, and shopping, it's the perfect way to wrap up your visit.

Antique Crew!

Final Thoughts

Grabill is proof that you don't need a big city—or even a big town—to plan a memorable day trip.

The Country Shoppes of Grabill alone can keep an antique lover busy for hours, but add in a cozy coffee shop, a locally owned Mexican restaurant, another treasure-hunting stop, an old-fashioned general store, and ice cream, and you've got all the ingredients for a fun girls' day out.

If you love discovering small towns, supporting local businesses, and coming home with a few antique treasures, Grabill is definitely worth the drive.

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