One doesn’t have to venture deep into the woods to walk through a mystical forest if they’re looking for whimsy. In fact, they can stop by a longstanding shop right in downtown Nashville.
Tyra Miller expanded her business this fall to Van Buren Street by opening The Wood Fairy Apothecary, which is now home to house-made goods, house and outdoor plants and retail goods from other small businesses in America.
Hanging plants and twinkling lights invite customers in to explore the shop.
Wood Fairy Apothecary may seem familiar to customers. Not only is it the name of the product line Miller has had for years, shoppers have said the retail space reminds them of Horse Feathers, which Miller owned and operated in the 1990s.
“This is the stuff that I love,” Miller said.
“It’s like everything old is new again.”
The shop has been in the works since January and officially opened on Oct. 1. The building itself has housed many businesses before, including Monday Morning Leather, the Summer Kitchen, September Elm and most recently Eeohlay pop-up art gallery and shop in the fall last year.
Miller’s goal is to use the space to sell herbal products, health and wellness items, essential oils and even T-shirts all while focusing on items not sold by large online retailers, but rather items that are small business related.
Items are sourced from shops that are family and women owned that are producing in the U.S.
“It gives us an opportunity to see where everything we source comes from. How local is it, really?” she said. “That’s where our heart is.”
They will expand merchandise over the winter when they have more time to get everything going, she said. They’ve faced issues with shortages on materials, like bottling, so they’re trying to get through as best as they can in the time being.
By growing a lot of their own materials, making their own soaps “there’s all kinds of opportunity” when it comes to expansion and creativity, Miller said.
Wood Fairy Apothecary also has body oil and skin soothe, different soaps from small businesses in the country, a small pottery line featuring handmade planters and earrings too. “Just fun stuff,” Miller said.
Her husband Lance is an artist inspired by nature and focuses on print making. He will be working on his art studio, so the shop can sell their line of cards.
“I’m excited,” Tyra Miller said. “We do so much of our own stunts. … I’m excited to see what he’s gonna do.”
Tyra said there is an appeal for retail items like what the Wood Fairy sells, especially to those who are downsizing and not collecting items, but focusing more on experiences.
Her own children tell her not to get them anything they cannot eat or wear, she said.
The Wood Fairy is the couple’s latest venture, after recently expanding the Bird’s Nest Café space by opening the Henhouse Bar. Night Hawk’s Diner is open at the café Thursdays through Sundays. The Millers also own the Robinwood Inn, which has been booked for this entire year since last year.
At the storefronts, Halloween is well underway with skeletons dancing on the sign of the Wood Fairy Apothecary and the headless horseman of Sleepy Hallow stopping for brunch at the Bird’s Nest.
Next year, Miller said she hopes to see a small haunted trail between the businesses.
Working on the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, Miller said that she also hopes to see parades, face painting and Halloween movies at the Brown County Playhouse this time next year.
“There’s just so much we want to do,” she said.
“I love not just Halloween, but all holidays. I want to just really focus on getting the community involved and bring locals back to town.”
