Shopping in Nashville

The best buys in Nashville are all about listening right and looking good. So whether its rare CDs and second-hand vinyl you're after, or a Stetson hat and cowboy boots, the city has it covered.

Key areas

Downtown is a good place to start for boutiques for fashionable Western wear and souvenir shops hawking country and western memorabilia. There are also several antique districts. Prime areas are Nashville's Eighth Avenue South, Franklin (south of town), Goodlettsville (on the north side) and Lebanon (30 minutes to the east).

Markets

The fourth weekend of every month, the Flea Market at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds draws huge crowds for the two-day bargain bonanza. Meanwhile, Nashville's Farmer's Market, which is open seven days a week, is the place to go for fresh produce and a tasty range of ethnic foods.

Shopping centres

The best malls are out of town. The biggest and newest is Opry Mills, 433 Opry Mills Drive, with 200 stores and an IMAX theatre. Slightly smaller is the Cool Springs Galleria, 1800 Galleria Boulevard, Franklin, off I-65. The main shopping mall on the north side of town is RiverGate Mall, located on 1000 Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville, just off I-65.

Opening hours

Opening hours of retail stores tend to be Monday to Saturday 1000-1800 Downtown and Monday to Saturday 1000-2100 and Sunday 1300-1800 in the suburbs.

Souvenirs

You can't strut your way home after a holiday in Nashville without a pair of genuine cowboy boots. Lucchese, located at 503 12th Avenue South, is where the locals buy theirs and the shop carries over 200 styles of boots for men and women.

For music-related treasures, head to Music City where rare CDs and second-hand vinyl are easy to find, or visit Ernest Tubb's Record Shop No 1 at 417 Broadway. Nashville has a plethora of hot stores for looking good while rocking out - many with musical connections. Hank Williams, Jr.'s granddaughter has just opened high-end hot spot, H. Audrey, at 4027 Hillsboro Pike.

Tax information

In Nashville, the sales tax is 9.25%, which is non-refundable.