IF NOT FOR A ROADSIDE SIGN noticed while on a fall color drive in northern Rice County, I wouldn’t have landed at The White Barn Boutique by Circle Lake. But the sign drew Randy and me to turn onto a narrow gravel road curving to a white barn and silo edged between trees. As Randy pulled our van onto a grassy parking space bordered by a colorful string of flags, I remarked, “Maybe they have antiques.”
Admittedly, the word “boutique” doesn’t appeal to most guys, so I appreciate that Randy was willing to stop. I was right. The White Barn includes plenty of antiques, collectibles and vintage, enough to hold the interest of anyone who appreciates treasures of yesteryear.
Even before I opened the barn door adorned with a simple, seasonal wheat wreath, I felt welcomed, interested, impressed. An array of tables, chairs, flowers and other items outside hint at what’s inside.
Most boutique owners, like Susie Morrison, the talent behind The White Barn, are not only business savvy but creative. I observed that inside and out in the artful display of merchandise, the vignettes, the purposeful groupings… When creatively staged, it’s easy to imagine a piece of furniture, an accessory, glassware, textiles, even a vintage phone or a collection of Hardy Boys books in your home.
Merchandise packs this barn on two levels. While I began meandering through the cozy areas crafted in a once open space, Randy chatted it up with one of Susie’s sisters. Three of the Benjamin sisters were on-site at the seasonal fall boutique open Friday and Saturday and then next weekend, October 7 and 8, from 10 am – 5 pm at 3175 122nd Street West Faribault, two miles off Interstate 35 in the Millersburg area between Faribault and Northfield. December brings a holiday boutique here with other sales during the year.
While engaging in conversation, Randy and I realized we’d been on this property decades ago for a company picnic and overnight camping when the sisters’ parents lived here. There was that sense of familiarity, yet time has a way of fading memories.
In some ways, shopping at The White Barn is about memories, about nostalgia, about reclaiming the past. It’s like walking into Grandma’s house or into a scene from the 1970s…the remembering, the imagining, the desire to bring this all home.
Shopping here is an experience, an unexpected one for us on this autumn afternoon, if not for that roadside sign diverting us from emerging fall colors to a white barn along a rural road.
TELL ME: Do you have a favorite seasonal boutique in your area? If yes, what draws you inside?
© Copyright 2022 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Bourne, Texas, the local library annex that sells used books. Set up almost like a “Texas Tea room” with couches and easy chairs, offers great books at low prices. It has interesting “knick Knacks” such as outrageous spurs with rowels almost the size of one’s hands and other interesting stuff.
That sounds like a wonderful place to browse books. Thank you for sharing this Texas gem.
How absolutely wonderful that you happened upon this. It’s like a dream or falling down a rabbit hole –
Yes, a bit of a discovery on an afternoon when we didn’t really find what we were seeking, beautiful fall colors. Maybe in a week.
Looks great…I will try to go next weekend.
Oh, good. I think you will enjoy The White Barn.
I love looking in the nooks and crannies of places like this. Vintage linens, glassware and of course teapots are always fun to find. I have a couple favorite local places I like to explore but we look for places like this everywhere we go.
I figured you enjoy these seasonal and specialty shops that are home-grown.
I love places like this! They bring back such memories. There is a tiny shop here called The Thrifty Chicks that I visit occasionally. They have a lovely place filled with vintage items.
Love the name of that shop.
I too love these places that house treasures from yesteryear. What a fun “find” for you and Randy !
It was a fun find and even Randy enjoyed browsing “the old stuff.”