On the Flea
30 Sep 2019
The search for an antique or vintage find
By Elizabeth Sugg » Photos by Mollie Tobias
Fall brings out the desire for weekend rides into the countryside. In the Sandhills there are so many themes for a destination – one weekend it could be venturing northwest into pottery country, another may be a trek through a corn maze and a pumpkin patch. You may also find yourself “on the flea” looking for a find that will add some pizazz and cottage style to your home.
Next time you are up for an afternoon of meandering, plug the crossroads of Doubs Chapel and Murdocksville roads into your GPS. There you will find Bougie Redneck, a collection of vintage vendors housed in a business begun by Charity and Stephen Blanchard in 2016. A second career chapter for Charity who taught school for 15 years, Bougie Redneck grew out of her hobby of junk collecting and treasure hunting at Saturday tag sales, selecting furniture pieces she began painting and repurposing for herself and resale.
“It was a BIG leap of faith,” says Charity for both she and Stephen, both Moore County natives, but their risk has been rewarding. “Owning this business allows me to meet people who share my love of vintage items that bring back memories, furniture pieces that inspire creativity and decor that helps make houses, homes. My heart is full.”
The name “Bougie Redneck” shows off Charity’s sense of humor yet also her vision for the store: Pronounced “boo-shee” (the Urban Dictionary's definition of “bougie” is “aspiring to be a higher class than one is, derived from bourgeois — meaning middle/upper class”), the store’s collectibles range from “a little fancy to a healthy dose of redneck.”
In December 2018 just in time for the holidays, Charity and Stephen added the Vintage Village behind their eye-catching store, particularly noticeable because of the Bougie Bus, a retired school bus full of repurposed well-loved treasures. There are five cottages that are individually styled by several vendors. “It's like the "she shed" come to life,” says Charity. “And if Bougie is open, the Village is open.”
My introduction to Bougie Redneck came through my friend Laura Thomson of Gracefully Rustic. I wanted to purchase a collection of mismatched upholstered chairs to use outdoors at our wedding venue, and I didn’t want to sink too much money into them. Off we went to Bougie where we came away with six comfy chairs that would add color and variety to our reception areas. Charity kept an eye out on new items for a few weeks, and I returned for two more.
Their inventory turns over regularly so each trip is a pleasure. I feel like I get a shot of creativity with each visit because of the inventiveness on display. Cozy vignettes showcase each vendor’s face-lifted finds, where old meets new.
“We work together every day to create an environment full of nostalgia, quality furniture, beautiful decor and always something for the DIY-er.,” says Charity. “We consistently bring in new items, which makes our inventory change quickly.” And makes it a destination for those country rides.
Bougie Redneck is located at 1093 Doubs Chapel Rd, West End. Check their Facebook page for hours and current information and photos.
