As Tom Cotter slowly walks the aisles of his antiques mall in Concord, the floorboards of the 124-year-old building creak underfoot. He passes booth after booth before pausing by a glossy Blue Willow china set, which has attracted some attention. “We’ve got people who’ve been coming here for years,” he says, the delicate clink of porcelain tinkling as a couple on a mission inspects one of the blue-and-white plates. “There’s really no end to what you can find — millions of things, each with its own story.”

“There’s really no end to what you can find — millions of things, each with its own story.”

Ahead of Cotter, the aisle stretches on, each booth a treasure trove awaiting discovery, and when he turns the corner, another aisle awaits. It’s an almost unbelievable labyrinth of vintage furniture and books and dishes and art, and it’s not unusual to pass shoppers debating their next move. At the Southeast’s largest antiques mall, it helps to have a plan.

The Depot at Gibson Mill fills 88,000 square feet with 620 booths brimming with vintage novelties, antique furniture, and decor. Shoppers from across the country — including regulars from Florida, New York, and Michigan — wander alongside curious newcomers, discovering everything from old toys and comics to salvaged farmhouse signs and shelves of CorningWare. Even movie set designers have scoured these aisles for props. “It thrills me that shoppers come from all over,” Cotter says. “Beyond Cabarrus County, beyond Charlotte, beyond North Carolina.”

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The transformation of this once-dormant textile mill began in 2004, when Cotter and his partners Joe Liles and George “Jock” Liles Jr. recognized the potential of the 54-acre property. Though he was initially on the hunt for a small industrial space to store his classic cars, Cotter soon found himself inside the enormous old Gibson Mill — formerly the Cannon Mills Company’s plant No. 6. Founded in 1887, the company became the largest towel manufacturer in the world, churning out colorful yarns, gingham fabrics, and sheets for more than a century. Cotter knew it was a building with deep roots, and the idea to do something more with it began to take shape: a vintage space for vintage things.

Original wood floors were restored, brick walls were uncovered, and large windows were retained to flood the space with natural light. The Depot opened in 2009 and quickly grew. Ten years later, its success inspired the trio to plan a new phase: reimagining the adjacent building, once the mill’s weaving room, as Gibson Mill Market, a locally sourced food hall.

The former textile mill that houses The Depot once hummed with sewing spindles. Today, it hums with voices as pickers peruse hundreds of booths for a one-of-a-kind find. photograph by Tim Robison

Now, after a long morning of treasure hunting, shoppers find a moment of respite among a different collection of vendors as they refuel with cheeseburgers, barbecue, Neapolitan pizzas, tacos, and more, plus treats like ice cream and freshly baked cookies — a sweet reward.

“Some [visitors] are all about the food, others can’t resist the antiques, and plenty of people love both,” Cotter says. “But what I love is how these two spaces complement each other — it’s part of a bigger experience.”

On the lower floor, Luck Factory Games offers board games and snacks, while High Branch Brewing Company serves up hazy IPAs in a lively atmosphere. Next door at Cabarrus Brewing Company, folks sip Cotton Blonde (and, occasionally, toast to a good find) at picnic tables in the beer garden. “By night, this place will be hopping,” Cotter says with a laugh. Nearby, at Valcarol Missions Escape Room, guests test their wits and break free by solving puzzles, while AutoBarn Classic Cars, a showroom for collector automobiles, brings Cotter’s vision full circle.

Requirements for a trip to The Depot at Gibson Mill: comfortable shoes and a map. The space is so big, its aisles have been given street names to simplify navigation. photograph by Tim Robison

As evening settles over Gibson Mill, a warm breeze blows and live music spills out over the beer garden, drawing crowds eager for a taste of local talent. “The success of Gibson Mill is that it’s functionally a new village, a new downtown, but built into an authentic historic structure,” Cotter says. “It’s kind of the best of both worlds.”

Often, after grabbing a bite or a brew, visitors find themselves drawn back to The Depot once more, its magnetic pull hard to resist. This may not have been part of their plan, but as they meander through the aisles, bags swishing at their sides, their eyes linger on pieces they missed earlier. The spark of curiosity flickers anew, guiding them in for one final discovery.

The Depot at Gibson Mill
325 McGill Avenue Northwest
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 787-9351
depotgibsonmill.com