The Carriage & Jack-O-Lantern Farms
If you are as big of a fan as I am of The Carriage and Jack-O-Lantern Farms in
downtown Florence, then the two weeks they were closed in April to renovate and
reopen their new store at 121 East Mobile Street was as hard for you as it was
for me. I didn’t realize how much I enjoyed The Carriage’s high quality wine
selection, fine cheese, fresh flowers, and overall chic atmosphere, as well as
Jack-O-Lantern Farm’s delicious produce and homemade goodies until I couldn’t
have it. However, it was well worth the wait for the new space they opened at
the beginning of May. Since their grand opening, these two unique Florence
shops haven’t skipped a beat—frequently filled with patrons eager to relax and
socialize with friends and a nice glass of wine, or shopping for their weekly
groceries, it’s a wonderful place to run into familiar faces and unwind after a
long day at work.
Owned by Jason Allen and Caleb Banks, The Carriage opened their doors in Fall of 2014 in Court Street Market, and has since blossomed into a staple of the Shoals area. Now, at their new location on East Mobile, their wine and market is a larger space that has plenty of room to sit and drink a glass of wine at the bar, or on the couch and chairs in the lounge area. The ceilings are adorned with carriage wheels entwined with twinkle lights that create a cozy, enchanting atmosphere for that romantic date night or after-work retreat. Besides their impressive wine selection, they also sell fine cheese, fresh flowers, and kitchen accessories. Their goal is for customers to feel comfortable, as if they are enjoying a glass of wine in their own kitchen chatting about the events of the day.
Jason
and Caleb are usually always behind the counter, eager to pour a glass of wine
and talk about their favorite selections. Their genuine desire to create an
atmosphere that encourages a spirit of giddiness for food, fun, and wine is
authentic and attributes to why they have been so successful in their endeavor.
With the opening of their new space they have added items to their menu and have
expanded into an outdoor patio, which will seat up to twelve guests and serve
both food and wine. With the Shoal’s love for the outdoors and frequent
festivals, this is an idyllic spot to sit back and enjoy downtown Florence on
those warm summer nights when it’s buzzing with live music. Their new menu also hosts
sandwiches made fresh from Odette, served daily at lunch from 11:00am-2:00pm
along with various sides, which are of course provided by Jack-O-Lantern Farms,
who shares their shop space.
The Jack-O-Lantern Farms market
proudly sells certified naturally grown, clean food with no GMOs or synthetic
chemicals, including their colorful, fresh produce, grass-fed beef, pasture
pork, free range chicken and eggs, and Wehdo lamb. You can also find baked
goods from Alabama Chanin’s The Factory, including homemade marshmallows and
ciabatta bread, as well as local-made honey. The beautiful thing about
Jack-O-Lantern Farms is that it’s a family owned business since 1996 and you
can find the farmers, Steve and Connie Carpenter behind the counter ready to
make you feel welcomed and answer any of your questions. Their goal is to
create a neighborhood market where you can find everything you need. There is an
amiable warmth that makes you feel at home as you enter the store, which
displays vibrant photographs of their produce and farm, and is decorated with
simple wooden tables and modern pendant lighting. Their food is served in
favorite downtown Florence restaurants including Odette, City Hardware, Imagine
Bakery, and Rivertown Coffee Company.
If you haven’t visited The
Carriage and Jack-O-Lantern Farms, you’re missing out on one of the highlights
of the Shoals area. This wine and neighborhood market is here to stay and is an
essential piece to downtown Florence. You will always find the highest quality
of service, beverage, and locally grown food, and the jovial atmosphere will
brighten your week. So, go ahead and plan on visiting these two little shops
that have a whole lot of life and prepare yourself to “wine a little and laugh
a lot!”
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