Slim's Frenchtown Mercantile

07/16/2023

03/19/2023

Martha, my dear
Though I spend my days in conversation
Please, remember me.
“Martha My Dear” - The Beatles

Martha the shop dog supports small business, and asks that you remember that Slim’s offers cool and thoughtful gifts for your friends and family, canines and humans alike!

The canine-related items are Martha-approved. And while you’re here, Martha suggests that you pick up a classic PADUCAH shirt (or two) in time for warmer weather (including the dog days of summer).

Slim’presentein a reimagined 1947 BBQ diner, offers carefully curated product lines, many of which have philanthropic initiatives. We invite you to our Frenchtown block in historically cool for the best in experiential shopping at two nationally recognized shops - Slim’s and our shop next door, .

02/19/2023

Thank you Southern Living for a wonderful article on historically cool Paducah Creative City! We certainly enjoyed our time with Caroline Rogers and Robbie Caponetto as they visited our Frenchtown block last summer! Thanks to these very talented individuals for so artfully capturing the beauty and history of Paducah in reimagined and restored spaces!

📸Thank you, Southern Living for a wonderful piece on Paducah! Travel and Culture Editor, Caroline Rogers and photographer Robbie Caponetto each spent a few days in Paducah with the CVB team. Read about their experience in the March issue of Southern Living, then plan your own trip during 2023 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Paducah’s designation as a Creative City.

Trip planning resources: www.paducah.travel

02/10/2023

Surround me with your boundless love
Confound me with your boundless love.
“Boundless Love” - John Prine

Love is in the air. Give Slim’s a spin as you shop for your Valentine!

Whether you are considering our carefully curated product lines (many from the South), or our vintage homegoods, you will find the perfect gift in a wonderfully unique setting - an iconic BBQ diner built in 1947 and now reimagined as an upscale mercantile.

Just next door, is presented in a restored 1930 filling station and offers a truly unique selection of vintage, antique, and industrial pieces for your home and garden.

Come and visit our nationally recognized Frenchtown block. You’ll love it!

12/25/2022

How a little baby boy bring the people so much joy
Son of a carpenter, Mary carried the light
This must be Christmas, must be tonight.
“Christmas Must Be Tonight” - The Band

On this Christmas, we wish you peace. From our family to yours, may you find hope in this season, and have a safe and joyous holiday.

12/23/2022

I’m not exaggeratin’ when I say
There’s not a sweeter town in the USA
I know an awful lot of people claim
It has a funny name
But brother just the same
They can’t frown on my home town
Paducah, Paducah
“The Paducah Song” - Carmen Miranda and Benny Goodman

Paducah, Paducah. Historically cool Paducah.

Love Paducah? Want folks to know you’re representing Paducah? Want people to think you’re from Paducah? Slim’s has you covered.

Situated in the former home of an iconic BBQ diner, Slim’s is an upscale mercantile in the Frenchtown section of Paducah offering a carefully curated collection of product lines, along with vintage homegoods.

Just next door, you’ll find our other store, Frenchtown Station - located in a restored 1930 filling station and offering a unique selection of antique, vintage, industrial, and garden pieces for your home, garden, and workspace.

We invite you to our Frenchtown block in . Paducah - not just a funny name, but a wonderful place to live and visit.

12/20/2022

Home, home again.
I like to be there when I can.
“Time” - Pink Floyd

We’re glad you’re home. Or almost home. Or preparing to welcome people back home. And whether your home is close by, or allows for a friends and family day trip to our shops, we look forward to welcoming you this holiday season. Our Frenchtown block consists of two shops:

Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile - a thoughtfully-curated mercantile - presented in a restored and reimagined iconic 1940s BBQ diner - offers outstanding American-made product lines. We’re proud to partner with a number of companies that focus not only on quality, but on giving back.

Frenchtown Station - in a restored 1930 filling station - specializes in a fabulous assortment of antique, vintage, and industrial pieces for your home, garden, and workspace.

Looking forward to seeing you on our nationally recognized Frenchtown block in .

12/16/2022

Thanks Paducah Bank for the opportunity to talk about our Frenchtown block!

12/01/2022

Everybody’s singing
All the bells are ringing out
And it’s Christmas all over again.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Christmas All Over Again

It’s always a grand experience on our Frenchtown block. But during the holidays we kick it up a notch.

This holiday season we invite you to Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile, an upscale mercantile offering a fun and outstanding collection of purposely curated product lines from small companies that focus on quality and giving back to important causes. Slim’s, in a reimagined 1947 BBQ diner, has a wonderful selection of gifts for your family and friends.

Just next door and ready for your holiday visit you’ll find Frenchtown Station , presented in a restored 1930 filling station. Frenchtown Station is filled with a fabulous selection of antique, vintage, and industrial pieces for your home, garden, and workspace, with timeless gifts for family and friends.

It’s Christmas all over again. Welcome Christmas. And to all, we welcome you to our Frenchtown block for experiential holiday shopping.

11/24/2022

You see it’s all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer - “From the Beginning”

We thinks it’s clear, and we humbly submit, you are meant to be here - to shop small and to enjoy the wonderful experience that comes with shopping small. And what better way to shop small than to enjoy all that is offered in the reimagined cool space constructed in 1947 as a city BBQ diner and now home to Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile.

From the beginning, as you shop for family and friends this holiday season, we invite you to shop small on our Frenchtown block where you’ll find two uniquely curated shops - Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile and Frenchtown Station .

Slim’s offers thoughtfully curated product lines for all ages, with emphasis on small businesses (several of which give back to charities), along with a good measure of vintage homegoods.
Frenchtown Station is filled with a fabulous selection of antique, vintage, and industrial pieces for your home, garden, and workspace.

This season, it’s clear. Give the equivalent of a warm embrace and shop small!

11/17/2022

I want you to want me around.
“Want Me Around” - Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real

And so says small business in our community, and across the country.

But here’s the great thing. Small businesses have a lot to offer. Take Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile for example. Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile is filled with an outstanding selection of American-made product lines (many from the South), along with a nice touch of vintage homegoods. All of this goodness is presented in a restored and reimagined 1947 BBQ diner.

We want you to want small business around, and we invite you to our award-winning Frenchtown block, which includes Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile and our shop next door, Frenchtown Station , filled with a fabulous selection of antique, vintage, and industrial pieces for your home, garden and workspace.

This season we look forward to welcoming you to our Frenchtown block.

11/12/2022

Sometimes the complexity gets a little complex
But other times it’s as easy as baking a pie.
“You’re Not Alone” - from the philosophers collectively known as Semisonic

Take some time to breathe. Remove some of the complexity from the equation. Take a trip to our Frenchtown block. It’s easy as pie.

As you begin to formulate your gift list, know that both Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile and Frenchtown Station offer wonderfully unique choices.

Slim’s - a thoughtfully curated mercantile - presented in a restored and reimagined iconic 1940s BBQ diner offers outstanding American-made product lines (many from the Southern region), along with a nice touch of vintage homegoods.

Frenchtown Station - in a restored 1930 filling station - specializes in a fabulous assortment of antique, vintage, and industrial pieces for your home, garden, and workspace.

This holiday season, we look forward to welcoming you to our award-winning and nationally recognized Frenchtown block.

11/04/2022

Think of me what you will
I’ve got a little space to fill.
“You Don’t Know How It Feels” - Thomas Earl Petty

We’ve filled this little space (our reimagined and iconic 1947 BBQ diner) with a wonderful selection of curated product lines for folks of all ages. In addition, we’ve introduced vintage homegoods to the mix for fun and experiential shopping.

This weekend, we hope you will not only think of us, but also join us as we host our Frenchtown Holiday Open House this Saturday, November 5 from 10a until 5p, and Sunday, November 6 from 1p until 5p.

We’ve filled two reimagined spaces - Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile and - and look forward to welcoming you this holiday season.

10/27/2022

Let’s sway
Under the moonlight
This serious moonlight.
- “Let’s Dance” - David Bowie

Our Frenchtown block - so much fun it’s scary. After a visit to Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile and Frenchtown Station you’ll be howlin’ for more!

Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile - in a reimagined iconic BBQ diner - serves up thoughtfully curated product lines and vintage homegoods. Frenchtown Station - in a restored 1930 filling station - offers wonderfully unique vintage, antique, and industrial pieces for your home, garden, and workspace.

All treats and no tricks on our nationally recognized Frenchtown block! We look forward to seeing you soon.

10/12/2022

Now whip it
Into shape
Shape it up
Get straight
Go forward
Move ahead
Try to detect it
It’s not too late
To whip it
Whip it good.
“Whip It” - Devo

Well, actually, it was almost too late. The building was condemned, and being prepped for demolition.

But the building was an iconic BBQ diner in its heyday - Slim’s BBQ - complete with the original spinning stools, counter, and awning. We had interest in this building because it is next door to the first structure we restored, a 1930 filling station, now . We thought this cool space had potential for another day.

We asked the city to stay the demolition to allow for an opportunity to perform due diligence in view of possible acquisition of ol’ Slim’s. Request granted, due diligence performed, and the reimagination of this space was initiated in 2018.

Go forward. Move ahead.
The pictures tell the story.
We invite you to this unique space, filled with thoughtfully curated product lines and vintage homegoods. We look forward to your visit to our nationally recognized Frenchtown block, with and Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile.

09/15/2022

Stop your messing around
Better think of your future.
“A Message For You, Rudy” - The Specials

We know it’s still hot outside! But in a few short weeks, there will be a nip in the air. Sweater weather for our little ones.

At Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile, we have the most wonderful knit sweaters…cardigans, ponchos, and fisherman styles. Scrumptious colors and textures. And, to literally top it off, knit hats!

(Only little girls in our family, so the modeling in this post is limited to the girls’ line. But we have boys’ sweaters too!)

Stop your messing around! Think of the not so distant future when temperatures drop. Come pick up one of these darling pieces while supplies last!

Shop small.
Shop smart.
Shop Slim’s!

06/03/2022

It’s good to be king
And have your own way
Get a feeling of peace
At the end of the day.
“It’s Good To Be King” - Thomas Earl Petty

Ready to treat the special guys in your life like a king?
Have plans to give ol’ Dad a feeling of peace in celebration of his special day?

Slim’s is here and prepared to assist as you meet these Father’s Day goals!

We offer an outstanding selection of items for your consideration as you select a thoughtful Father’s Day gift. From clothing to books, from men’s grooming to Kentucky’s finest products, Slim’s has you covered.

Shop small.
Shop smart.
Shop Slim’s!

05/07/2022

So run baby, run baby, run baby, run baby, run.

“Run Baby Run” - Sheryl Crow

Happy Derby Day! It’s the first Saturday in May, and time for the 148th Run for the Roses!

Slim’s has a unique variety of Kentucky goods and finds to accentuate and facilitate your celebration of Derby Day. We invite you to come on by today between 10a and 4p.

Shop small.
Shop smart.
Shop Slim’s!

04/22/2022

To the ends of the earth, would you follow me?
There’s a world that was meant for our eyes to see.
“Ends of the Earth” - Lord Huron

Friday, April 22, is Earth Day and we’re celebrating at Slim’s.

Come by and check out our great selection of kids’ books, including E is for Earth, Here We Are (Notes for Living on Planet Earth), and Big Books about Birds, Bugs, Beasts, and Blooms.

And speaking of blooms, we invite you to our Frenchtown Fete to celebrate all things gardening. The Fete will take place on Saturday, April 30 from 11a-3p on our Frenchtown block. Great (and green) fun for all ages!

03/21/2022

Sun comes up and we start again
It’s all new today
All we have to say
Is be here now.
“Be Here Now” - Mason Jennings

It’s all new. A new season. Today is the vernal equinox, and we look forward to warmer and greener days. Spring is here!

We invite you to Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile, an upscale mercantile in a reimagined and restored 1947 BBQ diner. At Slim’s, we offer thoughtfully curated product lines, vintage homegoods, and a truly unique shopping experience.

Our restored 1930 filling station, now , is just next door. Frenchtown Station offers exceptional antique, vintage, industrial, and garden pieces for your special space.

We invite you to be here now and visit our nationally recognized Frenchtown block in historically cool .

03/14/2022

Oh, I’m never gonna be the same again
Now I’ve seen the way it’s got to end
Sweet dream, sweet dream
Strange magic.
“Strange Magic” - ELO

This month, we celebrate the fourth anniversary of our acquisition of a structure that was once home to an iconic BBQ diner - Slim’s Barbecue. A popular gathering place, constructed in 1947 in the vernacular of a southern BBQ joint, this building was vacant for over 20 years, and then, in 2017, was scheduled for demolition.

That same year, we had just completed a lengthy restoration of a 1930 filling station (now ) just next door to Slim’s. Demolition day for the old Slim’s BBQ drew near, but we had a dream to save and restore this place and reimagine it as an upscale mercantile.

After more than a year of intense restoration, we opened Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile in July 2019. Now, four years since acquisition, Slim’s continues its journey as a very special and unique shopping experience. And, we now have one awesome block of restored goodness in , and we work hard to fill these shops with interesting and captivating items for your consideration.

Since opening shops in 2017 and 2019, respectively, our Frenchtown block has been honored and recognized by , , and . Both shops have welcomed visitors from across the country. It’s the kind of strange magic that comes from following a dream.

03/03/2022

And I’m giving you a longing look
Everyday I write the book.
“Everyday I Write the Book” - Elvis Costello

In this case, everyday the girls read the books.

Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile is loaded with a wonderful assortment of books for kids, and for grown ups too. And this Thursday, March 3 is . What better way to commemorate the day than to shop small, shop smart, and acquire a book from Slim’s?

Come on by! Give Slim’s a longing look, and get a read on our Frenchtown block.

02/26/2022

Right now, right now.
Love is everywhere.
“Love Is Everywhere” - Wilco

Tiny Boss loves these wonderful friends from . Colorful and abundantly huggable, each one of the stuffed animals and puppets handcrafted by is one of a kind.

Each stuffed animal and puppet is responsibly made, handcrafted from premium reclaimed and recycled materials. is an environmentally conscious family owned business, and donates a portion of sales to send children fighting cancer to summer camp.

At Slim’s, we’re proud to offer items from partners like that give back. We invite you to our Frenchtown block, with Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile and , where you can shop small and shop smart.

02/04/2022

Puzzle me this. Where can you find the highest quality puzzles, produced by a company committed to creating a healthy planet?

Try Slim’s, where we’ve added outstanding puzzles by New York Puzzle Company] for your consideration, either as gifts, or for your own fun and entertainment.

These entertaining puzzles are made with 100% recycled 80 point chipboard thickness, and New York Puzzle Company] pledges 1% of the sale of each puzzle to environmental non-profits.

Shop small.
Shop smart.
Shop Slim’s!

01/27/2022

Surround me with your boundless love
Confound me with your boundless love.
“Boundless Love” - John Prine

Love is in the air. Give Slim’s a spin as you shop for your Valentine!

Whether you’re considering our carefully curated product lines (many from the South), or our vintage home goods, you will find the perfect gift in a wonderfully unique setting - an iconic BBQ diner built in 1947 and now reimagined as an upscale mercantile.

Just next door, is presented in a restored 1930 filling station and offers a truly unique selection of vintage, antique, and industrial pieces for your home and garden.

Both shops are recognized by as two of the South’s Best.

01/15/2022

And I’m giving you a longing look
Everyday, everyday, everyday I write the book.
“Everyday I Write the Book” - Elvis Costello

At Slim’s, we invite you to give a longing look to our carefully curated selection of books. Books for a wide variety of interests - topical and current, classic and entertaining.

For example, The Growing Season, by , an American farmer and entrepreneur, and the featured speaker at the January 28 Annual Dinner and Business Celebration for .

This is a new chapter for Slim’s, presented in a reimagined 1947 BBQ diner and offering the best in experiential shopping. As you turn the page and enter a new year, we invite you to . . .
Shop small
Shop smart
Shop Slim’s!

01/06/2022

Snow day!

Tiny Boss declares a snow day for Slim’s. Today, Thursday, January 6, Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile is closed due to winter storm warning and accumulating snow.

Stay safe friends.

01/01/2022

Every new beginning
Comes from some other beginning’s end.
“Closing Time” - from the philosophers collectively known as Semisonic.

At the end of this year, we wish to say thank you - for your support and generosity, for shopping small in our reimagined space, and for your many visits from near and far.

Already we’re planning for 2022, and looking forward to another wonderful year of offering thoughtfully curated product lines, vintage homegoods, and a truly unique shopping experience.

From Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile - we wish you a happy and healthy new year.

12/24/2021

Ready, getting ready
For the power and the glory and the story of the Christmas Day.
- Paul Simon

On this Christmas Eve, we wish you peace. From our family to yours, may you find hope in this season, and have a safe and joyous holiday.

12/14/2021

What if life is all about
Giving back
The love we found.
“Dried Up River” - The Lone Bellow

This week, 10% of sales on our Frenchtown block - Slim’s Frenchtown Mercantile and - will be donated to aid relief efforts in Mayfield and Graves County in the aftermath of the devastating December 10 tornado.

We hold our Mayfield neighbors in our hearts, as well as all others so drastically impacted throughout our Commonwealth,
and we’re thankful for all who are giving back the love they found as they tend to and serve those in need.