Meet the Owners

“Hello, we are Stephen & Katie Hardister and we are the proud new owners of The Brass Grasshopper: Antiques, Vintage, & Local located in Matthews, NC. The store was previously known as Antique Alley and has been in business for 30 years as the oldest antique dealer mall in the Charlotte area. The previous owner, Bonnie Henley, poured a lot of love into this store and the people who shopped here until she retired at the end of March 2022. We are thankful that she entrusted us with the business and we hope to make her and all the people that have enjoyed coming here throughout the years proud. We look forward to offering a fun and unique shopping experience in the Matthews area. 

When our two children were younger, we’d often take long joy rides down back roads from Matthews to Huntersville. Along the way was this cute little antique shop that I always wanted to go in, but thought, “No, not with these little guys and this big ol’ double stroller. Better not.”

One day I noticed that the owners of the shop seemed to be closing down and packing up for good. I asked if they minded if I took a look around. They said, “Go right ahead.” Looking at all the treasures was heaven to me, tight spaces, double stroller and all.

While looking around I spotted a large brass grasshopper figure. I instantly loved the look of it with it’s beautiful, aged brass patina and exaggerated, whimsical legs with their leaf-like pattern. It was so interesting to me, I had never seen one like it before. I purchased the item and thanked the shop owners for letting me look around. It has been a cherished item ever since and the name sake I used when I started selling at vintage pop up markets later on.

Our boys are 14 and 11 years old now and our lives have changed so much since then. The brass grasshopper is a reminder of a simpler time and that it’s important to slow down, take a look around and be a tourist in your own town. You never know what you might find.

Xoxo – Katie

Visit Us

1325 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd,
Matthews, NC 28105

Hours
Sunday: 1-5:30pm
Monday: 10am-5:30pm
Tuesday & Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 10am-5:30pm
Friday: 10am-5:30pm
Saturday: 10am-5:30pm

Phone
704.847.3003 (office)
704.281.2455 (mobile)