Top 5 Shops at The Village in Gatlinburg

The Village is Gatlinburg's most distinctive shopping destination — 25 specialty shops arranged around a European-style courtyard tucked just off the Parkway at 634 Parkway. It's been there since 1969, and several of its tenants have been there almost as long. Here are five worth seeking out.

1. The Donut Friar

The Donut Friar has been making donuts in The Village since 1969 — it's the only original tenant still operating from the day The Village opened, and the second oldest family-owned, continuously run food establishment in all of Sevier County. The Ryan family started it; the tradition has continued ever since.

The shop opens at 5 AM daily, and the smell of fresh donuts and cinnamon bread carries through the courtyard long before most visitors arrive. That's the practical tip: go early. The cinnamon bread sells out most days, and the morning window before crowds build is the best time to grab a table in the courtyard with a coffee and a box of donuts. Menu runs from plain glazed to eclairs, crullers, and bear claws alongside espresso drinks, cappuccino, and hot cider.

One important note: The Donut Friar is cash only. There's an ATM at the courtyard entrance near The Donut Friar location — plan ahead.

2. The Spice & Tea Exchange of Gatlinburg

Step through the doorway and the aromas hit immediately — exotic spices, flavored sugars, gourmet salts, and rare teas in a shop that specializes in handcrafted blends mixed fresh on site. The Spice Masters blend seasonings daily: seafood rubs, meat and poultry blends, vegetable seasonings, and custom combinations the shop doesn't sell anywhere else.

If you're not sure what you need, ask. The staff knows their inventory and can work backward from what you're cooking. This is the kind of specialty shop that doesn't exist in most markets — the Village location makes it one of the better reasons to spend time in the courtyard rather than just passing through.

3. The Lazy One

The Lazy One does one thing particularly well: family pajamas. Funny, colorful, all-cotton PJ sets in styles that run from baby onesies through adult sizes — including matching sets the whole family can wear, and the classic old-fashioned button-back suit with the famous rear flap. These are the kind of gift that photographs well, travels easily, and gets used.

The shop also carries slippers, cozy socks, and sleep masks. It's a smaller footprint store but has a loyal following among repeat Village visitors who buy new sets for the family every trip. Good for groups looking for a shared souvenir that isn't a magnet or a shot glass.

4. The Hayloft

Gatlinburg's oldest Western wear shop carries handcrafted leather boots for men, women, and kids alongside American-made leather belts and custom buckles. The Hayloft stocks the kind of Western wear that's hard to find at scale outside of Texas or Tennessee — quality leather goods made to last rather than tourist-grade accessories.

If you're not in the market for boots, it's still worth a walk-through. The quality of the leatherwork on display — boots, belts, and accessories — is genuinely impressive, and the staff knows the inventory well enough to help you find a specific fit or style. A companion store, The Hayloft Comfort Footwear, is also in The Village for those looking for everyday comfort shoes rather than Western styles.

5. Misty Mountain Soap Co.

Misty Mountain Soap Co. makes artisan soaps, bath products, and body care items in a shop that fits The Village's handcrafted-goods aesthetic better than most. The product line leans into the Smoky Mountains setting — scents and formulations that feel specific to this place rather than generic spa-retail. These are the kind of bath products guests pick up as gifts and then end up ordering for themselves.

Worth visiting if you're browsing the courtyard anyway — it's a smaller shop but the quality is consistent with the artisan-focused character that sets The Village apart from the Parkway's higher-volume souvenir strip.

Planning Your Village Visit

The Village is at 634 Parkway, Gatlinburg — on the right side heading into town, just past Traffic Light #6. It's walkable from the main Parkway strip and has its own parking area. The courtyard is open during shop hours; individual store hours vary, so check thevillageshops.com before planning around a specific shop. The full current tenant list is on their site — there are 25+ shops total, and the five above are just a starting point.

If you're making a morning of it, arrive when The Donut Friar opens at 5 AM, grab a coffee and cinnamon bread in the courtyard, and browse as the other shops open through the morning. The courtyard at that hour — before the Parkway crowds build — is one of the quieter, more pleasant stretches of a Gatlinburg trip.