You haven’t really visited Ocracoke Island until you’ve wandered down Howard Street and discovered this enchanting gallery. Tucked down an unpaved, tree-covered lane, Village Craftsmen has developed over the last 51 years into a beloved Ocracoke Island shopping tradition known for its exquisite traditional and contemporary American crafts. Generations of shoppers return every year for the pottery and jewelry, two of the shop’s specialties, as well as blown glass, wood carvings, musical instruments, books and fine art. Customers love browsing among the latest works of longtime artists and to see what’s new among the ever-changing inventory. A trip to Village Craftsmen is really about more than shopping, though. Visitors also come to enjoy friendly conversation and hear island stories from eighth-generation islander and owner Philip Howard, who’s now officially retired but often at the store, and his daughter, Amy Howard, who grew up in Village Craftsmen and now runs the show. Steeped in hundreds of years of island history and positioned just across from their family cemeteries, Village Craftsmen and the Howard family are focused on the past, present and future wonderfulness that is Ocracoke Island.
(252) 928-5541
villagecraftsmen.com
170 Howard Street, Ocracoke, NC
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
