Penny Robbins hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting at her Robbins’ Nest Primitives and
Antiques shop on March 21. She first opened her shop in Vinton on April 1, 2017, but moved
across Virginia Avenue to a new location on February 2 of this year.
Town and county officials and the Vinton Chamber of Commerce came out to celebrate her
success and her move to a very bright, welcoming, and hospitable space with more parking
availability. (The space formerly housed the chiropractic practice of Dr. Jefferson Teass.)
Robbins was congratulated on the move by Vinton Mayor Brad Grose, Board of Supervisors
representative for Vinton Tammy Shepherd, and Vinton Chamber of Commerce Executive
Director Angie Chewning.
Supervisors representative Tammy Shepherd, Vinton Mayor Brad Grose, owner Penny Robbins,
and Vinton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Angie Chewning celebrated the grand
opening of Robbins’ Nest Primitives and Antiques in a new location on March 21.
Her inventory remains basically the same as in her previous location– home, seasonal, and
patriotic décor, Billy Jacobs prints (the largest collection in the area), Vera Bradley bags,
McCall’s wax melts, candles, antiques, toys, and much more. The shop is easy to locate with its
year-round outdoor flags and spinners twirling in the breeze.
its inventory of all-things home décor and outdoor flags and spinners.
Robbins says she is constantly adding new items, and always “changing things up.” During this
Easter season, she has been selling candy Easter eggs made by Lynn Haven Baptist Church.
She has a broad customer base from girls in college, to newlyweds, and new homeowners, to
men who like to browse, to those of all ages who just like to collect the unique.
Robbins has always had a passion for arts and crafts since childhood. Her first big project was
painting her bedroom furniture when she was in middle school.
In more recent years, when her children grew up and left home, Robbins felt that she was
“getting in a rut” and “needed a purpose.” So, she decided to learn to make dolls. After she
finished the first doll, a friend who makes primitive dolls told her she needed to rent a booth to sell them– they were that good. She then added furniture painting and creating primitive (folk
art) signs.
Seven years ago, her husband Doug noticed a space at the corner of Third Street and Virginia
Avenue in Vinton for rent and encouraged her to just jump in and open her business. Three short
days later, she signed a lease.
Robbins says with this recent move, she was eager to remain in Vinton– “I didn’t want to go
anywhere else. It’s a growing town and I wanted to grow with them. The Town of Vinton and
Town Manager Pete Peters are great to work with.”
She enjoys traveling to scout out new inventory and loves “the thrill of the hunt.” Her husband
says if she didn’t have the shop, their house would be bursting at the seams with her purchases.
When the Robbins’ Nest opened in 2017, she brought along store cat Crook, who never met a
stranger. Sadly, Crook passed away in 2022, but there is now a new greeter on hand– Lucy, the
Boston Terrier. Tucked away in a backroom aquarium is also Robbins’ “Rescue Fish,” Tiffany, a
very personable cichlid, who she saved from unfortunate circumstances.
Tiffany, at the Robbins’ Nest.
The Robbins’ Nest is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and on Saturday
from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Keep up with Robbins’ new inventory at https://www.facebook.com/RobbinsNestPrimitives/ and
don’t miss her Spring Spree open house on April 19 and 20 at the new 300 W. Virginia Avenue
location.
