New Castle Shopping

Historic New Castle is home to a varied and unique array of charming shops offering antiques, art, crafts, jewelry, rare books, clothing, custom quilts and other treasures. These shops are not of the normal tourist variety, for each and every one is the pride and joy of a craftsperson, artisan or expert in their field. Before you visit us, you may be best served by contacting those who interest you so that you can be prepared and set up an appointment. When you check out the shops below you will see why we made this recommendation.

Carousel Beads
412 Delaware Street
302.325.2205

Professionals and beginners come from all over to visit the Carousel and grab the brass ring as they learn the trade from Owner and Teacher, Pat Snow.

This full-service Bead Store and Teaching Studio offers a complete line of beads and supplies including: Swarovski crystals, Czech glass, lamp-work, wood, nut, shell beads, seed beads, pearls, semi-precious, artisan beads, and more. You can purchase finished pieces or design your own to match that special outfit. Beaders (both beginners and experienced) are welcome to sit in the classroom, learn, and then create their own masterpieces.

When you get there, check out their hand-made alpaca teddy bears which come with their own custom-name necklace and adoption certificates. Learn More...

Cactus Wren Gallery
406 Delaware Street
302.328.7595

The Cactus Wren Gallery is a unique store that will introduce you to Native American Jewelry and Art. Close to 200 Native American artists are represented and many are award-winners. All work is authentic and there is a special focus on Southwestern Art utilizing fine American Turquoise. Specialty Carvings and Zuni fetish carvings are also highlighted.

The proprietor brings a passion to this subject and points out that, "Collecting art by America’s native artisans is very personal and exciting - with a past measured by centuries, its intrinsic spirit reaches out with a timeless appeal." Learn More...

Historic Village Quilts
122 Delaware Street
302.983.7838

Owner Christine Brooks Corbett is an acclaimed, award-winning quilter and quilting teacher. Her work is original from start to finish and she prides herself on maintaining the legacy of the American quilt. Each year, she offers a five piece collection, colored by hues and patterns of the past, and done by her own hand. She freehand quilts the final finish of every piece. Each quilt is signed, dated, and comes with a personal label. Hand quilting and commission work is available by request.
Learn More...

Lauren Lynch Antiques
5 Shaw Alley (New Location!)
302.328.5576

When you enter this charming little shop get ready to spend some time because every nook and cranny overflows with antiques, collectibles and decorator items; many of which celebrate New Castle’s past. The last time we visited we saw antique stemware, miniature china tea sets, colonial cabinets, Tiffany style lamps, early American tools, an antique Japanese Raincoat made out of Palm Fronds(!); two coffee-table-sized leather Oriental Drums (which can be made into, yup!, coffee tables), preserved local newspapers from many years ago and much more that we don’t have room to tell you here. If you have a fine piece to sell, they buy as well.

OakKnoll Books / OakKnoll Press
310 Delaware Street
302.328.7232

To make it simple, Oak Knoll is an internationally known firm that is locally known as the place that specializes in “Books about Books.” This absolutely unique institution maintains an inventory of about 23,000 titles and a rapidly growing backlist of more than 1,000 titles published and distributed under its publishing imprint, Oak Knoll Press. Their main specialties are books about book collecting, book selling, bibliography, libraries, publishing, private press printing, fine printing, bookbinding, book design, book illustration, calligraphy, graphic arts, marbling, papermaking, printing, typography and type specimens plus books about the history of these fields. Learn More...

Stitches That Count
306 B Delaware Street
302.328.7888

Owner and artisan Bobbi Morrow is a well-known expert in Cross Stitching, Finishing and Needlepoint. She has a wide variety of Cross-Stitch and Needlepoint treasures in stock, but you can also commission custom work to fit your own needs and tastes. Her “library” of available custom pieces has hundreds of designers represented…so there is much to choose from. All Needlepoint is hand painted on canvas and accessories such as beads, buttons, charms, etc. may be added. To complete the perfect presentation of your treasure, Custom Framing with a unique personal touch is also available. Learn more...

Amstel House Museum Gift Shop
2 East 4th Street
302.322.2794

This tiny little nook of a store once again, confirms the truism about New Castle's eclectic array of unique shops; for you will discover items here that cannot be found anywhere else. You will find colonial ceramics and dinnerware, locally painted marble art tiles and coasters, original artwork, Christmas ornaments, books on local history, period picture frames and more. If you are shopping for the little ones, this shop offers a nice selection of colonial themed children's toys.

Penn’s Place
206 Delaware Street
302-395-4545
Open Thursday - Sunday

This charming former Inn faces the Old Courthouse and was built circa 1686. It is said that William Penn slept here and insisted on the 2nd Floor back bedroom because it was equipped with a fireplace. Today, the building has been charmingly restored and serves as a uniquely Historic New Castle version of a “mini-mall”. The colonial rooms feature original and unique items for sale from the collections of 7 different local artists and artisans.

On first floor you will find A Bit of History which features antiques, colonial-themed children’s toys and (soon), interactive children’s coloring books with a New Castle history theme. On any given day you may also find portrait artists, sculptors or other artists who can produce custom work right on the spot.

Then take the stairs to the second floor to experience thoroughly unique artworks and crafts that you simply won’t find anywhere else. Ara Illustrated uses its digital design expertise to create custom story collages printed on canvas (and suitable for framing) to capture memories of Families or Pets or to celebrate special occasions such as Weddings, Birthdays, etc. Parrot Fish offers hand-painted glassware with a whimsical, nautical, seashore touch. Custom work is available too and artist/owner Kat Zane works her miracles on plates, stemmed glasses, trays, bowls, vases and more. Faulkner Sterling Design creates distinctive jewelry using sterling or handcrafted fine silver, semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls, crystals and exquisite beads from around the world. . If you want something nobody else owns check out Very Venetia for hand-painted, velvet lined fancy purses made out of cigar boxes (you’d never know it!), hand painted trays made out of picture frames and more. Venetia has also created a complete line of crocheted baby gifts including bibs, burp cloths, quilts, baby balls and baby books. For handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings Kerry Elizabeth Gemstone Jewelry uses high quality materials such as sterling silver, genuine gemstones and Swarovski crystals with intricate wire wrapping of her own design. Finally, in William Penn’s “bedroom”, Perfect Moments Photography has a large collection of New Castle and Nature photographs, photo holiday cards and themed picture groupings in photo collages. Owner Donna Harding is also available for private and commercial photography with special attention to family and pet portraits, weddings and other special occasions.

The Book Shop in Old New Castle
308 Delaware Street
302.328.1197

For a taste of the unique, visit the second floor of the historic Opera House to browse the stacks of this one-of-a-kind bookstore. Featuring books from four prominent book sellers hailing from Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, this store will intrigue readers interested in all types of books and genres. While you are searching for your treasure, keep in mind that the stage in front of you once featured top acts from antiquity such as Annie Oakley. Learn More…