Only in Hoptown

A holiday shopping guide that is uniquely Hopkinsville

In the spirit of taking stock of what’s unique and interesting in our community, Hoptown Chronicle has pulled together some ideas for Christmas gifts that are produced locally. You won’t find these gifts in a big box store or from giant online retailers. They all come from a local entrepreneur, a longtime business interest in our community or a not-for-profit organization.

There’s no better year than this one to keep your holiday shopping close to home. Strong support for local businesses and community organizations during the holidays could be exactly what some will need to remain open until we get through the pandemic.

But buying local isn’t strictly an act of shoring up the businesses. It’s also good for customers because there are some great gifts to be found only in Hoptown.

Take a look and see if you agree.

Copper Jewelry from The Vault Gift Shop

$15 to $75

These pieces are made with copper that came from the original roof of the 1914 Hopkinsville Post Office building, which has housed the Pennyroyal Area Museum since 1976. Each piece is hand-cut as a one-of-kind keepsake created by Kiley Killebrew, of J. Schrecker Jewelry. A portion of the proceeds support the museum. Call ahead to confirm hours at The Vault gift shop, 217 E. Ninth St., 270-887-4270.

Christian County-opoly

$20

What if a classic American board game was tweaked to resemble the business landscape of Hopkinsville and Christian County? Wouldn’t that make an interesting gift at Christmas? Indeed, there is such a thing with Christian County-Opoly. It’s available at the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, 2800 Fort Campbell Blvd. For more information, call the chamber at 270-885-9096.

Hoptown Chronicle calendar

$20

Hoptown Chronicle’s 2021 wall calendar features 12 beautiful photographs of iconic scenes in Hopkinsville by editor Jennifer P. Brown. The calendars are $20 and you might want to save and frame some of the 8.5"x11" photos at the end of the year. All proceeds support this nonprofit news outlet. They are available at 6th Street Boutique or by emailing us at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. We have a limited number available before Christmas.

Signature Sauce from Vansauwa’s

$7 (4 oz), $25 (16 oz) or $25 (32 oz)

Jerk by Jar, a special marinade, is available now from Vansauwa’s Tacos and Vegan Eats, Hopkinsville’s own street food vendor. Owners Desaepa Vansauwa and Zirconia Alleyne make this sauce with peppers and spices you’d expect to find in authentic jerk seasoning, and it's good for seasoning meat, fish, pasta and vegetables. Desaepa says, “Your tongue will tingle but your taste buds will rejoice.” To purchase, contact Desaepa at 270-987-2582, vansauwatacos@gmail.com or at the Vansauwa’s food truck.

WaterWell bottled water

$1 for 1 gallon (purified), $3 for 1 gallon (alkaline, with your own container); Monthly subscriptions: $20 for 50 gallons (purified), $30 for 30 gallons (alkaline)

The WaterWell, a new business in downtown Hopkinsville, sells purified and alkaline water in a variety of glass bottle sizes. Owner Machteld Schrameyer collaborated with the Afternoon Delight Ice Cream Parlor to install a four-phase purification system for tap water and a Kangen machine to produce alkaline water. Neither process adds anything to water. Alkaline water increases the pH level to reduce the acidity in drinking water. “We want to bring something healthy, essential and affordable to Hopkinsville while helping the environment by eliminating the use of plastic bottles from the supermarket,” Schrameyer says. Sales are through the ice cream parlor at 207-B E. Ninth St., next door to the Pennyroyal Area Museum, and more information is available by emailing The WaterWell at thewaterwell207@gmail.com.

edgar cayce pit game

Edgar Cayce's card game

$10.50 (classic) - $21.50 (premium)

Christian County native Edgar Cayce is known far and wide as the “Sleeping Prophet,” the great American clairvoyant who could put himself into a trance-like state and answer questions about physical healing, past lives, dreams, reincarnation and more. But few people remember that Cayce invented a fast-paced card game called Pit, which has players acting as commodity traders who exchange cards that represent agricultural goods such as coffee, sugar and wheat. Cayce’s game is available at The Vault gift shop in the Pennyroyal Area Museum, 217 E. Ninth St. Call ahead (270-887-4270) to confirm hours.

Kiwanis Christmas Ornament

$10

Every year, Hopkinsville Kiwanians release a new locally themed Christmas tree ornament. The 2020 ornament is a nod to Christian County’s agricultural heritage. In addition to H&R AgriPower, 4900 Eagle Way, the ornaments are available at the Hopkinsville Visitor Center, 1730 E. Ninth St., and Johnson Family Chiropractic, 1600 S. Virginia St.

Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon from Casey Jones Distillery


Distilled right here in Christian County, the Casey Jones Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon has a distinctive flavor highlighted by tasting notes that include “butterscotch, toffee, dark fruits, smoky oak and tobacco with a smooth, sweet and medium-long finish.”

Cinnamon Rolls from The Mixer

$21 for a half dozen jumbo-size cinnamon rolls

Baker and restaurant co-owner Heather Dawson suggests calling ahead (270-874-2416) to place an order for these treats. The Mixer, 114, E. Sixth St., is also open for carry-out orders and outdoor dining during and lunch and dinner Wednesday through Saturday.

Handmade Bags from 6th Street Boutique

$95 to $180

Owner Janey Moss hand-crafts the purses, backpacks and travel bags that she sells at the 6th Street Boutique, 113 E. Sixth St. Now in her fifth holiday season downtown, Moss curates an eclectic shop with women’s clothing, accessories and jewelry. She also sells cloth masks for adults and children in several designs.

St. Elmo’s Fire from MB Roland


After establishing MB Roland craft distillery in 2009, Paul and Merry Beth Tomaszewski did not have to search far for branding inspiration. Their St. Elmo’s Fire is a nod to the tiny farming community near their distillery in South Christian at 137 Barkers Mill Road, Pembroke. They describe the spirit this way: “Sipped at room temperature, chilled in the freezer for shots, or used in cocktail creations, this spirit has created its own cult following. Ideas for mixing include chocolate, coffee and raspberry liqueurs, orange and cream sodas, even Dr. Pepper.”

Original Artwork from Hopkinsville Art Guild

Prices range from a few to several hundred dollars

Although the pandemic resulted in the closures of the Hopkinsville Art Guild’s downtown gallery, the members have an online shop. Dozens of pieces, includes paintings, wood turnings, fiber art and greeting cards, are featured on the site and all are original works.

Sunflower Corn Meal Mix from Hopkinsville Milling Co.

About $2.75 for a 5-pound bag

Longtime Hopkinsville residents might think of Sunflower Corn Meal Mix as a ubiquitous product since it has been milled for decades by Hopkinsville Milling Co. But folks who have moved to northern or western states often write home to have family ship them a supply because they can’t find anything that matches this brand for homemade cornbread. Many also swear by the Hopkinsville Milling flour and grits available at most local grocery stores.

City Art Posters at Gracious Me!

$25.99

Three posters depicting historic buildings in downtown Hopkinsville are a collaboration between locals Brooke Colburn (BGC Design/Tandy Advertising) and Kathryn Poe Ison (The Peddler and CreativeType). The 18"x24" posters are available in three styles — black and white, vivid neon and a version inspired by a vintage travel poster. Available at Gracious Me!, 4537 Fort Campbell Boulevard, as well as the Pennyroyal Arts Council, Staton’s Art and Framing, Hopkinsville Visitor’s Center, Farmers Daughter and Pennyroyal Area Museum.

Kitchen Cutting Boards from Heirloom Table Home

$37 to $145

Jim Creighton of Heirloom Table Home, in the former Cayce-Yost Department Store building, makes cutting boards for home cooks in a variety of shapes and sizes. At the top of the price range are his walnut boards. Customers who go to the shop at 1004 S. Main St., can see several custom furniture pieces that Jim makes. He also rehabs and repairs antique pieces.

Kentucky Holiday Tins from Planters Bank

$20

The 2020 Season of Giving promotion from Planters Bank offers a large Kentucky-themed holiday tin, which contains a scented candle and a flour sack towel. The tins are available at all of the bank’s main office and branches, and from three not-for-profit organizations that benefit from the promotion — the Hopkinsville Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County and the Pennyroyal Arts Council (Alhambra Theatre).

Stouts, Ales & more from Hopkinsville Brewing Co.

$16 (4-pack of 16 oz. cans)

Hopkinsville Brewing Company owners Kate Russell and Joey Medeiros recently added canned beers to their offerings. Four varieties are available this month — Let George Do It Atkins Milk Stout, Martha Ann’s Amber Ale, Come Together Kolsch and Jeffers Bend Hefeweizen. The brewery, located at 102 E. Fifth St., also offers 32-ounce crowlers. Available to-go and curbside. Check the brewery's Facebook page to confirm hours.

Espresso Beans from Corner Coffeehouse

$11 a pound

The Corner Coffeehouse, 1100 S. Main St., recently stocked up on its House Espresso, so customers can enjoy the flavor of their Arabica Blend at home, or treat friends with a gift of the beans. They can grind the beans for an additional charge. Owners Amanda and April Huff-McClure have a large espresso and coffee menu, along with baked good, waffles and lunch specials. They offer online ordering. Customers may pick up orders to-go or arrange delivery on limited days.

“Let Us Entertain You” Cookbook from Pennyroyal Arts Council

$30

When the pandemic shut down most of the Pennyroyal Arts Council’s live events, the organization needed a way to raise money and keep the community engaged with its mission. That was the inspiration for a community cookbook organized around entertainment themes. The cookbook contains more than 600 recipes contributed by local residents and is available at the Alhambra Theatre gift shop at 507 S. Main St., and from several local businesses.

Slogan T-shirts from Dick’s Drive In & BBQ

$15 and up

Dick's is an old-school liquor store with the colorful slogan, “Where the Nuts Hang Out,” proudly displayed on a variety of T-shirts and hoodies. The business was established around 1962 with a large neon sign on East Ninth Street. Today, it’s owned by Mindy Hargrove, who has expanded things with a barbecue truck and outdoor event pavilion. Some of the offerings are limited by pandemic restrictions and the weather, but apparel is available through the drive-in window at 1515 E. Ninth St.

Unique Leather Bags from Milkweed

$120 to $280

Owners Julie-Anna and Taylor Carlisle make many items sold at Milkweed Health and Harmony Emporium, 202 E. Ninth St., including artwork, soaps, moisturizers and primitive leather bags. Taylor crafts the one-of-a-kind bags, usually from full-grain American cow or bison leather so that each develops its own patina with age. The bags are minimalist by design. Recently, the bags were accepted into the Kentucky Crafted program sponsored by the Kentucky Arts Council.

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Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.