Cotton Mill Exchange: A Shopper's Paradise

The Cotton Mill Exchange fills an expansive 45,000 square feet in The Mill on Etowah, an award-winning reuse development in the heart of Downtown Canton. The old Canton Cotton Mill (circa 1899) on Railroad Street rests along the banks of the Etowah River, so make sure to set aside plenty of time for exploring during your shopping trip.

The historic industrial space is the perfect backdrop for the designers, artisans, and small business owners who have filled The Cotton Mill Exchange with an alluring blend of vintage and antique home goods, fashions, and new and vintage merchandise since it opened in 2019.

“This is a dream come true for us,” owner Lori Sinatra says of the space with its more than 118-year-old brick walls and gleaming, refinished wood floors in the historic district of Canton.

The Cotton Mill Exchange is an incomparable collection of handmade furniture, antiques, primitives, handcrafted and new jewelry, distinctive gifts, and a variety of new sophisticated clothing, Lori points out.

Lori, who owns and manages The Cotton Mill Exchange, and her husband, Steve Sinatra, say the couple enjoy helping people launch their businesses and seeing them grow. Steve and Lori have been in the antiques business for more than ten years.

“We have so much to offer with all the diverse small shops inside our store. We have antiques, vintage, and new home furnishings. We have jewelry and bath/spa products. We have several awesome clothing boutiques scattered throughout the store,” she explains.

Among the shops inside the Exchange are many artisans who work with wood to create furniture, cutting boards, and door hangers. The floral designers also sell unique wreaths and tabletop centerpieces for the holidays and year-round.

“We intend to respect and honor the history of this property as well as keep this business staffed with wonderful and helpful people,” Lori promises.Suzanne Skelly is on staff to help with staff management and customer service. She is a retired human resources manager from IBM and brings a higher level of professionalism to thestore, not to mention her extreme knowledge of all things antique and primitive, Lori says.

This article was featured in the Historic Canton magazine. Read more.