Pendleton’s history also draws people to State Street. The town often has events that promote its artistic and historical roots, Marie said. Just to the east and west of State Street’s downtown shopping district lie blocks of large historic homes on the tree-lined street.

“One of the most unique things about this town is the blend of the art and history,” she said. “It works really well for this little town. The atmosphere is more conducive to arts. Shoppers look for unique items, and people come from all over to shop.”

Evey’s only has been in Pendleton for about three months, having been located in northern Anderson before that.

“It wasn’t the right location,” Marie said. “Everyone said it looked like a Pendleton shop. The nature of the shop owner business is not in Anderson.”

Although State Street businesses have many of the same customers, it isn’t often that they go head-to-head in competition, Hull said. Shop owners go out of their way to help each other, and the rest of the town has been supportive of downtown businesses, giving ideas and buying their merchandise.

Most of State Street’s businesses are members of Pendleton’s business association, of which Ashley is the president. The association’s goal is to enhance and nurture an inviting atmosphere for economic activity in the town and create more public awareness of Pendleton, Ashley said.

“Small-town boutique shopping is a niche in the shopping experience that one may look for,” he said. “State Street provides that for Pendleton. You get the unique shopping experience that you don’t get at malls and big box shopping.”

About the Series

Each Monday, The Herald Bulletin is profiling a street in Madison County in our On Your Street series. What’s on the street? Who lives there? What is the history? Those are questions we’ll try to answer. And it’s not just streets. Roads, boulevards and lanes will be included. If you have a street you’d like to nominate for our coverage, let Stephen Dick, assistant managing editor, know. Reach him at The Herald Bulletin, 1133 Jackson St., Anderson 46016 or (765) 640-4863 or steve.dick@heraldbulletin.com.

Businesses along Pendleton’s historic State Street include:

• Antiques

Arts-Antiques of Pendleton, 132 W. State St.