Road-Trip Finds: Pottery Barn Outlet and Mary Jo’s Cloth Shop

I finally went through the 200+ photos I took at two of my favorite on-the-road shopping stops: the Pottery Barn Outlet in Gaffney, SC, and Mary Jo’s Cloth Shop just outside Charlotte, NC. Below are the pieces and displays that caught my eye, what I liked about them, and what I ended up bringing home. Buckle up—there’s a lot to cover.

Pottery Barn Outlet

The outlet’s building draws you in the moment you see it. I wandered the store alone with my camera while my husband stayed outside with Clara and Burger during our visit for the Haven trip; he politely declined shopping duty.

I spotted two fun metal chairs: an adult-sized white chair marked down from $245 to $123, and a red kids’ chair marked down from $119 to $59. I loved the little red chair but left it because we already have two kids’ chairs at home from a yard sale.

A bright red stool with a slatted top was marked down from $150 to $75. It felt like a strong DIY inspiration—paint the base red and leave the wood top natural for a similar look without the cost of multiple stools.

On a red kick, I also admired a giant red light—probably 24″ across—reduced from $160 to $70. I almost bought it but didn’t have a place for such a big item and couldn’t imagine carrying it out of the store with a child and a dog in tow.

One of my favorite sections was the large rack of on-sale rugs in the back. The outlet often carries both Pottery Barn and West Elm rugs heavily discounted. I loved a nubby silvery blue rug and a bright orange Moroccan-inspired one; these outlet pieces are frequently slashed by hundreds of dollars.

I came across delicate lighting options that would be lovely in a child’s room—antique bronze pendants that could also read fresh in glossy white or soft matte tones. A hammered silver pendant about three feet wide was over 50% off (from $550 to $200). It was large and dramatic—ideal for a lofty dining space where it could throw plenty of light and sparkle.

Smaller lamps included a mercury glass lamp reduced from $100 to $50 and a globe pendant reduced from $125 to about $60. Pottery Barn Kids offered colorful lanterns and a retro red desk lamp shaped like a little airplane—charming kid-friendly touches throughout the store.

I loved a series of oversized math prints—each frame at least four feet tall—reduced from $99 to $69. They tied into family math stories and felt like a playful, intellectual piece of decor. A chalkboard/corkboard was marked down to $60 and seemed perfect for kitchen or family command centers.

Bedding deals caught my eye, too: sheet sets reduced dramatically (for example, one set dropped from $140 to $50). Larger furniture included a gorgeous, oversized piece marked down from $1900 to $1330—stunning but too big to fit in our car. Other industrial pieces like a printer’s armoire and metal shelving offered history-rich character and heavy-duty charm for bathrooms or kitchens.

A comfortable chair marked down from $600 to $420 felt like a cozy sunroom candidate—imagine it with a bold pillow and a bright side table. Wooden lounge chairs were about 50% off and looked well made. Large glass hurricanes and intricate lantern-style candle holders were marked down and would be dramatic clustered on a patio table or paired asymmetrically on a front porch.

Glassware was plentiful and affordable—simple cups about $3 each that work for everything from juice to wine. I also loved a stack of lettered candle sconces that spelled PEACE; oddly satisfying to discover they included the initials of my daughter, Clara (C.P.). Seasonal pillow covers offered a low-commitment way to freshen your home for the holidays.

Mary Jo’s Cloth Shop

I was saving some money for Mary Jo’s, since fabric is my weakness. My first find was a bleached version of a dining-room curtain fabric I recognized (Kanjhali Peacock by Robert Allen). The icy, soft version looked wonderful.

Polka dot fabrics in imperfect, hand-painted styles appeared in several colors. I didn’t note the names, but those patterns are widely available in fabric shops and online. I also loved a velvety rainbow fabric that felt perfect for a nursery or a playful bedroom.

Mary Jo’s had so many “cabinet of curiosities” motifs—bold, graphic designs that would translate beautifully into oversized framed fabric art. A yellow snake print with pink spots was particularly striking and full of attitude. A pixelated-pattern fabric and several ginkgo prints in varied colors provided great pillow and accent options.

The piece I bought was an orange, pink, yellow, and blue ikat—Ubud by Iman Home/Waverly—reduced from $25 to $16 a yard. I grabbed two yards and can already picture it used for a table runner, a hall bathroom Roman shade, or a small upholstering project.

Final Thoughts

This trip was a whirlwind of window shopping and real finds. I didn’t leave Pottery Barn with anything because car space was limited while traveling with a child and a dog, but Mary Jo’s satisfied my fabric craving. If you love hunting for discounted home decor or unique textiles, both stores are worth making a stop for—bring measuring tape, an open mind, and a plan for how to transport your treasures home.