Some shops sell a little of everything, but one small storefront in a Union County town has made a whole business out of time itself. Grandfather clocks stand tall along the floor, cuckoo clocks fill the walls, and mantel clocks wait patiently for new homes.
People bring in family heirlooms that have been silent for decades and leave with them running again. It is the kind of place North Carolinians drive past for years before finally stopping in, and then they wonder why they waited so long.
Keep reading to learn where it is, what you will find inside, how the repair side works, and when to plan your visit.
A Clock Lover’s Corner on North Broome Street
Waxhaw already draws weekend crowds for its antique stores, but one address on the main drag specializes in a single obsession. The Antique Clock Shop sits at 202 N Broome St, Waxhaw, NC 28173, in the heart of this small Union County town south of Charlotte.
The shop is listed simply as an antique store. Walk the aisles, though, and the focus becomes clear fast.
Clocks are the whole story here. Tall grandfather clocks, compact mantel pieces, wall clocks, and cuckoo clocks fill the space, along with antique music boxes for good measure.
Plenty of folks across the Charlotte region call it the most unusual shop of its kind in the area. That reputation has been building for more than a decade.
The location makes it easy to fold into a bigger outing. Broome Street is lined with older storefronts, so a stop here fits naturally into a slow day of browsing around downtown Waxhaw.
The shop also keeps a website, so you can do a little homework before the drive. Still, a screen cannot quite capture the scale of a room packed with this many timepieces, and that is a good reason to see it in person.
Family Hands Behind the Counter
Small businesses often run on family, and this one is no exception. The shop has long been tied to one family, with the owner’s daughter, Kristen, now the name many customers mention first.
Her knowledge of clock repair and clock history earns steady praise. Regulars describe her as professional, courteous, and genuinely enjoyable to listen to as she explains how different clocks work.
That kind of expertise does not come from a quick training course. It comes from years spent around gears, springs, and chimes, and it shows in how calmly she handles old pieces.
Customers from years back also mention a talented and passionate staff overall. Phrases like proud of their work and genuinely dedicated pop up again and again when people talk about the team.
The family connection gives the shop a personal feel that bigger operations struggle to match. You are not just a ticket number here, and staff members tend to remember the clock you brought in.
Kristen has even made house calls for an inherited wall clock that needed extra attention. In an age of drop-off counters and automated updates, that old-fashioned touch is a big part of the appeal.
Rooms Full of Grandfather and Cuckoo Clocks
Hundreds of clocks under one roof is not an exaggeration you need to squint at. The inventory here is large, and the variety covers just about every style a collector might chase.
Grandfather clocks are the showstoppers. They stand in rows, and each one seems to carry its own little personality through its case design and dial.
Cuckoo clocks bring a playful counterpoint on the walls. Then come the mantel clocks, wall clocks, and pieces in every size, big and small.
The selection of antique music boxes deserves a mention too. One longtime customer called that collection unparalleled, which is high praise for a shop whose name only promises clocks.
People who wander in often compare the space to a museum. The difference is that here, many of the pieces are for sale, so the browsing can turn into an addition for your own living room.
Even shoppers with no plans to buy tend to linger. Looking around is described as a treat in itself, and the variety means there is always another case or cabinet worth a closer look before you head back out to Broome Street.
The Repair Bench Where Heirlooms Wake Up
Silence is the enemy at this shop, and the repair side exists to defeat it. Clock repair is the topic people bring up most, right after the clocks themselves.
Experienced repair people work on the premises. Grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, mantel clocks, and complicated pieces all come through the door.
One grandfather clock arrived after nearly 30 years without running. It went home repaired about three months later, and the wait included ordering a replacement weight from out of state.
That same customer appreciated a midway phone call with an update. Communication like that matters when a family treasure is sitting in someone else’s workshop.
Another owner brought a mantel clock from Connecticut during a family trip to Waxhaw. It was ready by the next visit, as promised, and staff later talked them through resetting the chime by phone.
Owners of tricky pieces often mention that the team sticks with a problem until it is solved. Customers also walk away with a better understanding of their clock, since staff take time to explain how the parts work together.
A repaired clock and a short lesson make a pretty good pairing.
A Mantel Clock That Chimed After Decades
Some stories stick with a shop for years, and one in particular captures the spirit of this place. A woman inherited an old mantel clock from her father’s Pennsylvania farmhouse after he passed in 1986.
The clock never worked. Another repair shop had held it for about six months without success.
While planning a trip to a pastry spot in Waxhaw, she noticed the Antique Clock Shop on North Broome Street. So the family brought the clock along.
Kristen looked it over, and within roughly five to ten minutes, the clock was running and chiming. The moment brought its owner to tears.
Kristen also showed her how to operate it, so the family could get it going again at home. Her own response was modest, saying she simply showed the customer how to run the clock and enjoyed seeing her light up.
Not every repair is that quick, of course. But the story shows why so many people trust this shop with pieces that carry family memories, from a mother’s cuckoo clock to a grandparent’s tall case clock.
The value of these clocks often goes far beyond the price tag.
Honest Expectations on Cost and Timing
Good repairs take time, and that is worth knowing before you load a clock into the car. Wait times of two to six months come up in some accounts, and three months for a grandfather clock is a common example.
Costs can also be significant. Some customers mention quotes over $300 per clock, and not everyone felt that price was worth it.
A few people have had clocks stop again after a month or two and needed repeat visits. Others say the opposite, describing pieces that keep time well long after pickup.
Opinions about the shop are not uniform, and a handful of past encounters with staff were less than friendly. Still, the overall score sits at 4.4 stars from 49 opinions, which signals mostly happy customers.
The practical takeaway is simple. Ask questions up front about the estimate, the expected timeline, and what the work includes.
Antique clocks are mechanical puzzles with springs and parts that can be over a century old. Results may vary from piece to piece, and a clear conversation at drop-off can help everyone stay on the same page.
Museum Mood, Plus a Resident Cat
Here is a bonus few people expect: the shop has an in-house cat. Even customers with mixed feelings about repairs recommend stopping to give it a pet.
The overall atmosphere leans calm and unhurried. Many describe the interior as beautiful and museum-like, with staff happy to share the history behind individual pieces.
That makes it a fine stop for curious browsers, not just serious collectors. One longtime fan noted that the shop should not be missed even if you are not a clock connoisseur.
Families exploring downtown Waxhaw can treat it as a mini history lesson. Kids who have only seen digital clocks may be fascinated by pendulums, weights, and cuckoo doors.
Collectors, meanwhile, will find the depth they want. The staff can talk about features and mechanisms for as long as you have questions.
Do keep in mind that this is a working shop full of delicate antiques. Gentle hands and a slower pace help everyone enjoy the visit, the cat included.
Some weekdays can be quiet, which means more one-on-one time with the people who know these clocks best.
Hours and the Drive to Waxhaw
Timing your visit matters at a shop that literally sells time. The Antique Clock Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM.
It is closed on Sunday and Monday. That detail trips up plenty of weekend road-trippers, so plan for a Saturday if weekdays are tough.
Waxhaw sits in Union County, a manageable drive from Charlotte and much of Mecklenburg County. Folks from surrounding counties make the trip specifically for repairs.
If you are bringing a clock in, it helps to call ahead using the number listed on the shop’s website. Large pieces like grandfather clocks need careful transport, and the staff can talk you through what to bring.
Payment questions are worth sorting out before pickup as well. Asking how the shop handles cards versus other methods can save a surprise at the counter.
The shop’s location on North Broome Street puts it close to other antique stores and small businesses. Pairing it with lunch or more browsing can turn a quick errand into a full Waxhaw afternoon, and the town’s compact layout makes that easy to pull off on foot.
Worth an Hour of Your Saturday
Plenty of North Carolina towns have antique stores, but very few have a shop devoted almost entirely to clocks. That alone makes this Waxhaw stop feel like a find.
The appeal works on two levels. Browsers get a museum-like room full of grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, mantel pieces, and music boxes, while owners of silent heirlooms get a skilled repair team close to home.
It is not a perfect fit for everyone. Repairs can take months and cost a fair amount, so patience and clear questions help.
Still, the stories of family clocks chiming again keep people coming back. Staff knowledge and willingness to explain things are mentioned again and again by longtime customers.
For locals who love a small-town outing, it checks a lot of boxes. You get history, a friendly cat, a walkable downtown, and a shop that feels genuinely different from anything at the mall.
So pick a Tuesday through Saturday, point the car toward Union County, and give yourself time to wander. Have you been to this little shop already, or do you have a family clock waiting for its second chance to tick?
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