This weekend’s route took us through Zephyr, Brownwood, and Abilene in search of good food, interesting shops, and a few unexpected finds. Even with gloomy skies and a Saturday thunderstorm, the trip still turned up several excellent local stops.

First Stop: Zephyr

We started Friday with a trip to Local Cuts Meat Co in Zephyr to pick up our meat for the week.

Local Cuts processes meat in a state of the art USDA inspected facility, and judging by both the quality of the beef and the steady stream of support on their Facebook page, they have built a loyal following in the area. Our own experiences there have always been positive. The staff are consistently kind and helpful, and the beef has been excellent every time.

From there we stopped by Sliger Market in Brownwood to grab fresh vegetables. While browsing we spotted something we could not pass up. Fresh jalapeño cheddar sourdough loaves.

That loaf paired perfectly with the summer sausage we picked up at Local Cuts.

Shout out to Amber Taylor of Rise & Roll Sourdough, the baker behind the bread.

From Scratch Bazaar

Saturday morning we headed over to the From Scratch Bazaar, which managed to move indoors despite the storms.

While we were there we grabbed two giant cookies and chatted with Suzanne of Handcrafted By Suzanne Good Eats, known locally as The Kolache Lady.

The cookies did not disappoint. We went with a Double Chocolate Chip and a Snickerdoodle, both of which disappeared quickly.

If you see her booth at a future market, it is definitely worth stopping by.

You can find more of her delicious work here:
www.handcraftedbysuz.com

Unexpected Stop: Record Guys (Abilene)

After braving the rain we made our way over to Abilene, where the weather was surprisingly clear.

While exploring the area we stumbled across a fantastic unexpected stop called Record Guys.

The shop is a physical media lover’s paradise filled with vinyl records both new and vintage, CDs, DVDs, and even a small room dedicated entirely to VHS tapes. They also carry vintage record players alongside newer models capable of playing CDs and tapes, as well as tons of other equipment I didn’t even know what I was looking at!

The overall vibe of the shop is fantastic. You get the sense that serious collectors would have a great time talking shop with the employees, who clearly have a deep knowledge of and passion for physical media.

Even if you are just curious, it is a fun place to wander and explore.

Antiquing Stop: Elmwood Antique Center

Just across the street from Record Guys sits Elmwood Antique Center, which was our original destination in Abilene.

The space is large and packed with an eclectic mix of booths. Many of the displays are meticulously arranged, showcasing their wares in a way that makes browsing both easy and enjoyable.

We left with a couple of excellent finds that will be making their way into an upcoming drop on Not New Things, my online vintage resale shop, including several pieces of vanity decor and a surprise vintage retail store tool that I’d bet you’d never guess!

Keep an eye out for those soon.

This weekend’s route covered a small loop across Central Texas, starting close to home and stretching west toward Abilene before circling back.

What began as a simple run for groceries turned into a full day of wandering. A stop in Zephyr for meat and provisions led to fresh sourdough in Brownwood, which eventually turned into cookies at the From Scratch Bazaar, a surprise record store discovery in Abilene, and an afternoon spent digging through antique booths.

Stops along the route included:

Zephyr
Brownwood
Abilene

Thanks for following along on this weekend’s wanderings.

Between the sourdough, the cookies, and a few excellent small-town stops, this route delivered exactly what a good Central Texas market weekend should. Good food, interesting people, and a couple of surprises that were not on the original plan.

If the baked goods seemed to show up more than once in this recap, that is purely a reflection of the important journalistic duty of thoroughly investigating local pastries whenever possible.

Until next time, happy wandering.

See you in Thursday’s Dispatch.