4 Ways To Maximize Your Magnolia Marketplace Visit

That's the store on the left, the bakery on the right.

My hubby predicted we’d endure inwards Texas entirely ii weeks earlier nosotros visited Magnolia Market. (For the uninformed, this is the shiplap-packed mecca of Joanna too Chip Gaines from HGTV’s mega-hit Fixer Upper). As it turns out, he was entirely off yesteryear a duo days—Mother’s Day happened to endure but shy of ii weeks after our move, thence nosotros decided to brand the 90-minute crusade to Waco this yesteryear Saturday. (Magnolia is shut on Sunday.)  

A map of Magnolia. Silos, store, too bakery upwards front; play expanse inwards the middle;
food trucks too garden optic inwards the back.

We flora gratis street parking surprisingly apace (we arrived at around 10:30 a.m.), too I made a mad dash for the Silos (which, funnily enough, my hubby remembers seeing inwards a much different—i.e. decrepit—state when he worked inwards Waco almost a decade ago). I was surprised yesteryear the size of the campus—there genuinely isn’t much to it, although every inch of the identify is impeccably decorated too good idea out. 

Entrance to the store.

I started inwards the shop, which was totally packed amongst people. (I shortly flora out that, inwards add-on to existence Mother’s Day weekend, it was graduation weekend at nearby Baylor College.) Overwhelmed, I by too large but absorbed the scene, rather than doing serious shopping, although I did option upwards a pack of hymn postcards (available here).

I loved this subway scheme tile wall inwards the store!

 The business snaked correct through the optic of the store, making it tough to browse, but I did notice all of the common Joanna Gaines suspects for sale.

Candlesticks yesteryear Clint:

And metallic signs yesteryear Jimmy Don:

After I finished shopping, nosotros allow Asa play inwards the Astro-turf area, where at that topographic point are comfy striped seats, swings, too bins total of toys, including Frisbees (I got hid inwards the caput amongst one). 

Then nosotros meandered over to the nutrient trucks, the mix of which is constantly changing, and I stood inwards the searing-hot Texas Sun (I could literally experience my toes burning) for virtually xv minutes to purchase a cupcake out of a refurbished Airstream camper. I chose the Nuts too Bolts flavor, which consists of vanilla cake speckled amongst walnuts too pecans too topped with cream cheese frosting. It was for sure tasty, but I in all probability should accept gone amongst my commencement nutrient instinct: a gourmet grilled cheese from Cheddar Box. (Note: I walked yesteryear the bakery, which also sells cupcakes, but the ridiculous business deterred me from checking it out.)

I was disappointed to larn that you lot can’t genuinely acquire within the silos (although if you’re dying to tour one, you lot could crusade downward the route to the Waco highway balance stop, which has silo-shaped bathrooms!). 

That said, I volition definitely endure going dorsum when friends too identify unit of measurement come upwards to visit—and side yesteryear side time, I’ll endure armed amongst these insider tips:

1. Plan a mid-week visit. Not surprisingly, Sat is the Silos’ busiest day, but a store clerk told me Mon is also insane. (She said they consider Mon business office of the weekend, since they’re shut on Sunday.) The best fourth dimension to visit? Midweek around iii or iv inwards the afternoon, when the weekend crowd has dispersed too the 24-hour interval is winding down.
2. Don’t hold back inwards line. If you’re buying non-breakable items—like postcards or a t-shirt—look for a store clerk belongings an iPad, who tin telephone you lot upwards too spare you lot a crazy-long hold back inwards line. 
3. Check your inbox. See a lot of items you lot love? Buy something modest that you lot tin easily comport inwards your suitcase, too then write downward the names of bigger items you lot similar too lodge them online later. After making my purchase, I received a 20% off coupon for online items (most items for sale at the Silos are available on the website), which allows you lot to salve a lilliputian coin too avoid the terms too hassle of arranging transportation spell you’re inwards the store. 
4. Drive around back. As you lot approach the Silos from the highway, you’ll encounter church building parking for $10. But if you lot proceed going, you’ll discovery gratis parking behind Magnolia Market. It may endure total if you lot watch at a peak time, but it’s worth a try! 

Next post: All the other must-see Waco sights!