At just under 20 square miles, Lafayette, tucked in the center of rural Sussex County, is known for farms, orchards, antiques and more. It has the kind of winding country roads that make the journey part of the fun. Wooded hillsides and open farmland give way to the township’s main shopping area along Route 15, where antique shops, gift stores and other specialty shops are clustered about the circa-1840 Lafayette Mill. Set along the Paulinskill River, the former log and grain mill, with its red exterior, provides a picturesque backdrop for an afternoon of browsing for treasures.
Serious collectors will want to pay a visit to the Carriage House (12 Morris Farm Road). Located in the Lafayette Mill complex, the bi-level shop is owned by Kim Ferruggia and business partner Jay Romania, who focus their inventory on rare, unusual and authentic antique finds. The pair draw their stock from approximately seven states. “We arrange items in vignettes designed to help shoppers imagine how the piece will look in their homes,” says Ferruggia. Longtime Carriage House employees Carolyn Celli and Joyce Gibbins, both in their mid-80s, bring a wealth of antique knowledge, as well as warm demeanors and keen decorating eyes. “We are so fortunate to have them,” says Ferruggia.
Old-timey charm blended with handmade, new and vintage items can be found in shops like Brick + Mortar Marketplace (102 Route 15), where owner Rebecca Festa offers seven rooms of merchandise—jewelry, candles, soaps, skin care and more—from vendors who rent space or consign. Festa, a nurse, took over ownership of Brick + Mortar in April after moving to Sussex County from Long Island. “Something about Lafayette just won me over. I just love the look of the town,” she says, pointing out that she also loves how many of its quaint shops are owned by women. Festa’s shop carries items like crocheted baby blankets and bibs, hand-painted signs, puzzles, cutting boards and more. “The variety is what makes the shop fun,” says Festa.
Sisters Jennifer and Stephanie Koza, owners of the Chocolate Goat Gift Shoppe (103 Route 15), housed in an 1830s stone building, brings another flavor to the area. Specializing in Neuhaus Belgian and locally made chocolates, the 28-year-old store stocks gourmet foods, teas, handbags, fragrances and home decor, an inventory that has evolved with the town. “This area was all antiques, so we expanded to new gifts and foods,” says Jennifer. “The shop gets visitors from all over. We are an annual stop on the way to the Poconos for some customers.” The Chocolate Goat, its name drawn from the sisters’ last name, which means “goat” in Polish, charms everyone “from 0 to 110 years old, especially our chocolate goat [candies]. They are uniquely ours, delicious and adorable.”
Stop for a bite at the Millside Cafe, where hearty breakfast plates and sandwiches are served inside the historic mill building. Before you head home, make a stop at the Shoppes at Lafayette (75 Route 15) to peruse more shops. Then pay a visit to Roaming Acres farm (65 Big Spring Road) to see ostriches, Berkshire pigs and bison; take home fresh eggs and more. Be sure to leave time to visit the Skylands Museum of Art (15 Route 15). Opened in 2023, the museum houses a quirky collection of fine art, including works from Salvador Dali.
