Samantha Breedlove and her mother Ruth Cornelius opened Rusted Arrow Mercantile in 2017, transforming a downtown Pensacola storefront into a vibrant home decor and gift shop. The store rotates its displays with the seasons, from spring bunnies to winter Christmas themes, aiming to inspire customers' homes. It also hosts community events and sells curated items like custom-scented candles.
Rusted Arrow Mercantile, located at the corner of Palafox and Intendencia streets in downtown Pensacola, opened its doors in 2017 under the ownership of Samantha Breedlove and her mother, Ruth Cornelius. The pair, originally from the Chicago area, were drawn to Pensacola after Breedlove's visit in the 2010s. "When we drove through, it was so beautiful," Breedlove said. "It was like a Hallmark movie."
Cornelius, who worked as a buyer for Hallmark stores for 17 years, and Breedlove, a former marine mammal specialist at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, share a passion for home decor. Breedlove's earlier experiences included training dolphins and refurbishing furniture in St. Petersburg, Florida. The family connection to the Gulf Coast—her husband hails from Mobile, Alabama—made Pensacola an ideal spot. "I just fell in love with Pensacola," Breedlove said. "This is where we wanted to be."
The store's interior evolves with the seasons to create a welcoming atmosphere. Currently, it features Easter and spring decor, including hydrangea displays, bunny fixtures, and pastel colors. In fall, visitors see oranges, browns, and pumpkin scents; winter brings themed Christmas trees in reds and greens. "Every season it changes, and if you visit the store on a Monday and come by again on Friday, hopefully you'll find something new," Cornelius explained. "We hope someone comes in and can feel the season and find some inspiration on how to bring that in your home."
Merchandise includes Pensacola-themed pillows and throws, wall decor, home bar items, jewelry, apparel, vases, beauty products, and children's books about the Blue Angels. Candles are a top seller, custom-branded with fragrances designed to evoke local scents, such as Pensacola in spring. The shop also carries Nora Fleming collectibles and mahjong sets.
To engage the community, Rusted Arrow hosts events like a needlepoint workshop on March 4, pottery class on March 6, Spring Shop Hop, mahjong lessons on March 11, open play on March 25, and a Nora Fleming Mini Workshop on March 27. It offers holiday decorating services and private event hosting. More details are available at rustedarrowmercantile.com.