Love Thy Neighborhood: Dixie Corridor

Antique shopping is an activity long cherished by two crowds: those with an appreciation for the finer things in life and those looking to unearth a bargain. Instead of parsing out these superb retail experiences across the city, West Palm Beach’s Antique Row packs everything into just a few blocks along Dixie Highway. The district comprises more than 40 galleries, vintage shops, decor stores, and other delightful nooks for the discerning buyer or casual passerby. Antique Row’s proximity to Southern Boulevard and the Bingham Island Bridge makes it a prime location for Palm Beachers to come for their off-island interior shopping.

This region is the southernmost point of the loosely defined Dixie Corridor, which covers South Dixie Highway below Okeechobee Boulevard and the immediate side streets. Progress north to arrive at West Palm Beach’s desirable historic districts, including the famous Flamingo Park. With its mix of mid-century modern and Mediterranean architecture, oak-lined avenues, and small-town feel, Flamingo Park is one of Palm Beach County’s top spots for real estate.

“There’s a sense of community in Flamingo Park that I think is lacking in other neighborhoods,” says Copeland, a real estate agent and former resident of the neighborhood. “There’s such a need right now for buyers to have that feeling, where you know your neighbors … and [Flamingo Park has] a lot of community events like barbecues and historic tours of the neighborhood. As a Floridian, to me, it represents everything about Florida.”

Another desirable feature is the area’s proximity to the Warehouse District, which is where you’ll find Grandview Public Market, a millennial mecca for food, cocktails, and bohemian-style boutiques. It often hosts live music on its loading dock, as does the nearby Steam Horse Brewing Co. Across the canal is the Armory Art Center, a nonprofit arts organization housed in a historic Art Deco building. On the other side of Flamingo Park awaits a duo of chic boutiques: Hive Home, Gift & Garden on Palm Street and Hive for Her, for Him and for Kids on South Dixie Highway. 

Just south of downtown is the newly renovated Norton Museum of Art, one of the county’s oldest and most visited cultural destinations. The museum’s popularity among residents and tourists has had a ripple effect on the neighborhood, as well. Within walking distance of the museum is Grato. Although this bistro is currently closed for the off-season, chef Clay Conley’s Italian fare has gained a county-wide reputation and is definitely worth a visit when it reopens in November.

Half a block from Grato is Civil Society Brewing’s West Palm Beach location, situated in a giant warehouse along the railroad. The space itself was a big part of why Volstad and the other owners decided to move there. “After we opened our Abacoa location, we quickly realized that we were not going to be able to make enough beer to keep up with demand,” he says. “Although West Palm Beach and Abacoa have a different feel, we really try to cater to the two locations as much as we can while keeping our own identity.”

That loyalty to identity, dedication to history, and deep-rooted sense of community is a big part of why the Dixie Corridor is one of the county’s hottest up-and-coming neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Nosh: An Antique Row institution, the Rhythm Café has been, per the inscription on its menu, “shunning the dreary since 1988.” What once was a counter-style pharmacy in the 1950s has evolved into an eclectic eatery where you can sip a glass of wine, enjoy the show of saganaki (Kasseri cheese flambéed tableside, served with lemon and pita bread), and dive into a divine slice of chocolate buttercream layer cake.