Writer / Natalie Platt
Rhonda King spent 35 years in wealth management before deciding she was ready to try something entirely different. After decades as a vice president and trust officer, she traded banking for antiques, vintage furniture and the daily work of running a retail store.
In 2020, King opened Thistle & Thyme Home Store at 29 S. Ninth St. in downtown Noblesville. The shop grew from a longtime interest in antiques and decorating, along with years spent selling from booths inside other stores before she had a space of her own.
“I wanted to finish doing something I loved, and I loved antiques,” she says. “So I opened my first store, Thistle & Thyme, and learned to be a retail store owner.”
The learning part, King says, was significant. Her background was in business, including a degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University, but owning a retail shop required a different set of skills. She learned how to buy for customers, manage inventory and make decisions about what belonged in the store. Family and friends encouraged her through the transition, while the response from Noblesville gave her confidence that she had chosen the right place.
King had an opportunity to expand earlier than she ultimately did, but passed when the timing did not feel right. She wanted more experience running one store before taking on another. In 2023, she opened The Annex by Thistle & Thyme at the corner of Conner and Ninth streets, giving the business additional room for its growing collection.
Today, the two shops carry a mix that reflects King’s own approach to decorating.
Antique and vintage furniture make up an important part of the inventory, alongside home and garden decor, artwork, collectibles, old books, candles and gifts. New pieces are mixed in sparingly.
“We carefully select every item and search for pieces that will fit diverse styles,” she says. “We feel your home should be your resting place and should bring you joy and positive energy. Our goal is to provide things that will help you accomplish that in every room.”
Because much of the inventory is antique or vintage, what shoppers find can change considerably from one visit to the next. A piece of furniture might sit alongside old books, artwork, garden decor or a new candle, giving the stores a collected feel rather than the uniform look of a traditional home furnishings shop.
King’s connection to Noblesville goes back well before she became a downtown business owner. She grew up in Ridgeville in Randolph County and lived in Winchester after high school. Her career took her to Logansport in 1996, then to Indianapolis in 2000. When it came time to choose a home in Central Indiana, she settled in Noblesville.
“Years ago, I would pass through Noblesville and often thought how nice it would be to live here,” she says. “I love the community, schools, the sweet downtown area and parks. People like to be here, and it shows.”
That affection for the city now extends to her role as a business owner. Thistle & Thyme participates in community events, supports local charities and raises money annually for Good Samaritan Network. King says she considers owning two downtown stores both an opportunity and a responsibility.
“I don’t take that responsibility lightly and work hard to create an environment where every customer has a good experience when they come into our stores,” she says.
Away from the shops, King is married and has two children, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. The household includes three dogs and four cats, a collection she jokingly describes as a zoo.
More than six years after opening Thistle & Thyme, King remains closely involved in selecting merchandise and shaping the stores, with the same interest in antiques that first pushed her toward a career change. “I don’t take for granted the honor I have been given,” she says. “First and foremost, God being my compass. My landlords, giving me the opportunity to lease their beautiful spaces. Our customers, for trusting us and supporting us consistently. I am so grateful for all of these things and look forward to many years to come.”
For more information about Thistle & Thyme Home Store, call (317) 219-7119 or visit thistleandthymehomestore.com.
