Alewine Pottery

My husband and I had the pleasure of walking through\r this lovely shop and viewing all the treasures. We purchased several items and are very pleased with the\r quality and the price. I am sorry that others had such an\r unpleasant experience. Guess you can't please everyone. We will return again in the future. more

I much prefer the small shops along the way with the really unique pottery. I feel his pieces are a bit too gaudy for my taste and prefer a more refined touch to my clay art. But to each hiw own....... more

I just loved this shop! Mr. Alewine and his staff were gracious, professional, and very skilled in their work. They patiently answered every question we had and had a showroom full of some of the most emotionally moving pottery (it even sounds funny to me) that I have ever encountered. \r I thought the workmanship was terrific - art, really - and reminded me of what I love about the mountains. The shop was down-home all the way down to the honor system kettle popcorn stand outside the shop. \r I had hoped to find a nice piece to take home, but was overwhelmed by the simple beauty of the pieces I saw. I will come back, early, the next time we are in Gatlinburg. \r Thanks Mr. Alewine and staff for a great experience. - S. Parker Pros: Beauty of mountains captured in clay. Gracious owner & staff Cons: I wish I could have purchased one more piece. more

My daughter and I had a lovely time on our first visit together. We saved the 8-mile craft trip for the last day and wish we had saved one day for the Alewine. Much to see and admire. \r \r Sorry to read how disgruntled some guests were, but you know, there is always one in every family! As for me and mine, we enjoyed everything (even the cost of our mini mixing bowls). They are the perfect gift for all my daughters-in-law and I am sure they will be delighted as much as I have been. Your staff was courteous and the lesson lots of fun. Did not run into any ""grumps"" at all!\r \r Keep up the good work. \r Pros: Plethora of selections, styles and color more

In the Art community of the Smokies, Mr. Alewine is dishonest and an unfriendly person that is just out to make money and doesn't care who he steps on to in the process.\r \r The potter isn't that unique and shouldn't be considered Art or a Craft as it is cookie cutter and extremely overpriced!\r \r Been there one time and will never return. There are actually artists who create some superb pottery.\r \r My favs are Smokey Mtn. Pottery and Brandwine Pottery.\r \r Drive past Alewine and find some awesome pottery! Cons: No art, just factory cutouts and over priced! more

I passed up buying any pottery on my last visit to Gatlinburg, and promised I'd go back when I got the chance. I bought some beautiful mugs, and I got a free salsa bowl for spending more than $50, which is easy here. People have said that they weren't treated well on here, and that the prices weren't fair, but I was treated very well, and I think it was worth the price. I don't need to have my hand held when I walk into a place; I actually prefer to be left on my own, but when I did ask for help, they were so nice and willing. The artists were even friendly and waving and playing my son. I enjoyed it, but I am sad that others did not. Pros: Nice people, great artwork more

This was my last stop before leaving the mountains and I wished I had went somewhere else. The pottery was ok but nothing special and too expensive for the quality. I tried to have a conversation with the owner but he seemed to busy to be bothered with customers. I will not be going back. Pros: Free popcorn Cons: customer service is awful, pottery is overpriced, more

This place is like a factory. This shop is not about art, it is about production. Some of the drawings on the vases look like a child created them. He has an informercial on the local tourist channel and he tries to come off as a small hometown pottery shop but this place is anything but that. He states that each piece is one of a kind but I saw hundreds of pieces that were almost identical. Maybe some slight variations in glaze, I guess that is how he can say that. If you want a real piece of ""local art"" go to one of the smaller real pottery shops in the area, not to this gimmicky commercial production factory. \r I love the area and the Arts & Crafts loop is the best, I was VERY disappointed with this store. I found Robert the owner to especially arrogant and barely looked up to acknowledge his paying customers. I have never had such bad customer service in all my YEARS of coming to Gatlinburg. I will not be going back to that ""factory"". Pros: some of the colors are pretty Cons: expensive, bad customer service, factory, poor quality. more

My husband I have been vacationing in Gatlinburg for the last 3 years. The first time we went we found Alewin pottery, I fell in love. The staff is great and you can watch them making the items. Every item is a one of a kind and signed by the artist and it may be a little more that if you went into a shop that imported them in. It's because you buying quality handmade item from locals. Everytime we go I cant resit going and buying a piece to add to my collection. They are very family friendly with the bluegrass band and refreshments. LOVE LOVE THEM! Pros: Great items and staff Cons: cant think of any!!! more

This place is wonderful! Plenty of charm, and great prices. I'm not sure why a previous comment stated they were ""unfriendly"" or even ""rude""... 've visited there a couple times in the past, and have always found the staff, INCLUDING Mr. Alewine to be courteous, friendly and helpful with all of my questions. Their pieces appear pretty hand-made to me.. especially since he signs his name on the bottom of each piece found there. The guy knows his stuff, and his quality work is worth the prices, which are more than fair for his artistry. My wife and I have bought several pieces from him, which we still have to this day (including my favorite coffee mug!)...\r \r Definitely a MUST-VISIT!\r \r ~Chris -North Webster, Indiana Pros: Great, friendly customer service! Cons: None that I've found over the years! more

I live in Florida and have been coming to the Smoky Mountains every year for the past 20 and I always go the the quaint arts & crafts community (much nicer than downtown!) not a trip goes by that I don't at least go by Alewine pottery once, sometimes two or three times! This shop is unlike any other. There is always a bluegrass band playing and there are snacks (popcorn, apples, etc and apple-cider, coffee offered to everyone for free. I read the other reviews and I cannot believe we went to the same place!!! Robert Alewine and his staff/family have never been anything but warm and friendly towards me and my family and there pottery is amazing (the best around, really). I have been going there long enough and have talked with the staff enough to say without hesitation that his pieces are all made right there on the premises (you can watch them make it) and not mported like a former poster said. The pottery isn't cheap but the detail and workmanship comes at a price. You can buy smaller items too for less then $8.00. I can spend all day there just listening to the music while I snack on popcorn and cider and talk to the nice folks there.....If you can only go to one pottery shop make it Alewine pottery--none of the others have the quality or the atmosphere of Alewine---a must see!!! Pros: Atmosphere, pottery is amazing, free food!!! Cons: can't even think of one!! I love this place!!! more

This pottery shop operates like a production factory with many items all the same and gives the impression of imported pottery rather than unique hand-made items. Owner (Mr. Alewine) was on site but when trying to ask questions he was very rude in his tone. When asking about other shops in the Arts & Crafts Community he informed us there was nothing else worth seeing and we should just go back to town and not waste our time looking at other shops. Local TV ads give the impression of a friendly family mountain hand craft shop but my impression was buy something or don't bother me with questions. We found many other pottery shops in the Craft Community with much nicer hand-made work and better prices. Pros: easy to find Cons: rude service, high prices, many items don't look hand-made more

it is nice but not the best of gatlinburg and is so pricy \r but worth the visit. has been there a lng time and \r an interesting place to visit but as i said It is nice work but not the most outstanding I have seen in the pottery community Pros: nice place great people nice work Cons: very overpriced have seen better more

Nice work, large volume inventory, staff not very friendly when asking questions, prices average for the area Pros: Large inventory Cons: Unfriendly staff more