‘The Christmas Store’ opens at the most wonderful time
By Sue Hughes | For The Times-Post
PENDLETON — Opening just in time for Christmas — and Christmas in Pendleton — Abbie Fesmire’s The Christmas Store is located at 7558 South State Road 67 in Pendleton. Her first official day of business was Monday, Nov. 8.
The store offers handmade items, such as wreaths, garland and Christmas ornaments, Fesmire said.
“I love beautiful things and enjoy creating scenes because they create the backdrop from which memories are made,” she said.
She has areas in her store arranged into scenes.
If one likes snowmen, there’s an area for that; if one likes traditional Christmas decorations, there a place for them, too.
Fesmire said she loves to create displays.
Fesmire, who lives in Markleville, was raised in Anderson with very creative parents, she said. She learned early about decorating and woodwork.
Her dad owned Stottlemyer Lumber Co. in Anderson for many years. He was a woodworker who knew his way around a sawmill.
Her mom was a natural interior designer and very artistic, she said.
Her parents built several homes and were often asked to participate in the Anderson Parade of Homes.
“I was brought up in sawdust coupled with artistic elements of beauty — a simple elegance, if you will,” Fesmire said.
She likes to set scenes in her home, too, and then make it festive with design, food and music.
She and her husband, Eric, love to entertain and have had big parties.
”I love Christmas, and I love to make a scene,” she said.
She started her business in her home, but it soon outgrew that.
She said she feels comfortable helping others create their own scenes because she’s not stuck on one design style. She likes to meet the customer’s needs by offering a wide range of styles and costs.
Along with selling Christmas items, she is an authorized Thomas Kinkade gallery. She has paintings and prints that come in many different forms, ranging in price from $15 to $8,000. She can work with each customer to find the right product. If it is not available in the store it can be ordered and shipped directly to the customer.
She also carries a line of Madame Alexander dolls. Fesmire said she was introduced to them in a local store and always found what she wanted for her daughter.
Although her business is a Christmas store — Christmas ornaments and wreaths will always be available — she said it will also feature what is seasonal throughout the year.
She will offer products that reflect seasons and national holidays.
Starting on Black Friday, she will sell live Christmas trees. Along with trees, she will offer fresh floral-grade wreaths and garland. There will also be flocking for those who wish to indulge.
Fesmire and her husband have been married 25 years and have three children, Aubrey, Brock and Olivia. All the children and Eric attended Pendleton Heights High School. She also has a granddaughter.
Fesmire said opening the store “has been a fun journey, and I have a lot of talented people helping me.”
The Christmas Store will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
A grand opening celebration is planned for Saturday, Nov. 13, coinciding with Christmas in Pendleton. Refreshments will be provided from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.