Christmas Gift Guide These are the toys you are looking for
Story by Jackie Romine Walburn Submitted photos The most in-demand toys for Christmas 2017 combine adorable with digital – with finger-clinging monkeys and furry critters that hatch. Other top toys mix nostalgia with interactive upgrades, put new spins on traditional board games and building blocks and feature kid-familiar characters and themes from popular movies. For Christmas 2017, the Hatchimals craze is back, and talking back, from Spin Master, the toymaker behind the 2016 toy phenomenon. Called Hatchimals Surprise and retailing for about $70, the toy includes two furry interactive toys that self-hatch out of a single egg. The twins can be identical or fraternal, interact with each other through built-in sensors, giggle, talk, sing and dance and do not like to be apart. The twins – which are either “Giraven,” a mix of giraffe and a raven, or “Peacat,” a peacock and cat combo – also have LED eyes, play games and repeat words. Hatchimals also have CollEGGibles, a four-pack of mini Hatchimals, retailing for about $10, with no batteries or talking back.
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Star Wars remote-controled droids
Teddy Ruxpin
My Little Pony
Other interactive toys on the top of 2017 toy lists are Fingerlings, interactive baby monkeys that cling to fingers and hang by their tails. Fingerlings, from toymaker WowWee and retailing for $14.99 each, react to sound, motion and touch through sensors in their heads. Available in six colors and each with its own name, Fingerlings can coo, blow kisses and sing. Teddy Ruxpin 2.0 The talking storytelling teddy bear of the 1980s is back with a serious makeover. Originally released to great demand in 1985, that version moved its eyes and mouth and told stories with a cassette player in his back. Today’s Teddy Ruxpin has LCD (liquid crystal display) eyes with 40 animated expressions synced to stories, several smart sensors, is Bluetooth capable, has its own app and a built-in hard drive with 10 stories and an option to download additional ones. It’s not today’s parents’ old Teddy, but toymaker Wicked Cool Toys is betting nostalgic toy buyers will want the 14-inch tall interactive teddy bear that retails for $99. My Little Pony 2017 Another 1980s toy reboot includes a chatty, moving, flashing and interactive My Little Pony. Following the October 2017 release of the My Little Pony movie, toymaker Hasbro’s Magical Princess Twilight Sparkle is one of several movie-related toys. Retailing for about $100 each, the Magical Princess ponies respond to sound and touch, say 90 phrases, tell stories and talk about magic spells.
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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2017 & January 2018
DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2017 & January 2018
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Christmas Gift Guide: Toys Super Spirograph
Lego FlyBrix
Super Spirograph A gold-colored metal 50th anniversary Super Spirograph has twice as many gears as the 1965 original, plus unique arcs, Spiro-putty, three pens, two pads of paper and instructions. The spiro-tastic toy retails for $35. Board games plus Board games showing up on Christmas toy lists include the Harry Porter Hogwarts Battle game, retailing for $37, Speak Out, a $20 Hasbro game for teenagers and up that uses mouthpieces to create funny speech, and Pie Face, a tabletop game with wacky masks that involves fast action and whipping cream. Pie Face retails for $24.99. Legos powered up For Christmas 2017, the makers of Legos offer a Wonder Woman set for $16, a Darth Vader building kit for $20, collectible “coolest� Lego people ever for $10 to $15 each, and for the ambitious, FlyBrix do-it-yourself building kits to create a flying drone. The basic FlyBrix kit retails for $189 and works with an app, and the deluxe with a hand-held controller is $249. Kits include 56 small previously-owned Lego pieces, collected from Lego wholesalers and can be added to with your own small Lego pieces.
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Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle
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HILL, HILL & GOSSETT, P.C. James E. Hill Matthew E. Gossett Candace B.Crenshaw Joel P. Watson Brandi Williams Judge James E. Hill, Jr. of Counsel
· Governmental Affairs · Personal Injury and Administration · Estate Planning · Real Estate · Domestic Relations · Civil Litigation · Corporate · Criminal Defense www.HHGlawg roup.com 2603 Moody Parkway, Suite 200 . Moody Alabama 35004 Tel. (205) 640-2000 . Fax (205) 640-2010 No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the qualtiy of legal services performed by other lawyers.
Christmas Gift Guide: Toys
Bladebuilder Jedi Master Lightsaber Star Wars toy saga continues Leading the Star Wars-inspired toys is the BB-9E AppEnabled Droid. Based on the latest film in the Star War series, The Last Jedi, the BB-9E Droid by Sphero moves like the one in the movie, comes with a Droid trainer and retails for $149. Any Jedi master needs a light saber. The Star Wars Bladebuilder Jedi Master Lightsaber retails for $49 and simulates classic lights and sounds and is customizable with accessories that include elbow connectors and extra light daggers. And, in another 1980s toy flashback, the 2017 Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper Action Figure by Interactech is interactive with 65-plus sound and light effects, includes a blaster and a jetpack and uses motion sensors to respond to specific movements. The 12-inch figure, which is compatible with the Hasbro Star Wars Studio FX app, retails for about $30. Baby dolls Luvabella and Luvabeau are girl and boy “responsive” baby dolls available this Christmas season from toymaker Spin Master that created Hatchimals. The interactive dolls come in three skin tones and move, speak and have emotional reactions. Over time, the doll’s babble transforms to 100 words and phrases. The dolls retail for about $100. Music makers From an updated Mr. Microphone to a music mixing game, music makers are still a traditional Christmas gift favorite. The SelfieMic Music Set, retailing at $24.99, has a microphone, selfie stick and adapter to allow young performers to record and video performances using a smartphone. The DropMix Music Game, from the makers of Rock Band, lets players create song mixes using 60 DropMix cards featuring music from top artists and popular songs. DropMix requires a free app and retails for $100.
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DISCOVER The Essence of St. Clair • December 2017 & January 2018
Selfie Music Set
Luvabella Doll
HOLIDAY READY!
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Amaryllis
1009 Old Cedar Grove Rd. Leeds, AL 35094 (Intersection of 411 & I-20)
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Flocked Wreaths
Christmas Gift Guide
Handmade for the Holidays These gifts are guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind Story Loyd McIntosh Photos by Wallace Bromberg Jr.
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Christmas is almost here, which, of course, means frantic, panicked and frustrating trips to crowded shopping centers searching for the “perfect” gift for that special friend or family member. Despite our best efforts, it seems like a hamster wheel you can’t stop. Why do that to yourself, spending hours behind the wheel only to spend way too much of your hard-earned dough on something mass-produced in a factory halfway around the world? Fortunately, you don’t have to stress yourself out like that. St. Clair County is blessed with an abundance of artists and craftsmen – and women – creating amazing, functional and beautiful pieces of art, all available at shops close to home. Jewelry Made From Recycled Wine Bottles Artists: Steve and Sally Smith Making use of a practically endless supply of material, Steve Smith, along with his wife and business partner, Sally, has been creating unique and colorful pieces of jewelry out of empty wine bottles. “Not many artists use recycled glass. It just behaves differently than typical art glass does,” says Smith. “That’s one of the things that’s frustrating but unique about it. It doesn’t merge together. You can’t meld wine bottles together because they’re all a little bit different.” To create each item of jewelry, Steve cuts bottles into pieces and melts them flat, forming them into shape. He then applies designs to the glass using frits and glass enamel. He then kiln-fires the jewelry, which polishes the edges and fuses the glass. Steve also creates wall mosaics, mosaics with mirrors, and wind chimes, however, the jewelry is, by far, the most popular. Smith’s work is available locally at Artscapes in Pell City.
Handmade cutting boards
An Iron Chef Award Winning Plate Potter: Tena Payne When chef and Birmingham native Chris Hastings defeated Bobby Flay on Food Network’s Iron Chef in 2012, his presentation was a major factor in his victory. Artist and owner of Leeds’ Earthborn Pottery, Tena Payne, created the one-of-kind dish set for Hastings, driving them and a batch of southern vegetables to New York for the competition. From her studio and retail shop in downtown Leeds, Payne and her team of artists create beautiful and functional pieces of art that can be found in top restaurants all over the world. As for her technique, Payne makes it simple: “We take the earth, we rearrange it, we put it in the heat, and beautiful things happen,” she explains. “It’s one of the neatest processes in the world and one of the most ancient,” she adds. “I like to say this was the first profession, not that other thing.” Find her products at Earthborn Pottery, Leeds.
Jewelry by Steve and Sally Smith
A Painting of a Tornado Artist: Sundi Hawkins Like many Alabamians, the tornadoes of April 2011 left a lasting impression on many St. Clair Countians, including artist and Pell City native Sundi Hawkins. An inventive painter creating scenes in bold, vivid colors and detail, Hawkins has created dozens of paintings with funnel clouds taking center stage.
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Christmas Gift Guide: Handmade Using wood as a medium, Hawkins uses acrylic paints then covers the artwork in a two-part epoxy resin, a similar process used to cover bar tops and restaurant tables. She then paints on top of the resin bringing out the colors and adding a sense of depth to the painting. “I just do layers and layers until I get it right,” Hawkins says. “It’s expressive painting where it’s more about movement, feeling and color rather than about realism.” Hawkins paints other subjects in the same technique – pastoral settings, abstracts, etc. – and has developed an interest in painting dandelions recently as well. However, it’s her funnel clouds that are her true statement. Her works of art are available at Artscapes and at the Blue Light Special Art Show in Leeds, December 9-10.
A hollow-body Gretsch Chet Akins Country Gentlemen model prototype guitar
A Street Scene of the Philippines Artist: Verna Settle Pell City-based artists Verna Settle has quickly become a well-respected artist despite only taking up painting three years ago at the age of 49. A native of the Philippines, Settle’s paintings depict scenes from her home country in a distinct style that can best be described as abstract realism. One of her most striking paintings is a scene depicting a pair of women with what look to be clay pots resting on their heads. As Settle explains, this is a common sight among women looking to sell their wares in open-area commercial districts in major cities such as Quezon City and Manila. “When you travel to the Philippines you get to know how strong the women are. The women work hard to provide additional support for their family financially,” explains Settle. “That’s the way they sell on the streets.” See her paintings at Lily Designs, Pell City. A Chet Atkins Prototype Gretsch Guitar Keeper of the art: Ron Partain Okay, we know, this wasn’t crafted in St. Clair County, but it’s cool as heck just the same. This honey blond, hollowbody Gretsch Chet Akins Country Gentlemen model prototype found its way to the display floor of Ron Partain’s World of Music through a local guitar enthusiast who is looking to sell the guitar on consignment. The instrument features a double-cutaway body design, a Bigsby® tremolo arm, and a green pick guard inscribed with the Atkins signature. A perfect gift for a musician or collector with a penchant for the Countrypolitan sounds of yesterday. The $3,200 price tag might be a bit hefty, but a unique ax like this doesn’t end up in our neck of the woods too often. It’s a rare find at Ron Partain’s World of Music, Pell City A Cutting Board Made From Reclaimed Wood Artist: Dave Gunkel When is a simple cutting board for the kitchen a piece of art? When it’s created by local craftsmen, Dave Gunkel. From his shop located in the garage of his lakeside home in Pell City, Gunkel creates intricate, durable and visually striking cutting boards as well as Lazy Susans and vases. Remarkable, considering all of the works are crafted from reclaimed or discarded wood, allowing Gunkel to create final products that highlight the imperfections and unique characteristics of each piece of wood. “If you want a perfect cutting board without cracks,” says Gunkel, “I’m not the man for you.”
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Santa portrait
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Christmas Gift Guide: Handmade Before Gunkel can begin work on a cutting board, each piece of wood must be allowed to dry, a process that can take several years to complete. Once work begins, Gunkel combines several types of wood, such as oak, cherry, and osage orange, into a final product that will withstand the wear and tear of daily use for generations. “This will last 200 years,” Gunkel says. “You can leave this to your children.” Check them out at Artscapes, Pell City
Pottery Nativity scene
A One-of-a-Kind Nativity Artist: Nada Boner Christmas wouldn’t be the same without a nativity scene as a constant reminder of the reason for the season. While mass-produced ceramic nativities are a dime a dozen, Pell City is blessed to be home to one of the premier sculptors of handmade nativity scenes in Alabama. Working from her home studio in Pine Harbor, Nada Boner begins work creating her Christmas nativities in May. Working with Raku clay, Boner produces about 80 pieces total, split between a handful of outlets – Artscapes and Lily Design Resource in Pell City, White Flowers Gallery in Homewood, and the Fine Arts Craft Show at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Because she doesn’t work from a template, each nativity is unique. “Nothing looks alike. I don’t use patterns. Some have Joseph, some have a lamb, sometimes I may make an actual manger, sometimes I don’t. It’s whatever I feel like doing,” Boner says. “This year, I’m really liking the star off to the side. I don’t know why,” she adds. “It’s just what I wanted to do at the time.” A Painting of Jolly Ol’ St. Nick Artist: Dirk Walker For more than 20 years, noted artist Dirk Walker has created small paintings of Santa Claus for sale in galleries throughout the Southeast during the Christmas season. This year will be an interesting one for fans of Walker’s work, as all of Santa Claus portraits will be created in his new studio in downtown Pell City. Best described as an abstract realist painter, Walker first painted Santa in time for the Holiday Counting Treasures Show. “I just did one just to see if anyone would be interested, and it just exploded,” Walker says. Walker’s Santa Clauses often have a light-hearted, nostalgic feel to them, inspired by the image of Santa Claus in classic Coca-Cola advertising of the mid-20th Century. Over the years, he’s painted Santa in a variety of light-hearted settings, such as snow skiing or fishing. Recently, however, he has focused on painting close ups of St. Nick’s jolly face. “To me, it is Santa Claus, that old Coca-Cola image,” Walker says. “I just try to put a lot of character in the faces. There’s a lot of loose brush work and things like that. It’s been a fun thing that I’ve developed a good reputation for over the years.” Visit Walker’s studio in historic downtown Pell City in the former Artscapes location on Cogswell Avenue.
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Tena Payne dinnerware A Tote Bag Supporting A Good Cause Artist: Bethany Smith Ashville-based Bethany Smith is a young pen-and-ink artist with a bright future. At only 19-years-old, the graphic designer also has a heart for the community. Having recently launched her business, Chocolate Ink Designs, Smith has created a special tote, available around her hometown with a portion of each sale going to support a worthy cause. “I have a couple of sisters who sing with the Alabama Civic Choral, and they do a performance of the Messiah every year,” she explains. “Right now, I’m doing a fundraiser with these tote bags.” While Smith’s work can be best classified as graphic design with words and phrases forming the basis of each piece, each design originates from Smith’s talented hand. She only uses a computer at the very end of the process. “I sketch them out in pencil, then go over them in pen and scan them in and clean them up and have them printed up,” Smith says. Smith’s designs can also be found on t-shirts and note cards around town as well. Her tote is available at Canoe Creek Coffee in Ashville.
2635 Martin Street South Pell City, Alabama 35128
205-814-1515
hattieleesboutique@gmail.com Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-4 Sun 1-5 (11/26-12/17 Holiday Shopping Season)
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DRUGSTORES & GIFT SHOPS
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2319 Cogswell Ave. Pell City, AL 35125
140 Council Drive Odenville, AL 35120
(205) 338-4903
(205) 629-6303
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(205) 594-7088
35767 US Hwy 231 Ashville, AL 35953
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Christmas Gift Guide
Gifts for Her Story by Jackie Walburn
With new specialty retail stores, long-established boutiques and family-owned shops, St. Clair County’s Santas can shop local merchants to find impressive and in-demand fashions plus pampering and practical gifts for ladies. For Christmas 2017, jewelry plus suede, velvet, Sherpa and leather items lead the ladies’ fashion wish lists, say local merchants. “Leather and suede shoes and bags are all-time favorites” at Hattie Lee’s Boutique in Pell City, says owner JoAnn Bain. Since the boutique doubled in size last year, there’s more room for fashions with new sections dedicated to shoes, jeans and a clearance room. Named for Bain’s grandmother, Hattie Lee’s carries shoes and the popular booties in Bed Stu, Antelope, Freebird and Diba True brands. “I try to carry unique, quality brands that aren’t sold in our area,” Bain says. Jewelry by Artwear and dresses from Dear John make great gifts. Hattie Lee’s has wish lists – to take the guess work out of shopping for special ladies on your list – and layaway available for Christmas shopping customers, too. At Magnolia’s Gift Shop in Pell City, “Jewelry is always a hit. We’ve got the best selection of quality pieces by Sorrelli,” says Magnolia’s manager Jordan Morton, whose mother opened the first Magnolia’s in Sylacauga 25 years ago. Magnolia’s opened the Pell City location in 2014 and added a store in Chelsea in 2017. “We work hard to carry the best gift options for any occasion in our stores,” she said. Other popular gifts at Magnolia are Swan Creek candles and Musee bath balms. The complimentary gift wrapping at Magnolia’s is another local shopping plus, says Morton. “We take great care to make sure your gift looks exceptionally beautiful.
Stackable bracelets at Griffins Jewelers
Mum and Me
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Some people joke that they don’t even want to open the gift and mess up the wrapping!” Two new retailers opening in Pell City just in time for Christmas are Tractor Supply Co., the nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, and Martin’s Family Clothing, an Alabamabased clothing retailer. Located in the former K-Mart building at Pell City Marketplace on Martin Street, the stores were set to open in November. “Tractor Supply is a place where you can do all your Christmas shopping,” says Milly Garrison, team leader at the Moody store. For ladies, Garrison suggests soy candles and wax melters plus Christmas ornaments with animal themes and the collection of T-shirts with clever sayings. With a full line of women’s casual clothes, including items by Carhartt and Bit and Bridle, popular gifts include women’s vests, outerwear and clothing. A seasonal store that carries pet food and John Deere toys, Tractor Supply offers layaway year around. Martin’s Family Clothing’s new Pell City store, opened in November at the Pell City Marketplace, has all the top
Margaret Pharmacy
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Christmas Gift Guide: For Her ladies’ gifts for Christmas, says Renee Cheatwood, Martin’s advertising manager. Topping the Christmas gift list for ladies at Martin’s are POL brand sweaters for ladies. “Oversized cardigans and crushed velvet tops are in demand for juniors and women, plus ladies’ booties, shoes, dresses and skirts,” Cheatwood says. Martin’s also has collegiate wear, Aviate hats and Vera Bradley bags and accessories. At Old South Firearms and Trading Post, co-owner Lee Weyhrich says unique ladies’ gifts at the Argo store include conceal carry purses designed with built-in holsters to keep a pistol safely concealed. Plus, the store has handmade crochet blankets, a gift section and collectibles. At Cogswell Trading Company in Pell City that opened in August 2017, co-owner Drake Carroll says the shop has women’s clothing in addition to a full line of men’s apparel and accessories. Southern Shirt Company tees and sweaters for women are in demand for Christmas gifts, Carroll says. Other women’s gift ideas at Cogswell include Mason Dixon Line Apparel T-shirts, Sherpa vests and pullovers for women, plus custom laser engraved Christmas ornaments. And, don’t forget the practical gifts for ladies, says Jenny Minton at Teague Mercantile in Ashville. “We have a variety of neat flashlights that make great stocking stuffers and gifts for teachers,” she says. The store also carries gardening accessories, tools and gifts for do-it-herself ladies.
Radical Divas
Northside Apothecary
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Christmas Gift Guide
Gifts for Him Story by Jackie Walburn
Shopping locally for the best men’s gifts just got easier in St. Clair County as new retailers have joined the county’s notable roster of unique shops and specialty stores – just in time for Christmas 2017. In addition to new men’s clothing store in Pell City, two new Southern-based retail stores are set to open side by side at the former K-Mart location at Pell City Marketplace on Martin Street. Plus, shoppers can expect Christmas specials and hometown service from longtime local merchants. Cogswell Trading Company, opened at 114 Cogswell Avenue in August, carries men’s pants, shirts, t-shirts, jackets, sweaters, caps, shorts and swimwear. Brands include Southern Shirt Co. based out of Tuscaloosa, American Fishing Tackle Co., Southern Lure out of Charlotte, N.C., along with Tusk and Tiger wear for Alabama and Auburn fans. “Button up shirts and polos have been hot sellers already,” said Drake Carroll, who co-owns Cogswell Trading Company with fellow Pell City native Bryton Nixon. Southern Shirt Company flannel button ups and Sherpa jackets are in demand for gifts along with collegiate items and Aftco’s premium fishing shirts. Brands carried by Cogswell Trading are often not available elsewhere locally, Carroll says. Another unique gift item at the store are laser engraved Christmas ornaments. “We have a variety of sports caps,” Carroll says. “We also carry Rowdy Gentlemen. The high school kids are all about that.” Plus, Cogswell Trading sells Ice Mule and Orca coolers. Another feature unique at Cogswell Trading is the golf simulator located in the store which has more than
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Southland Golf Carts
Cogswell Trading Company
130,000 golf courses available to play. Storeowners plan to have guys’ nights and golf gatherings during the holidays so customers can try the golf simulator. At Pell City’s new Tractor Supply Company store, popular men’s gifts include deer and hunting gear, tools, knives and sportswear. Tractor Supply, which is the nation’s largest rural lifestyle store chain, carries men’s clothes from Carhartt, Berne, Blue Mountain and Wrangler and Carhartt jeans. The store also carries men’s boots from Ariat, Rocky, Carhartt, C.E. Schmidt, Georgia Boots Muck Boots and Justin cowboy boots. As a seasonal store, Tractor Supply sells wood burner heaters and supplies, shelters and canopies and a full line of hunting supplies. The store stocks dog and livestock feed, said Millie Garrison, who is team leader at the Moody store. Tractor Supply has layaway all year around and a seasonal rewards program. Local shoppers can also buy online and pick the items up at the store. At the new Martin’s Family Clothing store in Pell City, mostwanted men’s gifts include jackets, pullovers and long sleeve tees, says Renee Cheatwood, Martin’s advertising manager. “Martin’s Christmas top ten list for men includes men’s Carhartt jackets, pants and t-shirts, men’s Columbia pullovers, the popular long sleeve tees by Old Row, Southern Fried Cotton and Columbia and men’s shoes by Clark.” Martin’s also carries Aviate caps with abbreviated city names. The Pell City store, opened Nov. 11 with celebrity guests and a radio remote, is the sixth Alabama store for the Alabama-based clothing chain. At Old South Firearms and Trading Post in Argo, shoppers can find unique gifts for the men on their lists, says co-owner Lee Weyhrich. The store specializes in hard to find antique and replica guns, western clothing and reenactment clothing. Christmas staples, including BB guns, are available at the store, along with muzzle loader kits designed “so someone can build their own muzzle loader.” Vintage hats are also popular gifts for men as are leather possible bags, which Weyhrich describes as a “man purse” outfitted for firearms. The trading post also has period swords, axes and leather goods, plus other collectibles, including comic books. An engraving service offered at Old South is deep cut custom engraving for gifts, awards and display cases.
The family-owned business opened in Argo near exit 148 off I-59 two years ago. Weyhrich partners with his parents, Ken and Glenda Weyhrich, to operate the store. Their online store, which mainly handles muzzle loaders and related goods, has been in business for 10 years. At the trading post, “We stock things we’ve collected over the years that we thought were neat and that other people would like,” says Weyhrich. Specialty items include antique and replica “cowboy” guns and firearms from the SpanishAmerican, World War I and II periods. Plus, the store stocks hard-to-find ammo for these and other guns. At Teague Mercantile in Ashville, shoppers can find practical and fun gifts for men, says Jenny Minton. Popular Christmas gifts for men from Teague’s include Case knives and other brands, tool sets and a variety of flashlights. “These flashlights make great stocking stuffers,” she notes. Teague Mercantile, located on 6th Avenue in downtown Ashville, also carries gardening and other outdoor tools, plus appliances and hardware.
Griffins Jewelers
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