By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — You might not find everything on your holiday gift list in Salisbury, but merchants here sure hope you’ll try.
Shopping local saves gas, money and headaches, they say. For every $100 spent at a local independent business, $25 more stays in the community, according to a 2008 study commissioned by Local First.
“Local people should think about how important it is to them, as well as to the merchants, to shop locally,” said Mickey Black, co-owner of the Salisbury Emporium. “It keeps Salisbury thriving like Salisbury should.”
Salisbury has dozens of retailers downtown, as well as independently owned businesses like Windsor Gallery and The Comic Monstore, ready to help you find the perfect gift with over-the-top customer service.
“Service is where we have to shine, because sometimes we can’t match the big-box price,”said Charlie Smith, owner of Rufty’s Garden Shop, who will identify weeds or bugs brought into the store and tell customers how to handle them.
If someone calls the Emporium looking for an item, Black said he will search for it. When customers check out with large parcels, an employee will pack the items and carry them to the car.
“Who else does that anymore?” he said.
Independently owned businesses go the extra mile, Black said.
And they carry unique gifts for every person on your list, from handwoven mohair scarves for the fashionista at Southern Spirit Gallery to voice and piano lessons for the budding singer-songwriter at Music With Caroline.
For the person who has it all, check out the Literary Bookpost for a good book.
“Try shopping Salisbury first,” Smith said.
A local store might have just what you’re looking for.
Gifts for the…
Pet lover
Dog collars $12.95, leashes $16.95
Ultimate Sports Apparel
African Dwarf Frogs Ecosystem $19.99
Just the Thing
Personalized pawprint photo frame $12.95
Creative Teaching Aids
Foodie
Brie and bread bakers under $30
Pottery 101
Hard-to-find spices like Chinese five spice powder and Star Anise under $3
Yoder’s Amish Market
Make a gift bag of N.C. products including peanuts, Cheerwine cakes, stick candy from Piedmont Candy Company in Lexington, Moravian cookies from Salem Bakery, muscadine and scuppernong non-alcoholic wines and jellies from Advance, honey from Mt. Ulla and more. Filled burlap gift bags with state logo around $25.
Salisbury Emporium
Moroccan cookware by Tagine $96.95
Queen’s Gifts
Wooden sushi slicing playset $19.99
Just the Thing
Rosa’s Cheese Straws, made by two sisters in Advance using their great-grandmother’s recipe $8
Salisbury Wine Shop
Handmade casseroles and cookware for every budget
Southern Spirit Gallery
Bottled syrups in more than 60 flavors that can be used for hot or cold drinks, on top of ice cream and of course on snowballs $8.50, refills $5.50
Frost Bites
Wine lover
Wine bottle sweaters $11.95, wine racks starting at $54.95
Queen’s Gifts
Vinturi Wine Aerator $38.99
Salisbury Wine Shop
Wine bags $7.50
Grayshores Trading Co.
Art lover
Original oil portrait, prices upon request
Mark Stephenson Painting, Portraiture and Fine Art
Hand-painted pendants by local artist Annette Hall $12 to $40
Stitchin’ Post Gifts
Custom frames starting at $10
Fine Frame Gallery
Pastel lace pottery by local artists from $9 to $65
Southern Spirit Gallery
Sports fan
Footballs starting at $10.99
Bernhardt Hardware
Fleece hoodies, jackets, pants, beanies and more $10 to $55
Ultimate Sports Apparel
Gardener
Gardening tools starting at $4.99
Bernhardt Hardware
Pecan picker-upper $45
Godley’s Garden Center
Spring-blooming bulbs starting at 99 cents
Rufty’s Garden Shop
Best gardening gloves on the face of the earth $6.99
Stitchin’ Post Gifts
Chameleon Watering can $12.99
Creative Teaching Aids
Educator
Make a kitchen gift set including towel, silicone hook and utensil $10 to $15
Queen’s Gifts
Write-on and wipe-off magnetic dice $17.99
Creative Teaching Aids
ID badge jewelry $9.99
Just the Thing
Soy votive candles in wonderful scents $7.50
Grayshores Trading Co.
Outdoor lover
Oakley sunglasses starting at $90
Ultimate Sports Apparel
GeoSafari Bug Scene Investigator $21.99
Creative Teaching Aids
Bird feeders starting at $29
Godley’s Garden Center
Leisure Lawns patio and deck furniture. Price varies based on material.
Rufty’s Garden Shop
Squap catch and throw craze $24.99
Just the Thing
Fashionista
TUK vegan platform high heels with buckles $65
Dead Ed’s Alternative Clothing
Handwoven mohair wraps and scarves $50 to $150
Southern Spirit Gallery
One-of-a-kind accessories featuring handcrafted jewel sets and more $20 and up
A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’
Not Your Daughter’s Jeans starting at $80
Stitchin’ Post Gifts
Musician
Picks, strings, tuners and other stocking stuffers $1 to $25
String Fellows Music
Music of Spheres tuned wind chimes starting at $89
Rufty’s Garden Shop
Piano or voice lessons $18/30 min. $35/60 min.
Music With Caroline

Where to buy
Queen’s Gifts
221 S. Main St.
704-633-7988

Stitchin’ Post Gifts
104 S. Main St.
704-637-0708

A Little Sumthin’ Sumthin’
117 West Innes St.
704-245-6461

Grayshores Trading Co.
119 S Main St
704-245-6459

Creative Teaching Aids
310 S. Main St.
704-633-8836

Southern Spirit Gallery
102 South Main St.
704-633-0761

Frost Bites
207 S. Main St.
704-637-3610

Mark Stephenson Painting, Portraiture and Fine Art
110 S. Main St. Suite A
mark@wornbristles.com

Salisbury Emporium
230 E. Kerr St.
704-642-0039  

Salisbury Wine Shop
106 S. Main St.
704 636-5151

Ultimate Sports Apparel
114 South Main Street
704-637-5144

Dead Ed’s Alternative Clothing
123 East Innes St
704-245-6464

Just the Thing!
103 N. Main Street
704-636-0910

Music With Caroline
110 S. Main St. Suite A
ncmusicteacher@gmail.com

Rufty’s Garden Shop
1335 W. Innes St.
704-636-4742

Yoder’s Amish Market
4077 Statesville Boulevard
704-636-5660

Godley’s Garden Center & Nursery
2281 Statesville Boulevard
704-638-0082

String Fellows Music
105 N. Main St.
704-639-1116

Bernhardt Hardware
113 N. Main St.
704-633-7500

Fine Frame Gallery
105 S. Main St.
704-647-0340

Pottery 101
101 S. Main St.
704-209-1632

Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.