SALISBURY — Textile Products at 121 S. Main St. took this year’s top prize in the downtown holiday storefront decoration contest.
The custom textile shop, which specializes window treatments, earned the Best Overall Holiday Display Award.
Members of Salisbury’s Community Appearance Commission chose winners for the Eighth Annual Downtown Holiday Storefront Decorations Awards. The awards acknowledge the creative efforts of downtown retailers who celebrate the season by dressing their doors and windows with festive holiday decor.
At Textile Products, proprietor Linda Dukelo and her staff artfully arrange their shop windows year-round with fresh color and decorating ideas. To celebrate the holiday season, they cleverly expanded their business concept with festive decorating vignettes.
The four-member jury commended Textile Products for also sharing inspiration throughout the year in the storefront of 114 N. Main St., across from the shop.
The jury viewed 62 seasonal displays created by downtown businesses. After a spirited discussion, they named six awards to honor the most inspired efforts of shopkeepers.
Other winners include:
• Best Community Outreach: Creative Teaching Aids at 310 S. Main St.
Ranks of snowmen grace the storefront window, courtesy of Mrs. Harrison’s kindergarten class at Sacred Heart Academy. The jury thanked all the students and their teachers for sharing the gift of these engaging seasonal symbols, and kudos to the shop owners for the festive display.
• Best Use of Color: Southern Spirit Gallery at 104 S. Main St.
Owner Toby Hagmaier deftly wove the Christmas-red theme throughout the “crafty” arrangement of her shop’s diverse wares.
• Most Festive: Faye’s on Main at 124 N. Main St.
Faye Holder’s jazzed-up traditional garland, lighted planters and window trimmings are a most festive invitation into a shop filled with unique hand-painted furniture and other treasures.
• Best Decoration for a Small Space: Lora Belle Baby at 106 N. Main St.
The narrow window space for this new children’s clothing shop delights the viewer with the simple and consistent theme of natural materials and symbols – a fitting display both for the limited space as well as the shop’s products.
• Best New Store Display: Gritz at 121 E. Innes St.
Passersby can’t help but be drawn in by the bright lights and lushly decorated tree in this new restaurant’s window. The traditional holiday décor leaps from window to window and throughout the café, adding to the homey atmosphere, so well-suited for the “comfort food” it offers patrons.
The Salisbury Community Appearance Commission members applauded Downtown Salisbury Inc. for encouraging shopkeepers to make the most of their window displays year-round, as well as during the holiday season.
The commission gave special thanks to F&M Financial Center for maintaining the public access along Easy Street and to Salisbury Tourism for sponsoring the tree-lighting in the East and West Innes medians.