SALISBURY — Several downtown merchants with festive window displays have earned recognition from the city’s Community Appearance Commission.
A jury of four — all current or past members of the commission — recently selected winners for the 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.
The jury, which included Jon Cerny, Deborah Harris, Mimi Carlton and Sue McHugh, considered 73 seasonal displays created by downtown businesses. After a spirited discussion, they named eight awards to honor the most inspired efforts of shopkeepers.
Awards the judges’ comments included:
• Best Overall Holiday Display
Awarded for the second consecutive year to Textile Products (121 N. Main St.) “Storeowner Linda Dukelo and her staff artfully arrange their shop windows with fresh color and decorating ideas year-round. To celebrate the holiday season, they creatively use store products in elegant vignettes with a seasonal twist.” The jury commended them for enhancing the window-shopper’s pleasure by decorating an otherwise empty storefront at 114 N. Main St. across from their shop.
• Best Theme Display
Nashville Nights (125 E. Innes St.)  “Wagon wheels and all things western tastefully grace the storefront window of this popular new nightclub.” The jury appreciated the simplicity of the composition and how it cleverly articulates the business’s theme throughout the holiday decor.  
The display is courtesy of co-owner Dick Palmore’s sister Beverly Ryan, who also owns and decorates the adjacent restaurant, Gritz. Jeff Littleton is the other owner of Nashville Nights.
• Most Creative Use of Product
Literary Bookpost  (110 S. Main St.) “A spiraling stack of books forms a colorful Christmas tree of reading pleasures. Around the tree and in the adjacent window, shoppers are drawn to a festive arrangement of intriguing gifts for children from recently merged Just the Thing.” Proprietor partners Gwen Matthews and Glenda Dyson were commended for the happy union of complementary products.
• Best Showcase Window
Beyond Basics at the Salisbury Wine Shop (106 S. Main St.)  “It may be just a window showcasing freelance decorator’s Sandie Burris’ holiday wares, but the impressive array of the many wreaths caught the eye of the jurors.” The jurors applauded Wine Shop owners Bob and Stephanie Potter for smart use of their deep storefront, creating several opportunities for “pop-up” gallery spots.
• Best Composition
Southern Spirit Gallery (102 S. Main St.) “Owner Toby Hagmaier engages shoppers with an effective arrangement of color, shape, texture and scale. Diverse objects from the store inventory are transformed into a cohesive holiday composition of rich reds and greens.”
• Children of all Ages Award
The Candy Shoppe on Main (119 S. Main St.) “What is more captivating for both children and adults than giant dancing M&Ms? In this new shop’s windows, traditional meets whimsy in the best holiday way.” The jurors thanked the Vick family for choosing Salisbury for their sweet business and Nancy Vick for sharing her decorating expertise.
• Best New Store Display
Skinny Wheels (111 W. Innes St.) “What child (or adult) has not asked for a new bicycle for Christmas?  Pair a bike with a fireplace mantle and a mechanical Santa, and you have the best thing under the tree.” Owner Eric Phillips recently relocated his shop to Salisbury from Mocksville.
• True Spirit of Christmas Award
Critters (125 S. Main St.)  “Special gratitude to owners Bob Lambrecht and Jon Planovsky for hosting the large Toys for Tots collection box on behalf of the Marine Corps Reserves national Toys for Tots program. Giving to others, especially to those in need is the true expression of the season.”
The Community Appearance Commission members thanked all the owners and staff who decorate their storefronts for the holidays and throughout the year, making downtown Salisbury an enjoyable place to live, visit and shop.
All storefront decoration winners will be invited to the CAC Biennial Awards program, where they will be honored for their contributions. This is the ninth consecutive year for the Downtown Holiday Storefront Decorations Awards.