DECO gift shop expands downtown

courtesy DECO

If you’re in search of local goods, cheeky gifts, greeting cards, or homewares, downtown shop DECO Raleigh is chock-full of them. The six-year-old storefront moves into an expanded space on Salisbury Street in late July, just two doors down and around the corner from its original Hargett Street address. The 50-foot move means almost double the space, which is a fun opportunity to showcase more of DECO’s colorful repertoire, says owner Pam Blondin (pictured above, second from right). “There’s a lot of new merchandise that hasn’t been seen yet, and we want to showcase those independent makers in our new space.”

At the First Friday grand opening Aug. 3, you can find 60 newly added brands, 20 of them local. Blondin has always
curated a mix of aesthetics from near and far, she says. “The idea is not to turn our backs on national brands, but to create
a community where those are going to fit in. DECO is not only about what you can buy, but what does it feel like when you walk in the door. It’s familial, it feels like you’re part of a community.”  —Catherine Currin

207 S. Salisbury St.; decoraleigh.com