A Wilmington Christmas shop reopens after unexpected tragedy

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - For the past 15 years, Johnathon Henderson has memories of his mom, Debby Woody, crafting different pieces for her store, A Christmas Shoppe.

“She always had a boot for her crafted goods on commission,” Henderson said.

For the last eight years, the shop has been located on Front Street in Downtown Wilmington. Recently, Woody had decided to relocate to the corner of 16th and Market.

“Her love was Christmas,” Henderson said.

Days after handing the keys over from her old location, Woody suffered a heart attack. She died a week later.

After the tragedy, Henderson and his father have decided to carry on his mother’s Christmas spirit and reopen the store in its new location.

“I can’t tell you how amazing it is to be able to have the doors open, me and my dad, continuing my mom’s legacy,” Henderson said.

The shop is now named Father Christmas Studio and is open for customers.

Henderson says it hasn’t been difficult to get the shop customer-facing, but there have been other challenges.

“The hard parts have been all the half-finished projects - the crotchet blankets that only have two more rows until being finished,” Henderson said. “You know, the quilts and things.”

Henderson isn’t only carrying his mother’s legacy with her store, but he is taking her message with him every step of the way.

“Her meaning behind it was not Christmas. It was the whole point of why Christmas is supposed to be, to spread that joy and show that care,” Henderson said.