Wooden Stone, the art and crafts gallery on South Main Street, will open a third location just for the holidays – a couple of doors down from Tiffany & Co. in Charlotte’s SouthPark Mall. Also in in this column: A mini-profile of the new Cocoon salon in Stowe’s Corner downtown, “Best of Lake” awards for local homebuilders and architects, a Sunday fund-raiser sale at the Village Store and Sanctuary gallery, and a reminder about the upcoming Christmas in Davidson.

WOODEN STONE

Drew Crawford

Drew Crawford, owner of Wooden Stone stores in Davidson and Salisbury, has been considering opening a third location in south Charlotte. As he was looking recently, an opportunity came up to open a temporary location for the holidays at SouthPark Mall, in Charlotte.

Wooden Stone will open the day after Thanksgiving (“black Friday” in retailer lingo, because it’s a big day in helping them reach profitability) in 3,000 square feet across from Nordstrom’s department store and, Mr. Crawford points out, two doors down from luxury retailer Tiffany & Co. (That’s smaller than the 5,000 square foot Davidson store.)

“I have been in communication with folks about a third location down the road. SouthPark mall called and said they had a vacancy,” Mr. Crawford said. The price was right, and the only question was how quickly Mr. Crawford could move. On Friday, he was planning to shift some inventory from his other stores to the site. The store will be open through the end of January.

Also, Wooden Stone plans to extend hours at the Davidson store, 445 S. Main St., after Thanksgiving. It will be open during the holiday season from Mondays to Thursdays, 10-6, Fridays and Saturdays, 10-8, and Sundays, 1-5.

SUNDAY SALE AIDS SHELTER

The Village Store and Sanctuary Gallery on Main Street will host a “Shelter Our Sisters” holiday benefit sale on Sunday, Nov. 22, to raise money for the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope Women’s Shelter. The benefit, which also aims to raise awareness of the shelter and its programs, will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The two shops are side-by-side, Sanctuary at 108 S. Main St., and the Village Store at 110 S. Main St.

They’ll have holiday refreshments, music and prize drawings. Ten percent of the day’s proceeds will directly benefit homeless women and children in need. Bring a donation of $5, or contributed needed items (such as new towels, blankets, diapers, baby wipes, baby food or formula) and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a piece of artwork or $100 store gift certificate.

The Salvation Army Center of Hope provides food, shelter, clothes, medical care and training to homeless women and children. While the facility has 204 beds, it frequently houses as many as 300 people – making it the largest women and children’s homeless shelter in the southeast.

For more information about this event, please visit the Village Store website www.thevillagestore.com. To learn more about the Salvation Army women’s shelter, visit www.salvationarmycharlotte.org/.

Cocoon Salon, in the Stowe's Corner building. (Laura Pegram photo)

COCOON SALON OPENS IN STOWE’S CORNER

Last week we told you about the opening of Cocoon Salon, on the second floor of the Stowe’s Corner building at South and South Main streets. Cocoon asked writer Julie Sabin to help get the word out. Here’s how she describes the new shop:

“Hair stylist Michelle Walsh desired to create a safe, private environment where the community – especially women – could feel comfortable expressing their beauty needs.

“‘How many times have you walked into a salon and felt intimidated?’ Ms. Walsh asks. ‘The place is huge and the stylists look perfect. Are you really going to feel comfortable telling them what you dislike about your hair?’ Comfort comes easily once you’re in Ms. Walsh’s chair. ‘I get to know you and together, we work to develop a style,’ Ms. Walsh says.”

Tiffany Hamrick and Michelle Walsh (Laura Pegram photo)

“Ms. Walsh has a background in business management, fashion and art. ‘Hair’s my canvas,’ she says. Natural light streams through five full-length windows, warming the soothing, brown-toned suite. A central living room, complete with an awe-inspiring shell chandelier, invites clients in. Enhanced with tiny flat-screen TVs, the stylist stations surround the sitting area. A natural wood-paneled bar provides tea and a place to watch television, or listen to music, as clients wait for their color to process.

The salon has space for four stylists but currently, it’s just Ms. Walsh and senior stylist Tiffany Hamrick, who left a salon in Concord to join Ms. Walsh. Cocoon offers full-service hair care for men, women and children. In early 2010, Walsh plans to partner with Julia Austin, owner of Fifi’s Fine Resale, to host a series of personal style workshops at the salon.”

Cocoon Salon is at 215 S. Main St., Suite 206, Stowe’s Corner. Phone: 704-807-8226. Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 9am-7pm; Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday 8am-1pm. www.cocoonsalon.com

BEST OF LAKE AWARDS

SOURCE: Lake Norman Home Buiders Association
MOORESVILLE – The Lake Norman Home Builders Association (LNHBA) celebrated its 6th Annual Best of the Lake design competition.

In its sixth annual competition, the association had over 40 entries from 25 builders, remodelers, designers and craftsman to showcase their work. A panel of business and industry leaders from across North Carolina judged the entries by reviewing and considering design and construction challenges and accomplishments.

The winning entries were announced at the associations Awards Banquet held at the Havana Social Club in Cornelius, NC on Nov. 13, 2009. Award winners included local businesses John Marshall Custom Homes (for a “green” home on Catawba Avenue), Artisan Custom Homes, and Roger Layman Architecture, International Kitchen & Bath, among others. Here’s a list:

Speculative new homes $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 – 1st Place: Artisan Custom Home, Brad Remmey; 2nd Place: Kelly McArdle Construction, Danny Kelly

Speculative new homes Over $2,000,000 – 1st Place: Jim Phelps Signature Collection, Jim Phelps

Custom new homes $701,000 to $1,000,000 – 1st Place: Kelly Custom Builders, Inc., Ray Kelly; 2nd Place: Triangle Homebuilders, Danyele Smith;
Honorable Mention: EFC Builders, Geoff Bowen

Custom new homes $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 – 1st Place: Roger Layman Architecture, Roger Layman; 2nd Place: LKN Properties, Brian Robinett.

Custom new homes Over $2,000,000 – 1st Place: Team of ZAR Custom Homes and Jim Phelps Signature Collection, Russell Zavatsky and Jim Phelps;
2nd Place: Artisan Custom Homes, Brad Remmey.

Best Green Spec $500,001 to $700,000 – 1st Place: G.P. Kon Builders, Daphne Wagner

Best Green Home Custom Less than $350,000 – 1st Place: John Marshall Custom Homes, Rodney Graham

Best Green Home Custom $500,001 to $700,000 – 1st Place: Schreiner Custom Homes, Steve Schreiner

Best Green Home Custom $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 – 1st Place: LKN Properties, Brian Robinett; 2nd Place: Artisan Custom Homes, Brad Remmey

Best Townhome or Condo less than $350,000 – 1st Place: Ryan Homes, Kathy Tucker

Best Townhome or Condo over $350,000 – 1st Place: Andrew Roby Inc. Andrew Roby

Kitchen Renovations $50,001 to $100,000 – 1st Place: International Kitchen and Bath, Lisa Carlay.

Kitchen Renovations $100,001 to $150,000 – 1st Place: International Kitchen and Bath, Lisa Carlay.

Renovation Whole House $275,000 to $500,000 – 1st Place: Plattner Bailey Custom Homes, Karl Plattner; 2nd Place: Team of Chad Goodin Signature Homes and Shaun Warren, Chad Goodin and Shaun Warren
Honorable Mention: EFC Builders, Geoff Bowen

Renovation Whole House Over $500,000 – 1st Place: U.S. Home Design, Steve Turley; 2nd Place: Kelly Custom Builders, Inc., Ray Kelly; Honorable Mention: Andrew Roby Inc., Andrew Roby

Home Additions $176,000 to $275,000 – Honorable Mention: Andrew Roby Inc., Andrew Roby

Home Additions More than $275,000 – 1st Place: EFC Builders, Geoff Bowen; 2nd Place: Andrew Roby Inc., Andrew Roby.

Bath Renovation Less than $10,000 – 1st Place: JVM Homes, Joyce Vukela-Mayer

Outdoor Living Less than $50,000 – 1st. Place: The Grill Doctor – Debra Xedus

Outdoor Living $50,001 to $100,000 – 1st Place: The Grill Doctor, Debra Xedus; 2nd Place: Advanced Renovations, Duane Johns

Outdoor Living Over $100,000 – 1st Place: Andrew Roby Inc., Andrew Roby

BEST OF SHOW: This year, the Best of the Lake Design Competition had two Best of Show awards:

Whole House Renovation Over $500,000 – US Home Design, Steve Turley

New Custom Over $2,000,000 – Team of ZAR Custom Homes and Jim Phelps Signature Collection – Russell Zavatsky and Jim Phelps

The Lake Norman Home Builders Association’s mission is to promote, inspire, and safeguard integrity in the building industry for the enrichment of our community. The association represents 200 builder members and 300 associate members who live and work within the Lake Norman community.

CHRISTMAS IN DAVIDSON COMING DEC. 3-5

Christmas in Davidson returns the first weekend of December, with events downtown and on the Village Green, sales at local shops and other events. They’ll have trolley and hay rides, food, performances, pictures with Santa courtesy of CVS, a chance to meet book characters at Main Street Books, crafts at Ben & Jerry’s, a live nativity scene at Davidson United Methodist Church, and special events at shops and restaurants along South Main Street.

Read more in our preview in the The Guide, ”Head downtown for Christmas in Davidson Dec. 3-5”

Have news for BizNotes? Send an email to editor@davidsonnews.net and include “BizNotes” in the subject line.