The new Shoe Zoo children’s shoe store is planning an Oct. 27 grand opening and fundraiser at the shop in Davidson Commons. Meanwhile, deadlines approaching for businesses and organizations that want to participate in both the 25th annual Christmas in Davidson festival Nov. 29-Dec. 1, and the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade on Dec. 1. Also below: News about a home-based business networking meeting in Davidson Nov. 9, a location change for Fifi’s Fine Resale in Cornelius, a new hotel at I-77 Exit 33, and the closing of Roxy’s Coffee and Wine in Cornelius.

SHOE ZOO READY TO CELEBRATE

Shoe Zoo, the children’s shoe store that opened in August in the Harris Teeter shopping center off Griffith Street in Davidson, plans a grand opening celebration Saturday, Oct. 27. The event, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be a fundraiser for area elementary schools.

The shop plans a variety of events, including a ribbon-cutting with town officials, live animals, face painting, drawings for free merchandise including shoes and accessories, drinks and snacks. The shop and its resident stuffed gorilla “Shoelace” also will kick off a school fundraiser called “Kash for Kids.” Shoe Zoo will give away 10 percent of sales in October to a local elementary school that gets the most “votes” – by visiting the store often during the month. Voting ends on Oct. 31 at 6 p.m.

The 2,500-square-foot shop has been designed to inspire thoughts of a journey through a zoo, with art fixtures and larger than life stuffed animals. Owner Danielle Frye is selling shoes and accessories for infants, toddlers and youth, with brands that include Kors, Uggs, Stuart Weitzman, Saucony, Pedped, Under Armour, Keen, Jessica Simpson, K-Swiss, Sperry, Cole Haan and Lelli Kelly. They also sell hair accessories, socks, leggings, belts and ties.

More info: http://www.shoe-zoo.com.

RUN A HOME-BASED BUSINESS?

The Town of Davidson hosts quarterly meetings for downtown and Exit 30 area merchants, and organizes other events and programs to help them. But the town also has an unknown number of home-based businesses – those run out of their owners’ homes. Next month, the town will reach out to these small businesses with a Home Business Networking Meeting. We at DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net fit this description, and we’ll be there to share our experiences. We hope others will join in, too, as we look for common ground and ideas, and help the town understand our needs. The meeting will be Friday, Nov. 9, at 9 a.m. in the Town Hall Board Room, 216 S. Main St., Davidson.

CHRISTMAS IN DAVIDSON AND PARADE DEADLINES

Area businesses have until Nov. 9 to sign up for the 30th Annual North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade, which will be Saturday, Dec. 1. The parade begins at 1 p.m. in Davidson and heads south on N.C. 115 to Cornelius. Davidson Fire Department and Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire Department are among the organizers, along with the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade Committee. Sign-up forms are at www.townofdavidson.org/parade. Late entries will not be accepted. Businesses must pay a fee of $70, and nonprofits, as well as entries with horses, antique cars and/or tractors, must pay a fee of $30. High school bands are free-of-charge. Questions: Contact Wilson Sadler at wsadler@townofdavidson.org or 704-940-9623.

The deadline for Davidson merchants to apply to join the 25th annual Christmas in Davidson is Oct. 25. This year’s festival runs Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1. If you are planning activities in your business during Christmas in Davidson and wish to be included in the Official Event Guide, please submit an applications. The Official Event Guide is distributed by the Charlotte Observer to some 35,000 homes in the Lake Norman area and through local Davidson businesses in the weeks prior to the event. Sign up online at www.christmasindavidson.com (click on the “Applications” tab and scroll down to the appropriate application). You may also apply by mail or email – download a copy of the form on the town website above, and email to tgibson@imaginemusicgroup.com

Participating merchants must be located in the Town of Davidson and be creating or hosting a holiday related activity in their business or storefront during the Christmas in Davidson. To be listed in event information, all participating merchants must complete and submit an application.

HOTEL OPENS, FIFI’s MOVES, ROXY’S EXITS

Candlewood Suites Mooresville Lake Norman has opened at 3247 Charlotte Highway (U.S. 21) in Mooresville, off I-77 Exit 33. The 90 room all-suite hotel is aiming to win business from long-term stays. Suites have full-size refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, stove top burners, and other ‘home-like” amenities. There’s also an indoor salt water pool, fitness center and free laundry. More info: www.candlewoodsuites.com/mooresvillenc

Fifi’s Fine Resale has reopened in the former 6,000-square-foot Blacklion space in the Fresh Market shopping center. That’s more space than the old shop on West Catawba Avenue. The new shop is at 20601 Torrence Chapel Road. Got brand-name clothes to consign? They’ll take them weekdays 10-5 p.m, at the back door (use the Knox Road entrance). Sellers get 40 percent, FiFi’s keeps 60 percent. Info: fifislkn.com

Roxy’s Coffee and Wine in Cornelius has closed. The neighborhood coffee shop and wine bar on Bailey Road, near 131 Main, poured its last drinks on Oct. 1. It’s a blow to residents of Cornelius’s Oakhurst area, who have lost a neighborhood hangout.

Peoples Bank has added Kevin Brady as a mortgage loan originator, woring out of the People’s Bank loan office, 3754 Hwy 16 North, Denver. Brady has previously served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications at Virginia Tech. He is a leader at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, near Sherrills Ford. Peoples Bank is celebrating its 100th Business Anniversary and operates 22 offices in North Carolina.

Cunningham & Company Mortgage Bankers has opened a mortgage office in Mooresville, and named Lisa Qualls as branch manager. Marci Morton is the senior loan officer. Cunningham & Company is a residential mortgage banker. The new office is at 104 Welton Way, Mooresville, 704-230-0691.

EVENTS

Lake Norman Chamber Public Safety Lunch – Thursday, Oct. 18, 11:45 a.m., River Run Country Club, 19125 River Falls Drive, Davidson – 7th Annual North Mecklenburg Publlic Safety Luncheon. Honoring public safety offers from area towns.

Business After Hours, Thursday, Oct. 18, 5:30 p.m., Hampton Inn, 19501 Statesville Road, Cornelius – Business After Hours and Grand Re-Opening of the Hampton Inn, which has just completed a major renovation.

Green Drinks Lake Norman – Thursday, Oct. 25, 5:30-7 p.m. at Campania Cafe, 415 S. Main St., Davidson. Jeff Godkin, president of EES/Energy Integrators, will speak. EES/Energy Integrators is the newest member company at PiES, Davidson’s green business incubator. Green Drinks is a monthly networking event for anyone with an interest in sustainability. Info: https://www.facebook.com/greenbusinessincubator

Cocktails and Cruise Info – Julie Harris of Solis Escapes and Andrea McClure of Regent Seven Seas Cruises will host a cocktail party with hors d’oeuvres and information about ocean cruises on Thursday, Nov. 6, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Campania Cafe, 416 S. Main St., Davidson. RSVP: julie@solisescapes.com

HAVE NEWS?

Send business news and events listings to editor@davidsonnews.net. Business notes appear occasionally in both DavidsonNews.net and CorneliusNews.net.