WILLIAMSBURG — The Christmas Mouse, a Christmas shop open year-round, has grown over the years to nine locations, but it all started in Williamsburg.
First opened in 1985, the first location was at 1430 Richmond Road (now High Street). Bob Marshall happened to be driving by a vacant building with big glass windows.
“He thought it would be a good spot for a Christmas store,” said his son, Rob Marshall. “He pulled over to a pay phone and called his friend Bruce Robertson, and they opened the store not too long after that call.”
By 1988, a second Williamsburg location was opened. Larger than the original location, it houses 50 theme trees. Marshall notes the themes range from traditional gold and silver to hobbies and interests, like sports and music. Favorites include Egyptian Glass and Old World Glass. New for 2023, a Grinch tree has been added.
Marshall, who does all of the buying for the store, said he doesn’t have a specific favorite Christmas decoration.
“I guess I would have to say my favorite is any ornament that gets purchased for a friend or loved one,” Marshall said. “Ornaments are really great memories that can you can put up each year and reminisce about the past.”
Earlier this month, Marshall related he had spoken to a local customer who told how his parents used to take him and his sister to the store each year to pick out an ornament. And now that local does the same thing, with his kids.
“It really is cool to have been doing this for almost 40 years and hear these traditions,” Marshall added.
Marshall said running a small-business Christmas store is much like running any other, despite the common belief it would be very seasonal.
“It requires attention seven days a week, 364 days a year. Yes, we are closed on Christmas day!” Marshall said.
In addition to its stores in Williamsburg, the Christmas Mouse has another year-round location in Virginia Beach, three in the Outer Banks, two in Myrtle Beach, and another in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. It also fulfills web orders at its warehouse in Williamsburg.
“I think the best part of running a Christmas store is the people are generally happy when they come into the environment,” Marshall said. “You have all these decorated trees, and are hit with the scent of cinnamon, and hear Christmas music playing. It is a hard place to be angry.”
The flagship store at 1991 Richmond Road is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information about the Christmas Mouse and its offerings, visit its official website.
