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 In this series of articles, we invite
you to follow some of the county’s sharpest shoppers
while they explore Chamber member stores and
restaurants. These volunteers have discovered an
amazing array of fabulous finds– and all in our own
backyard! For more information on this “Shop Local”
campaign, contact the Hancock Chamber of Commerce
office at 228.467.9048. For Shop Information and
Hours click here.
Sharp Shopping -
Hidden Gems!
 Artist
Kat Fitzpatrick is an expert at finding hidden
treasures: Over the years, she’s taught hundreds of
coast children, leading them to discover creative
gold mines within. Her investments in musical
wealth reaped untold dividends during the two
decades she sang with the St. Rose de Lima Choir.
Her own paintings and drawings are extravagances of
spirit, rich in color and texture. This ability
made her a natural as a Hancock Chamber “Sharp
Shopper,” as she recently scouted out small luxuries
in local establishments.
Hairworks
was the first local treasure-trove she visited. The
interior of the bright yellow house has recently had
a makeover. The salon rooms are painted with lush,
inviting colors and a good sampling of Kat’s
artworks hangs on the walls. Owner Jan Mitchell
opened the salon 25 years ago. Working with stylist
Connie
Bourgeois, the two women have built a
large and loyal following. Jan says that their
sterling reputation stems from customer care and the
fact that “we always have lots of fun here.”
Next door
at the newly opened “Bark
of the Bay,” the mouth-watering scent
of freshly baked cheese biscuits greeted Kat as she
entered. The doggie boutique owner Prima Luke
pulled a tray of golden bone-shaped cookies from the
oven – homemade treats especially for canines. “My
cooking has gone to
 the
dogs,” she said, grinning. Prima was the chef at
the popular Dock of the Bay restaurant for 21
years. She came up with the idea for the business,
wanting a new career where she could take her dogs
to work. Shop shelves
hold large glass cookie jars filled with over 14
varieties of dog treats, all made on the premises
from recipes that Prima has perfected. Kat picked
out several different types for pets belonging to
friends.
The shop also stocks clothing and
costumes for dogs, Paul Mitchell
grooming products (“the shampoo is
great, it smells like oatmeal”), toys and travel
accessories - like fold-up feeders and carriers.
Even cat lovers will find “purrfect” items for
feline companions. Shoppers are welcome to bring
their own pets to visit - a fenced patio area
provides a perfect play space for both humans and
animals. “We’re also planning on hosting doggie
birthday PAWties here,” Prima said. “We may even
invite DIGnitaries.”
 Fellow
artist Stella Williams welcomed Kat into
Kudzooks.
The shop owner is best known locally for the mural
she painted in Rickey’s restaurant a few doors
down. Thousands of diners have appreciated her folk
art rendition of sea creatures and beach scenes.
With an artist’s eye, she’s filled Kudzooks with a
collection of creative works for home décor – some
by local talent and others by artisans in other
countries like Bali and Zaire. Kat was quickly
captivated by an amusing hand-carved wind-up toy for
adults. Painted wooden dogs “barked” at each other
when she turned the crank ($30). Another piece in
the same series features a cat that turns its head
to peer at its own tail where a tiny bird boldly
perches.
In addition to the home furnishings,
Stella also stocks unusual body lotions, fragrances
and soaps and a line of candles made from soy
instead of wax. Local designer Marilyn Mestayer has
created necklaces, bracelets and earrings, making
outstanding use of materials like unusually shaped
pearls and turquoise. Teenagers have made the shop
a regular stop to find trendy rhinestone and crystal
costume jewelry. Stella held up a pendant that
flashed with reflected light. “I’m the queen of
Bling,” she said, smiling.
 A
few doors away,
Bloomers is
more than a simple florist. The front of the large
space is actually a ladies’ boutique with clothing,
shoes, handbags and jewelry. Owner Linda Cool says
that the selection appeals to career women - as
well as the high-school set - looking for special
occasion dresses and accessories. Walking further
into the store, Kat finds an expansive section
filled with children’s gifts, toys and a plush
animal menagerie. Towards the back, lit glass cases
of fresh flowers beckoned.
Festive arrangements are created by
the shop’s floral designer and use fragrant
combinations like lilies and carnations. Kat picked
out one of the bright centerpiece arrangements, a
gift sure to please a holiday hostess. The shop is
also known locally for its selection of balloon
bouquets. An entire wall is hung with a variety of
designs for customers to choose from, for occasions
including birthdays, anniversaries, births and other
lifetime events that call for a buoyant
celebration.
The new boutique
Debut
Nouveau offers more surprises, all
tucked into a small cottage behind the Bay Library.
The interior is filled with a colorful array of
items, ranging from baby shower gifts to fine
jewelry. Glass necklaces from the fabled Italian
Isle of Murano are displayed alongside a special
purchase of fine gold and silver jewelry set with
genuine gemstones. Designer Michael Hero’s
collectible trinket boxes and picture frames mix
with “Comfort Candles” and “Lamp Avenue” ceramic
and glass oil lamps. A section of gifts for
newborns make shower giving easy. Popular choices
include the “Mud Pie” line for both baby girls and
boys.
 Kat’s
eye is caught by a book, authored by owner Cheryl
Armstrong’s father. The title is “The Old Man Says
– How to eliminate 50% of your bad fishing trips.”
The book has become a local bestseller and instant
classic for avid anglers. Kat’s sister is a devoted
fisherman and the book seems full of solid insider
advice for those who want to sharpen their skills
and increase catches. She promptly decided it’d be
a treasured and appreciated gift – especially since
all the copies in the shop are signed by the author
($24.99).
Even the name of the store
intrigued Kat:
Artist and Business Express.
The six-month-old store meets the needs of both the
creative and corporate communities in Hancock
County. Near the intersection of Highway 90 and
Washington Street, the convenient location stocks a
wide variety of art supplies and also furnishes many
printing and copying needs for businesses. Art
lovers will find watercolor and acrylic paints,
pastels, colored pencils, specialty papers,
sketchbooks and pre-stretched canvases. The shop
also carries an enormous variety of paintbrushes for
artists. Kat immediately chose several that would
be greatly appreciated by a painter friend.
The store offers many
services to make life easy for area businesses.
Blueprint copying capabilities make it a favorite
stop for homebuilders, contractors and architects.
An oversized plotter can scan plans or documents for
print, e-mail or shipping. Quality color copies are
available - even super-sizes - and manager Christina
Harrelson possesses design program knowledge can
help make projects shine. The store can even take
orders via e-mail. Recently, they’ve also added
shipping services – the location serves as a drop
for UPS.
 Bayou
Jewelers and Watch Repair
was Kat’s next stop, a business that’s
been in operation for over 40 years. Owned by Gene
and Nancy Strickland, Gene is the only watch
repairman within a 50-mile radius. They also offer
expert jewelry repair services. “You name it, I can
fix it,” said Gene. “Watches, jewelry and broken
hearts.” The shop sells engagement rings and
wedding bands, charms, earrings and bracelets. New
watches gleam enticingly from mirrored cases -
including the fashionable Fossil brand ($65 -
$135). The classic Citizen watches offers a new
twist – timepieces that run without batteries. The
Eco – Drive series are actually fueled by light.
One day of exposure to sunlight will keep the watch
running accurately for 100 days. The sleek watches
for both men and women come in styles for every
taste ($150 - $600).
Kat was captivated by several
striking globes displayed in the front of the shop.
These weren’t the ordinary schoolroom variety. Each
was mounted on polished metal floor stands, making
them instant attention grabbers in any room. Every
country on the globe was inlaid with a different
gemstone or mineral, making an intricate mosaic map
of the world. According to Gene, the globes are
made in Europe, each taking over 1000 man-hours to
produce. Currently the shop has the marvelous works
of craftsmanship on sale for $595.
 Hubbard’s
Hardware
on Nicholson Avenue in Waveland seemed an unlikely
place for an artist to shop for a gift, but Kat knew
that the store holds a fascinating array of items
that can’t be found elsewhere. On entering, she was
immediately greeted by owner David Hubbard,
reinforcing the store’s reputation for cheerfully
helping customers. David and his brother Richard
are fixtures in the community – their father opened
the store in 1953. The enormous selection of
stainless steel hardware, Valspar paints, garden and
hand tools, plumbing supplies is peppered with a
wide variety of other products like laser
flashlights, cast iron cookware, live animal traps
and American flags. In fact, David asserted with a
grin, “If we don’t have it, you’re not going to find
it anywhere!”
Kat zeroed in on “the world’s fastest
nutcracker,” then examined an old-fashioned coffee
grinder. In the end, her final selection was a
wooden bat house. Resembling an oversized, shallower
version of a regular birdhouse, David said they’re a
popular item since a single bat devours over 600
mosquitoes in an hour. The wooden box provides a
home for several of the helpful mammals and Kat
purchased one for a nature-loving friend ($29.99).
As Kat left the hardware store, she
summarized her impressions from the afternoon of
shopping. “Teaching art is all about getting people
to express their individual voices,” she said.
“What I loved today was seeing the unique flavor of
each shop, the vision of the different owners. And
I’m taking home a sense of community and history.
Those are the lasting treasures, the ones that make
life truly rich.”
If Hancock county residents commit to
shopping locally this holiday season, our economy
could receive an estimated 35 million dollar boost.
With that very merry goal in mind, The Hancock
Chamber of Commerce has launched a “Holiday at
Home!” campaign to make local shopping easy and
fun. The campaign will publicize the bounty of our
county - including seasonal events, merchant
specials and a spectacular array of gift ideas.
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Currently,
the salon has a staff of six and has expanded to
include a new skin care studio. Experienced
esthetician Beth Breland works her beauty magic in a
small cottage behind the house, where she offers a
variety of facials, peels and waxing services. In
the main salon, customers can receive a full
spectrum of hair care, manicures
