Mr. Christmas got his wish to bring holiday cheer via his East Charlotte pop-up + photo studio
When I walked through the doors of the new Holiday House and Co. retail space, I was instantly transported from Charlotte’s Eastway Crossing shopping plaza to a whimsical holiday wonderland that dreams are made of. I was surrounded by animatronic polar bears playing Christmas songs, ornate decor typically only seen on television. The pop-up shop’s owner, Lance “Mr. Christmas” Devereux, was happily moving about the store ensuring everything was picture-perfect.
Opened on November 2, the East Charlotte retail and picture shop brings a homegrown feel to holiday decor that you can’t easily find in larger stores. Deveruex, affectionately known as Mr. Christmas, simply wanted to share his love for design and his favorite holiday with the Charlotte community. His passion for both permeates the walls, bringing a smile to anyone who walks through the doors.
“Christmas has become a part of my DNA, which is how I got my nickname. I talk about the holiday all year. It’s something about the nostalgia that I had growing up,” Devereux shared with CharlotteFive.
“It’s that time when we just made the best memories as a family, so I always keep that ’90s Christmas vibe in my heart. You know, life happens, and I’ve lost family members over the years, so I just try to keep that joy and those memories close.”
He always wanted his own Christmas store
The child who would grow up to be a UNC Charlotte grad and celebrity designer always dreamed of opening his own Christmas store. After finishing college, he set off traveling the country in the name of the holiday to transform his personal clients’ homes into the magical masterpieces now found in his store. When the opportunity presented itself to take over a suite in the Eastway commercial strip, he knew he had to jump on it.
“Charlotte is home, and opening a store was something I’ve never been able to make happen until now. The pieces just aligned. Another thing I found as a professional Christmas designer, it was hard for me to source the items I needed to get the look I wanted. But it’s nothing like being able to run across town to pick up something unique that you may not be able to find in big box retailers.”
Retail store + holiday picture destination
The Holiday House and Co. pop-up is split into two spaces: the retail shop and a holiday picture and selfie space that will open this coming weekend. On the retail side, you can find decor including ribbon, wreaths — which Devereux and his team will decorate on the spot if needed — all sizes and shapes of ornaments sorted by color so you don’t get overwhelmed, tree toppers and a small selection of Christmas-themed apparel.
“I do a lot of research and attend various trade shows to source my products,” he explained. “I always have my eye out for what will be on trend for the season, or even what I think my clients will want for their homes. I literally start planning out the following year’s holiday decor the day after Christmas ends.”
HOLIDAY CAMERA READY: As for the forthcoming picture studio, it will feature eight curated sets designed by Mr. Christmas himself, in which guests will be able to purchase tickets to take selfies via the provided tripods or even bring in their own photographer for an additional fee. The store will have an in-house photographer for anyone wanting family holiday photos in front of one of Deveruex’s more elevated installations.
PHOTO PRICES:
For the selfie-only experience: $29.99 when booked by Nov. 14 (can be for any date).
Price increases to $39.99 for bookings made after Nov. 14 (also for any date).
Decorating classes and a creative team
Ribbon and Wreath-decorating classes are also coming soon. The wreath classes will start at $49.99 and include all needed materials.
Of course, being able to create these larger-than-life holiday installations isn’t easy. Luckily, Devereux has a creative team ready and willing to assist customers in need of a little inspiration for their decor. They can help with planning your color scheme, building out gorgeous wreaths that your neighbors will be jealous of, or even pick out fun layers to add to your existing pieces.
“This year, and something that has always been trending at Christmas, it’s all about the sparkle of the lights. People want that beautiful vibe with the lights, no matter the style of the tree. Whether it’s whimsical, traditional or even glam — people are wanting to do something different with the actual lights. We’ll soon have a fun line of lights that will be available in store soon.
“Also, I’m finding that people are not afraid of nontraditional color palettes or even adding more scale this year, they’re going bold with the colors and larger scale ornaments. And of course, you can find all of that here,” Mr. Christmas passionately says.
The pop-up shop will be open though December 23.
Holiday House and Co.
Location: 3304 Eastway Dr., Suite C, Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-7 p.m.; Sat 10-8 p.m.; Sun 12-7 p.m. though Dec. 23
Instagram: @holidayhouseandco
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This story was originally published November 6, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
