Lorelei Harris - The Whimsical Nook

"Nature has always inspired me, and I've always loved crystals. When I moved here four years ago, I realized there wasn't a store like the one I had envisioned, so I decided it would be a great addition to downtown North Wilkesboro and bring a little more variety to our community.

The Whimsical Nook is a tiny shop on Main Street. It's filled with crystals, minerals, specimens, and metaphysical items. More than anything, though, it's a place where I get to connect with people every single day.

That's what I love most about what I do - the interaction with people. I love getting to know them, hearing their stories, and seeing how excited they are that new things are happening in our community. Whether it's an Art Walk, a concert, a pop-up event, a drum circle, or something completely new, it's wonderful to see people excited to come downtown and be part of it.

I've always been an advocate for the arts. I love galleries, museums, theater, music; anything that celebrates creativity. I have so many friends who are artists, and I saw a need to help support and grow the arts here. That's how I became involved with the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership and eventually the Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Committee.

Our goal is to keep promoting the arts and getting more people involved. The committee continues to grow, and we're always welcoming new volunteers and new ideas. 

One of the projects we're especially excited about is Creative Corner. It's a place for crafters and makers to showcase what they create, promote their businesses, and connect with the community. We want to rotate vendors so more people have the opportunity to participate, gain exposure, and be successful.

What I love about this community is the small-town mentality. Everybody knows each other, and when you need something, someone always knows who to call or where to point you. People come into my shop all the time asking where they can find something or who they should talk to, and if I don't know the answer, I usually know someone who does.

Moving here was truly a leap of faith. We were living in Florida when we came to North Carolina looking at commercial property. We ended up in Wilkes County almost by accident, and the moment we visited, we knew this was where we wanted to be. We sold our house without knowing exactly what came next. We didn't have jobs or a business waiting for us; we just knew this was the place.

For me, Wilkes County is magical.

One of the first things I did after finding my storefront was call Town Hall because I wanted to help improve the little park next to my building. That simple phone call introduced me to people who cared deeply about this community, and before long I was invited to get involved with the Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership. That's how my journey here really began.

If you haven't visited the Whimsical Nook yet, stop by and say hello. We're a very unique little shop, and we'd love to welcome you. And if you've ever thought about getting involved in the arts, just come talk to me. I'll tell you what we're all about, and I think you're going to love it."

Lorelei Harris, Owner of The Whimsical Nook @thewhimsicalnook 

Located at 915 Main Street #110 and open from 11 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Saturday.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•