Trio of stores group up to host second downtown open house

A city has a culture that lives just under the surface, and though events showcase what that community is all about, many store owners feel one event is not enough. Duck Crossing Antique Mall agrees and plans to continue showcasing what downtown Elizabethton has to offer.

Misty Counts has been the owner of Duck Crossing Antique Mall for three holiday seasons now, and this is the third year she is holding their own open house.

“We want to offer customers another chance to come in for the special sales,” Counts said.

This year, however, Counts said she spoke with two new business owners in Elizabethton: Crazy Creek Co-op and Ole City Dogs, to launch a joint open house event.

“They are both new business owners, and they are women,” she said.

While she said she did not choose to partner with them because they are women, she did say the distinction played a part in their partnership.

“We can work together to bring in business,” Counts said. “Sometimes women business owners do not have as many connections. The majority of business owners are men. […] We want to encourage other women to own businesses.”

Counts said these stores bring unique products and services to Elizabethton, and the second open house allows customers to better experience what they have to offer.

“All of us offer unique Christmas items to customers,” she said. “Crazy Creek, for instance, offers a lot of locally made gifts.”

Counts said Duck Crossing specializes in vintage and one-of-a-kind items for a wide range of interests.

Counts is going into her third holiday season as owner of Duck Crossing, a store that has stood downtown since the ’90s.

“It has been a lot of work but a lot of fun,” Counts said.

She said her knowledge of the products she sells has led customers to call her and her daughter Sarah “personal shoppers,” able to guide customers to products they want to purchase with just a description.

“We love meeting people, especially those coming in from out of town,” she said.

She said this open house event is meant to showcase the culture of Elizabethton as a whole.

“People in Johnson City and Bristol do not realize the community we have at the Elk Avenue strip,” Counts said.

The open house event will take place Sunday, Dec. 2, between 1 and 5 p.m. for all three stores.

SportsPlus

Local news

Northeast State celebrates 5,000 fall 2024 graduates

Local news

ETSU moves up in research and development ranking

Local news

K9 Officer retires after seven years of service with JCPD

Local news

Ballad Health notes uptick in flu cases in region

Local news

Santa assigns ‘scout elf’ to city to spread Christmas cheer

Local news

Mountain Ways Foundation distributes checks at Tusculum for hurricane victims

Local news

Assistance and Resource Ministries receives grant from Food Lion

Local news

SAHC hosts Fifth Annual Winter Hiking Challenge

Local news

O Come All Ye Faithful

Local news

Ann Pritchard has speaking role in ‘The Joy of Horses’ movie

Local news

Carter County Christian Men’s Fellowship looks to put ‘Christ Above All’ in 2025

Local news

TN bird enthusiasts embark annual count of feathered friends

Local news

TBI investigating fatal officer-involved shooting in Erwin

Local news

Milligan Christmas concert to air on WJHL Dec. 24 & 25

Community

12-12-12; How could you forget that anniversary date?

Local news

Credit unions host grocery giveaway

Local news

City of Elizabethton announces Christmas holiday closures, adjusted garbage collection schedule

Local news

School board OKs hiring community partnership coordinator

Community

Senior Center closed week of Dec. 23-27

Local news

ETSU presents 2024 Alumni Awards

BREAKING NEWS

Update: Hazardous Weather Outlook issued for East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and Southwest North Carolina

Local news

TN launches statewide initiative to offer native trees for all residents

Local news

Elizabethton cheerleaders earn bid to Nationals in Orlando

Local news

Citizens Bank $50k donation to Hampton tech students offers hope