The Galleria Gift Shop – Their Happy Place
Shopping for the perfect gift can feel close to impossible, especially when it’s for a “tough-to-buy-for” friend or loved one. When you’re in that difficult “I’ll know it when I see it” place, the small, carefully curated boutiques in town can be a great answer—provided you’re willing to tolerate the commute, limited parking—and don’t get us started on the crowds.
Fortunately, the folks at Westminster Canterbury Richmond only need to travel across campus for such an experience.
Welcome to the Galleria Gift Shop.
Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemma
When looking for the perfect gift, you might ask yourself: Would this person appreciate a sweet or savory treat? Do they like clothing or jewelry? Do they want something more practical or something they’d never buy for themselves? The list goes on and on.
If you’re not sure where to start, begin by turning to the Galleria’s gift-giving dream team of store manager Ginger and a host of volunteers for guidance.
“I think it’s important for people to know that we’re not a traditional gift shop,” Ginger says. “We’re more of a galleria. We’re part convenience/gourmet shop (offering various sweets and treats), part boutique and we also have an extensive collection of greeting cards in our card shop.”
She affectionately recalled one season when the Galleria even sold potted plants but “doesn’t think we’ll do that again anytime soon,” she chuckles.
Whatever the occasion or however last-minute, longtime volunteer Brenda explains, “Many needs can be met here.” Ginger and Brenda agreed that if there were ever a place to start, crowd favorites like chocolates or Savannah Grace Traditional Cheese Straws seem to win everyone over.
Did You Know?
Residents’ family members also can seek gifting assistance from the Galleria’s team. Whether it’s finding a single item or curating and assembling a themed gift for a friend or loved one living on campus, Ginger says they’re happy to gather suggestions, take a photo of the package, and let the families pick and choose which items they’d like to purchase. They’ll also personally deliver it.
“There’s something about giving someone a hand-picked item that adds that extra special and personal touch.”
“Food makes up about 25% of our sales,” Ginger says. “Just the other day, a resident came in to purchase miniature chocolates priced 5 for $1, and it was exactly what she was looking for.”
“It could be something as simple as that,” Brenda adds. Other times, it can mean helping residents find presents for various family members.
“One Christmas Eve afternoon, a man rolled in with his electric wheelchair—as fast as he could get here—because he needed to buy gifts for the 16 people on his list,” Ginger says. “So, we helped him find 16 unique items, gift-wrapped them all and he left so happy!”
Ginger shared another instance when a resident sought the Galleria’s assistance; except this time, it was all about putting together a fabulous outfit.
“We had one resident whose daughter was coming to town (whom she hadn’t seen in some time), and she wanted to look as good as she possibly could for her daughter’s visit,” she says. “So she came down here and asked me to help dress her from head to toe for the occasion. She bought clothes, scarves and jewelry and looked fabulous when she left. That was quite an honor for me.”
“It’s Their Happy Place”
The Galleria is a convenient place to purchase gifts, but its role in the community serves a greater purpose.
“It gives residents more options,” Ginger says. “They can shop on their own rather than driving to the mall, scheduling a shuttle or paying for a ride somewhere. That means a lot.”
Brenda adds, “And it’s retail therapy, too! Sometimes, people want to browse like you would any retail store and walk around. They need to be in that environment. Who doesn’t love a little retail therapy?”
As they enter their busiest season, Ginger expects plenty of visitors, many of whom refer to the Galleria as “their happy place.”
“People enjoy how we decorate and the holiday-themed items we have available,” Ginger continues. “It’s fun and very pleasing to us that we can provide such an environment.”
Store Hours
Monday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
*Hours subject to change. Please call (804) 264-6000 for current store hours.
That sense of community Ginger and Brenda mentioned can be found throughout the Westminster Canterbury Richmond campus. See how you can start to Live Life Well by exploring our campus today! Schedule a tour by calling us at (877) 277-9908.