PERRY, Fla. (WTXL) - It all started with a dream, Christopher James just wanted to share his passion with other people.
"I just always had this passion in my soul that Christmas is a happy time. everybody seems like they want to do fun things for everyone, so i just thought why don't I opened up my own Christmas shop because it would be happy all of the time," said James.
His dream came true twelve years ago when he opened his doors for the first time. But just opening wasn't enough. Christopher was determined to make this place unique.
"You can go to a gift shop in any small town, so we needed to build something really special," said James.
Christopher's Christmas shop is one of the oldest stores in Perry. It's known for holiday decorations from angels to nutcrackers, many of them homemade.
"I always felt that a handmade gift comes from the heart and is better than something made in another country," said James.
His joy is obvious here. But like with anything special, it doesn't come easy. Christopher almost didn't return this season due to a tragedy in his own life.
Despite the setbacks, the doors are open. There will be a few changes to the store this year.
There will be no live Santa to interact with shoppers this year.
But much of Christopher's Christmas Shop will stay the same. That's so Christopher can make sure one thing never leaves.
"People say it to me all of the time that I've captured the true spirit of Christmas in the store and I hope so," said James.
His goal is for the customers who step into the store to leave filled with holiday cheer.
