WAXHAW, NC – A new year and a refreshed location: Refresh Gift Shop is moving to a hot new spot along Main Street in Waxhaw. Owners, the dynamic mother-daughter team of Peggy Weisenberger and Shannon Habenicht, are delighted to move their shelves full of unique and fun gifts to the new space between the Waxhaw Creamery and Michael Ryan Realty, just down the way from Cork & Ale and Dreamchasers Brewery.
“We love that stretch of shops and dining spots, so we are thrilled to be able to set up shop next to some of our local favs! The new space is a little smaller, so we are going to get creative,” laughs Shannon, “but the room has such character with hardwood floors and that gorgeous brick wall. Plus, there is a great vibe from the foot traffic and events on North Main.”
Michael Wilfong of Michael Ryan Realty is looking forward to having a new neighbor too. “Having Refresh next door will be a nice addition to our side of Main Street,” he shared. “I think Shannon and Peggy have a great concept and we look forward to starting the new year with another great place for Waxhaw visitors to enjoy.”
Peggy and Shannon’s goal for Refresh is quite simple: to provide customers with fun and unique gifts. Refresh Gift Shop has quickly become the “go to” spot for gifts in Waxhaw with folks running in last minute for hostess and birthday gifts or quite often a leisurely visit to find something for themselves! There is something for everyone at Refresh from babies to grandparents and all the fun stages in between.
The shop runs the gamut on gift options from home décor and handcrafted Waxhaw mugs to top jewelry lines including Scout Curated Wears and Sosie Designs, and Swan Creek Soy Candles and melts. Refresh’s bath and body items include a variety of lines, and with over 25 scents of gourmet soaps and bath bombs, which are always a customer “must have,” and at 3 for $12 mix & match, its easy to walk out with a Refresh Gift Shop bag. Plus, it’s always fun to see what new scents have hit the counter — personal favorites are Monkey Farts, French Vanilla Biscotti, and Lavender. There are also gifts for the littles in your life, from handmade lovies and hats to rattles, bibs, teethers and the always rockin’ Boogie Toes rattle socks for infants. Kids and teens can always find something fun with the OOLY, Dona Bela Shreds and Natural Life brands that Refresh always has in store.
John and Peggy Weisenberger moved their family of 5 to Waxhaw over 35 years ago, ages before all the growth took place in the area. Years later, Shannon went off to college in Virginia where she met her husband Andy. Shannon and Andy eventually settled their family in Marvin and went about raising their two kids and becoming a part of the community. Refresh is truly a family-run business as John provides a lot of “behind the scenes” help and Emily, Shannon’s younger sister, often works at the shop too.
Refresh opened in 2018 on somewhat of a whim. Neither Peggy nor Shannon had ever thought of opening a gift shop, but through a series of events, here they are 4 years later moving into their second location. Peggy has an extensive background in retail and is the display design master at the shop. She adds her special touch to each display, which will come in handy at their cozy new address.
“I really enjoy Refresh. It’s great to work with Shannon and Emily. It’s always fun chatting with our guests and assisting them with their gifts,” smiles Peggy. When you visit Refresh, it’s most likely that you will see Peggy’s smiling face at the register while Shannon more often handles the shop’s social media, paperwork and purchasing the shop’s extensive array of products.
The plan is to re-open a refreshed Refresh Gift Shop by mid-January, so take the time to peek through the windows as Peggy, Shannon, and the crew work hard to make their quaint new shop ready for visitors. Make sure to follow Refresh Gift Shop on Facebook and Instagram. Refresh Gift Shop’s new address is 107 East North Main Street in Waxhaw. To kick off 2023, hours are currently Tuesday – Saturday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, closed Sunday and Monday.
