Every day looks like a party at M&D Gifts in the Plaza Shopping Center. It’s certainly the place to find loads of balloons, cards and party supplies.
The store, opened by Misty Paderick, turns 10-years-old on Feb. 10.
“We mainly do cards, balloons and gift baskets,” she said.
Balloons for just about any occasion are available, including balloon creations in the shapes of animals and characters.
Shoppers can find greeting cards of all types of special days, including for occasions not as widely celebrated as the most popular occasions — Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Veterans Day, boss’ day and even April Fools day.
“We have over 3,000 showing at any time,” Paderick said about the cards.
The custom gift baskets are handmade with any items from the store. They may include candy or be based on a theme.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, gift baskets will be a big seller, Paderick said.
Party supplies include diaper cakes and napkin cakes, which can be used as centerpieces and then are functional at the table.
It’s recommended special orders be placed a week in advance, though they may be in sooner.
Paderick’s husband, Donnie Paderick, a Kinston native, helps Misty Paderick, from Houston, Texas, with the business. The Kinston couple and a few employees are not the only ones customers may meet.
“They can come in and meet Blondie, too,” she said.
Blondie is Paderick’s cocker spaniel who has been a faithful highlight of the store since April 2003.
M&D Gifts, 2417-A N. Herritage St., is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information, call 252-523-2800.
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The law firm of Cauley Pridgen has seven lawyers in love — with their new old building downtown.
Formerly with Rose Rand Wallace, six attorneys with similar specialties broke away to form a group and hired an additional lawyer, said Jim Cauley, who owns the practice with his partner Brian Pridgen.
They are leasing the three-story 1903 building, commonly called the dome building, which originally housed bank offices, Cauley said.
The building has more than 5,000 square feet. Upstairs, it was once home to a law office and a dental practice. The rooms still have sinks in them, Cauley said.
The first floor was renovated about three years ago when Portraitures by Melanie moved in, he said.
Cauley Pridgen moved into a section of the first floor Nov. 1 and there are plans to renovate the upper two floors at least by the end of the year.
“We’re working with an architect on the design and floor plan for the second and third stories,” Cauley said. “We’re going to keep a lot of the features, but we’re also going to make improvements for a modern law office.”
One of those improvements is an elevator, he said.
Some of the unique features are, of course, the silver dome, and a broad stairway inside. The interior is laced with the old millwork and the windows have 2-foot-deep sills, Cauley said.
“You don’t see those features, anymore,” he said.
The law firm’s specialization, Cauley said, is mainly business, government and land.
“We decided we would focus our practice on those three areas,” he said. Land includes commercial, farm and eminent domain.
Cauley Pridgen attorneys, 201 N. Queen St., are available by appointment until the remodeling project is complete. For more information or to make an appointment, call 252-291-3848. The firm also has offices in Wilson and Raleigh.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.
Breakout
Do you have a new retail business or one that’s undergone a significant change? The Free Press would like to hear about it. Contact Margaret Fisher at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com.