By Chris Aldridge

Kentucky Ag News

FRANKFORT - The day after Halloween every year, Louis’ Flower Power Shop in Lexington closes three weeks to transition from a garden center to Louis’ Christmas Shop.

“On Nov. 1, we stop selling pumpkins,” said owner Beau Spicer, who sources his pumpkins from Shell Farms, grown by Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell and his father, Gary.

On Nov. 22, the Kentucky Proud Christmas shop had its grand opening with the theme “1950s & ’60s Christmas.”

“Every year, we have a different theme,” Spicer said. “We built a traditional store front with an old record player, baseball cards, old sleds, and a 1931 train set.

“I don’t want to be just a Christmas shop; I want to be a memory,” he added. “I tell my employees, ‘We’re not selling a product. We’re selling an experience and a memory.’

“People come in and tell me, ‘We bought our tree from you 10 years ago.’ The experience they have with you is going to be with them forever. Their Christmas photos will have that tree that you sold them.”

The Christmas shop’s slogan is “Come start a new tradition with us.” The business specializes in pre-cut Fraser firs, wreaths, and assorted greenery.

“We sell a large amount of custom wreaths,” he said. “This year, I set up an entire offsite location for our designer.

“We have greenery, specialty garland – stuff that no one else really does any more. It sets us apart. It’s a designer’s paradise. We have 25 different types of cut greenery from juniper to magnolia, different types of holly, eucalyptus – a little bit of everything.”

While parents sip cider from a local orchard and browse in the warmth of the shop’s full-size fireplace, their kids can enjoy feeding bottles of milk to three baby sheep and a calf at the shop’s petting zoo. Santa Claus visits from 4-7 p.m. every Friday through Sunday until Dec. 21, then reads bedtime stories to younger children. 

“Everything is free!” Spicer said of the children’s activities. “Bring your kids and take lots of photos.”

Spicer bought the business at 3389 Tates Creek Road in the Lansdowne Shoppes parking lot nearly 10 years ago from former owner Louis Hillenmeyer, who lent his name to the business he started more than 20 years ago.

The Christmas shop and garden center hosts several community fundraisers, including one recently for Spicer’s non-profit, Beau’s Buds, to benefit Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington.

“This is my vessel to give back,” Spicer added. “We love being part of the holiday season in a community that’s done so much for us.”