Honesty greets you at the door and shows you around The Green Corner Store. Located in a 120 year old building in the SoMa district of Little Rock, every element, from the items on the shelves to the reclaimed antique fixtures that hold them, is consistent with owner Shelley Green's goals for her business. "It really started as an educational thing," Shelley says, "but people were asking me where they could get supplies for green living, and I realized there was a need." And so, twelve years ago, The Green Corner Store opened its doors. The focus then, as now, was to be local supplier of (mostly) Arkansas-local goods, curated around the concept that what is good for you is good for the planet, too, and that our small choices about what we purchase and where we buy it from can collectively change the world for the better. Shelley chooses natural cleaning products, baby supplies, eco bath and body, and a great array of locally produced snacks, accessories, clothin...

I met Cathy Shaneyfelt at a letter writing workshop she held at Bella Vita Jewelry in January of 2020, but she'd founded the Little Rock Letter Writers League in February of 2017, and has been an advocate for the importance of snail mail since well before that. As a teen, she worked in a Hallmark store, and as an adult she and her mother corresponded across town. Cathy cherishes the memories those letters preserve - not only in their words, but also in the stationery and penmanship.  "She really was my mentor as far as doing the actual sending of mail," says Cathy. "All of the notes that were extra special to me I’ve kept. Someone’s handwriting is as unique as it gets." Pre-pandemic, the Little Rock Letter Writers League gathered monthly in a library meeting room - now they try to meet once a season, over Zoom. Either way, the format is the same. Everyone brings their paper, pens,  washi, stamps, and other supplies, and most importantly, a sense of intention. ...

Eight years ago when I told the owner of a local shop I frequented in Fayetteville, where we lived at the time, that we were moving to Little Rock, he immediately had a suggestion for where to find my new happy fix. "There's this spot on South Main," he said excitedly. "There's Boulevard Bread so you can get lunch, and then on the other end there's Green Corner Store (which is like eco living, great stuff) and they have a Loblolly ice-cream counter so there's dessert for you, and then in the middle is Moxy. You'll love Moxy." He was right. While they initially set out to be a spot to find vintage and industrial home decor, owners Jon Estelita and Lara Kahler soon realized that people only go into a furniture store if they're shopping for furniture, and began responding to customer requests. First a stationery section. Then bath items, then kitchen goods, and so on. The shop now carries vintage pieces, stationery, puzzles and games, soaps, can...

Walking into Just Peachy's downtown storefront is like walking into a pop up card - a tiny space packed with unexpected delight. Streamers hang from the ceiling over harmonious clusters of party goods, thematically grouped. There are plates, napkins, banners, candles, confetti, and crowns for every age and interest (and maybe even some you didn't even know you were interested in until you saw them!) A year ago this space was a consultation room for clients who wanted balloon garlands for their events, but when the pandemic shut down large gatherings, owner Christen Byrd had to pivot. First she added helium bouquets, teaming up with local ice cream shop Loblolly Creamery, where she worked before launching Just Peachy, to create a bundle of joy that could be delivered to your (or someone else's) doorstep, anchored by a bag of ice cream pints. My middle with his birthday balloon bouquet - after his sister  had  one  last  summer,  it was deemed a new family traditi...

I got to interview several local woman business owners about how the pandemic has affected them - each week this month, I'll be sharing a little local love! This is part one. Bella Vita Jewelry, located in downtown Little Rock LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS --  With the exception of the now ubiquitous sign telling customers to put on a mask before entering and the bottle of hand sanitizer just inside the door, Bella Vita Jewelry looks much the same from the outside as it did a year ago. Inside, upbeat oldies music  softly  fills the quiet spaces and incense and candles scent the air. "We try to keep a fun vibe," says owner Brandy Thomason McNair. The effort is apparent in the carefully curated items - books and  crystals , incense and craft kits, tea and home goods, and an array of unique  jewelry  including Brandy's own designs.  Before Covid-19 started causing temporary shut downs, the shop website only showcased the original pieces. But Brandy and her team h...