Lexington’s bustling East Main Street welcomed its newest addition over the holiday season: The Palmetto Nook.

Located at 112 East Main St. next to the Keg Cowboy, the shop offers a curated selection of goods, including candy sold by the pound and products from local artisans, some of whom also sell at the Lexington Icehouse Amphitheater market. Local vendors featured in the storefront include Lakeside Soap, Chika Paper Studios and Sunset Studio Pottery.

Although the store was originally set to open in January, encouragement from neighboring Main Street businesses and community members prompted owners Gage and Shannon Stricker to open earlier.

“We had so many people coming up to the store as we were setting everything up that encouraged us not to delay the opening,” co-owner Gage Stricker said. “We were very warmly welcomed by the community.”

With that, the Palmetto Nook officially opened in December and plans to hold a grand opening celebration in February.

The Strickers first discovered Lexington in 2020 while passing through on their way back to Florida from their honeymoon. Stricker said they immediately fell in love with Lexington for its family-first and community-oriented atmosphere. After they visited Gibson Pond Park and Lake Murray, they fell in love with what Lexington was building and wanted to be a part of it, they told the Chronicle. 

“My wife and I sat in O’Hara’s Bakery and mutually agreed this would be our future home,” he said.

Stricker said Lexington’s Main Street and the surrounding community stood out from others they had visited because of its growth and strong sense of culture.

Inspired by that atmosphere, the Strickers envisioned a store that would strengthen the town’s close-knit, local feel, similar to a traditional general store.

“We have lived in Lexington for the last five years and have loved shopping on Main Street. It was our dream to start a gift shop or general store…so when this space became available, we felt this was right,” he said. “We didn’t want our business to change the culture of the Main Street we fell in love with. … We wanted to create a store where everyone could find something for them.”

Stricker said he and his wife hope to do more through The Palmetto Nook. Once established, they plan to use the storefront to give back to the community, particularly to local schools. 

“We hope to support our local schools with a school lunch program,” Stricker said. “This is important to us…and we are still learning the path forward on this…but we hope to provide some proceeds to school lunches for students in Lexington. 

“We don’t know exactly what that will look like yet, but we feel called to help. … When a community allows you to live your dream, it feels right to give back.”