Happy Anniversary to White Willow!
We opened our doors in June of 2015. It seems like a lifetime ago, and at the same time, like the blink of an eye. We forgot to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, so we’re going hard this year! Take a walk down memory late with us…
One thing about us- we’re always painting! This is our original location on Walton Avenue. In case you’re not familiar with us, Charley is on the left and Bre is on the right. Charley works in Folk Herbalism and Craniosacral Therapy while Bre leads our Happy Skeleton Community Movement class and works in shop beautification (an ongoing endeavor) and crafting.
Our cozy little massage studio! We both started out as Massage Therapists. We loved it so much! But we outgrew the space on Walton (and eventually, the massage practice) once we opened the Emporium. In February of 2020 (remember that very eventful month?) we took the biggest leap of faith and signed a new lease to move to Old Vine Street. We were shaking in our boots, but we were back in 2015 too, and we knew it was time to spread our wings and fly!
Oh look! More painting! It’s hard to believe our space was ever so empty. We added affirmations into the paint. Intentions to be a place of magic and healing. A place of true community and soul growth.
In October 2020, we hired April, our shop manager! She braved the storm of starting our business all over, and worked six days a week for the longest time when we couldn’t afford to hire more staff. Her belief in us kept us going. She’s grown alongside us and now offers Reiki energy healing and intuitive tarot & oracle readings. Her sessions have a way of reaching down to the depths of soul and shining a light. She makes the reiki infused candles y’all love so much. Sunshine magic! She cares so deeply for our purpose here and we would be lost at sea without her!
Then in 2021 we hired Courtney, our resident crystal whisperer and herbal assistant, and our Emporium family was complete! When we interviewed her, Charley (that’s me, hi!) said something like “Hey, I’m not gonna sugarcoat this- I need an assistant because I am so disorganized and I don’t see it getting better anytime soon. I need you to tame my chaos.” She said “I have a Virgo moon. I can help!” Courtney brings so much soul to White Willow. Her unquenchable curiosity leads her to delve deeply into all things magical so that she can be a guide along the many paths of our patrons (hi, that’s you!). She also writes our crystal blog posts, which will likely be the best you’ve ever read, so go check them out.
Over the years, we’ve had other shopkeepers. They each brought something we needed. They taught us a lot. Some of them worked for pennies when we first got started. Some of them worked for trade. Special shoutout to Susan, who packed up the old Emporium by herself when the pandemic first broke out. She is such a gem and we still miss her!
And another special shoutout to Brandon, our very first massage therapist, who has stuck with us through all of these changes and brought so much magic to White Willow. He leads our men’s group and offers transcendent shamanic energy work and ceremonies. He’s been with us since 2017, an ever-present masculine energy to temper the feminine tides that ebb and flow here.
Just like our shopkeepers, we’ve also had a few massage therapists come and go, and we have treasured them all. The ones we have now- Brandon, Chelsea, Lacy, Mary, Bethany, and Elizabeth, have been with us from 3-9 years. We are unbelievably fortunate to work with a group so talented, such beautiful souls.
And so here we are! 11 years later! We are so grateful to you, our beautiful community, for your continued support of our small business. Our greatest purpose is helping you along whatever journey you’re taking. Helping you to feel better. Bringing magic to your lives.
Thank you, from the bottom of our sparkly hearts, and so much love to you!
<3 Charley and Bre