Vinton Business of the Week – Rustic Creations

By Debbie Adams

Dawn Sullivan has re-opened her Rustic Creations gift shop at 116 South Poplar Street in Suite 1A. She describes her business as “a little bit of country in the city.”

She sells all new rustic and primitive home décor, including wreaths and garlands, Amish furniture (pie safes, hutches, and tables), curtains, valances, tobacco frame paintings, tins, florals, door mats, barn stars, rustic signs, garden flags, and so much more. Crossroads Candles are a customer favorite. Currently the shop is filled with Thanksgiving and Christmas “knick-knacks.”

She also creates custom, handmade, personalized ornaments for various occasions, and wreaths. Three of her most popular wreaths feature firemen, policemen, and military personnel.

Sullivan opened Rustic Creations in Garden City in 2017 and then moved to downtown Vinton in 2019. She was driving through Vinton and happened to notice Olde Town Jewelers on Lee Avenue was closing and available to lease. Decision made. She and her family did extensive work renovating the Lee Avenue shop before opening.

Her move in October to Poplar Street was the result of the catastrophic fire in downtown Vinton on July 2 which displaced her shop. Although her inventory did not suffer smoke or water damage, the structure of the building may be compromised.

Sullivan wanted to stay in the downtown Vinton area; employee Heather Looney noticed the “for rent” sign at the Poplar Street suite, just up the street from their previous location. Some painting was all that was needed; they moved in and reopened for business on October 8, Vinton Fall Festival Day in downtown Vinton.

She says the new shop is just a little smaller than the one on Lee Avenue and has the distinct advantage of a parking lot right outside the door.

Rustic Creations is currently open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Sullivan is a graduate of Lord Botetourt High School. She studied nursing at ECPI, and did hair for a time, but decided to open a business which featured her first love—crafts. She says she has loved crafting her entire life.

You can keep up with new merchandise and hours of operation at Rustic Creations on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Rusticcreationzs. You can also call 540-566-3824 for more information.

Rustic Creations reminds you that Christmas is only six weeks away!