by Ezabelle Janssen, Senior Staff Writer
LONG BEACH (GG) — Long Beach is putting down new roots and stitching together something special. Owners Pam and Robert Dorr celebrated the ribbon-cutting of GardNcraft and StitchKraft on Thursday, September 24th, welcoming community members and city officials to their shop at 528 Klondyke Road, Suite G.
The store brings together the couple’s individual passions under one roof, offering everything from embroidered pot holders, dish towels, aprons, and baby clothes to houseplants, herbs, perennials, and fruit trees.
For Pam, seeing the community turn out to celebrate made the occasion even more memorable. “I thought it was great,” she said. “With all the officials from Long Beach, I didn’t expect all of that.”
Ward 3 Alderman Joey Giuffria attended the ceremony and shared words of encouragement and appreciation on behalf of Mayor Tim Pierce. Robert said that warm welcome reflected the support they have consistently received from the community. “Great people here,” he beamed. Although the ribbon-cutting marked the shop’s official celebration, the Dorrs have been growing the business for months. “It took us four months to get to the point where we felt confident making a big deal of it,” she explained.
The idea took root after Pam retired and began selling her embroidery at the Long Beach Farmers Market. She originally planned to attend only six times a year, but after her second appearance, organizers invited her to return every week.
Her embroidered goods were a natural fit for the market’s farm-to-table atmosphere. Before long, Robert began coming along to help, although Pam jokingly remembers his assistance a little differently. “He kept touching my stuff, okay?” she said with a laugh.
Robert soon found his own corner of the market. Gardening had always been a hobby, and the couple noticed there was no regular plant vendor. “The truth is, I was irritating, trying to be helpful,” he giggled. “She made me find something else.”
What began as a humorous division of duties grew into a shared business. But, relying on a Saturday market presented challenges. Some shoppers could not make it that early, while rainy or unpleasant weather often kept both vendors and customers home.
Robert wanted to take the next step by opening a permanent location. After what Pam described as “a whole lot of enticing,” she agreed. “And here we are,” she said. The storefront now gives customers a place to explore the couple’s work throughout the week and across the seasons. Robert offers houseplants year-round, along with a changing selection of outdoor plants. “I’ve got perennials, evergreens, citrus trees, small fruits and things that I push in spring and fall,” he said. “We always have the indoor display with the houseplants.” By combining greenery with handcrafted goods, GardNcraft and StitchKraft offer a little something for plant lovers, home cooks, one-of-a-kind gift hunters, and anyone who appreciates locally made items.
What began with embroidery at a Saturday farmers market has blossomed into a brick-and-mortar business, giving the Dorrs more room to grow their passions and continue stitching themselves into the Long Beach community.
(Photos by Ezabelle Janssen/The Gazebo Gazette)
