On Nov. 3, 2005, the Mitchell County Development Foundation opened the doors to the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree store in downtown Spruce Pine. The non-profit organization and retail space began with 15 artists creating handcrafted products based or derived from the Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree book. In September 2011, the Foundation expanded the project to enable the project to add local authors, musicians and farmers to the project and re-branded the project as The Market on Oak to better represent the expanded offerings in the store.

Today the project serves over 125 artists, farmers, musicians and authors in both its retail store in downtown Spruce Pine as well as its online store themarketonoak.com.  “This project has been such a gift for our community and the creative people of Western North Carolina,” said Patti Jensen, project coordinator. “As we celebrate our tenth year, it is amazing to look back and see how far this project has come. We have been in the White House and featured in the national media including USA Today and Southern Living as well as HGTV and Fox&Friends. Our local, regional and state media have also been so kind in their coverage of this project with the most recent article featuring the store in WNC Magazine,” said Jensen.

The Market on Oak project continues to grow and expand to serve more artists, farmers, musicians and authors. Book signings are scheduled throughout the year as well as tastings and demonstrations. The project continues with its original vision to assist the citizens of the 23 western counties of North Carolina by providing an opportunity showcase their work, create exposure for their talent and creativity and to provide opportunities for workshops and continuing education.  The project has also sponsored scholarships for local high school students since the beginning of the project.

During the tenth anniversary holiday season, The Market on Oak has been selected to provide ornaments for the Christmas trees in the NC Governor’s Western Residence. “We were honored to receive the request to provide the ornaments for the Governor’s trees at his Western Residence.  Governor McCrory and the First Lady wanted Western North Carolina artisans to be highlighted in the residence, and we are excited that the trees and décor will feature products and artists from The Market on Oak this year,” said Jensen.

The Market on Oak invites all of their customers and those who have not had a chance to visit yet to stop in during the Christmas season to fill their gift giving needs this year. “We have many new products and of course the treasured products that we have continued to carry during our first ten years,” said Jensen. “Giving a gift that is both handmade and local is something special for the giver and the recipient.” The Market on Oak also has a website where those who do not live close by can place their order and the staff will ship for them. Customers can also call the store to place an order.

The Market on Oak is located at 262 Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine, NC 28777.  For more information, call The Market on Oak at 828-765-0571.

About The Market on Oak

The Market on Oak is a vibrant lifestyle destination where North Carolina craft people, farmers, musicians and authors from Western North Carolina sell and share their work. The shop speaks to the unique cultural values and way of life in the western North Carolina Mountains.

Our non-profit mission is to provide the gifted, vibrant people of our region—a way to supplement their income doing what they love and what they know best. We want to be a place where you can come in the store, shop, smile and laugh and learn about our culture. Then we want you to take a piece of “our way of life” home with you.

– Submitted by Patti Jensen