Lisa Richardson is a hometown girl at heart.
That’s why when the 1983 Oxford High School graduate decided to open her new shop, The Black Crow, she chose a quaint village home at 115 S. Washington St.
‘This house was sitting here all by itself ? empty,? Richardson said. ‘I thought, ‘Wow, what a cute little house to open a business.??
The Black Crow, which opened May 3, features ‘a little bit of everything,? as Richardson said, from home decor to gift items to decorative garden accessories.
‘I wanted my shop to be very eclectic because that’s how I am,? she said.
Shoppers will find quite the mixture of candles, jewelry, tote bags, frames, pet items (from bowls and cookie jars to dog jackets and leashes), wind chimes, pictures, signs with funny or inspirational messages, reed diffusers, the list goes on and on.
‘Whatever the taste may be they’ll find something,? said Richardson, noting she tries to keep her merchandise ‘fun and casual,? yet ‘price-friendly? for shoppers on a budget.
‘I’ve gotten good responses so far from everybody,? she said. ‘It’s been busy.?
Richardson’s making an extra effort to feature handmade items created by local people, from stuffed rabbits made of vintage chenille bedspreads to cute little dog jackets.
‘Everybody’s got a little talent in them,? she said.
Richardson’s store is for people who love to shop, like herself, but want to buy things that enhance their domestic environment.
‘The older I get (the more I realize) I don’t need the shoes and the bags,? she explained. ‘I really like things for my home because home is really where your heart is. It’s where you rest, where you get your piece of mind. You should make it special.?
Richardson said she wanted all the items in her shop to reflect people’s personalities and the fact that ‘life is a journey? full of variety and memories.
So, where did Richardson come up with a unique name like The Black Crow?
‘Everybody asks me that,? she said.
On the day she was filling out the application for her business license and trying to come up with a name for the shop, Richardson spotted ‘like 50 crows on my garage.?
‘I looked at that as a sign,? she said.
Richardson moved back to Oxford about three years ago after living in Miami for a while. ‘I came back because I got tired of Florida. I missed the whole hometown, little town thing,? she explained. ‘It’s what I needed in my life. As you get older, you want simplicity.?
The Black Crow is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.
For more information call (248) 236-9820.