Alexandria Living Magazine
A window display remains in place at The Christmas Attic, which closed after more than 49 years in business.
One of Alexandria's most beloved businesses, The Christmas Attic at 125 S. Union St., has closed its doors after nearly 50 years in business near the Alexandria waterfront.
The year-round winter wonderland offered a special shopping experience, a stop for the young and young-at-heart, punctuated with an antique model train that looped on a track above shoppers browsing through ornaments and nutcrackers.
Alexandria Living Magazine
The Christmas Attic
Thursday morning, a member of the family that owned the store confirmed to Alexandria Living Magazine that the store is closing. Local business owners, managers and employees along South Union Street said Wednesday evening they were sad to see the store empty. There was no 'store' closing sale.
A few hours after confirming the closure, the store posted this statement on Facebook:
"Hi everyone. As you may have heard or seen, The Christmas Attic has closed its doors.
My mother Nita opened around 1970 in the corner of the second floor, and I know she could have never imagined it would carry so much happiness for so many people. She would have loved that everyone has continued their tradition to bring their kids and grandkids year after year.
Without all of our loyal, amazing customers, we wouldn’t have made it through the decades (almost 50 years!) I am so proud that the business stayed completely in our family, and I know she would be too.
Enjoy a few old pictures of some of the wonderful people who made The Christmas Attic happen. We have truly loved every moment of it.
With love,
Fay and Chris"
The Facebook post (with throw-back photos you can see here) was met with an outpouring of love and memories from residents.
For decades, the store offered Christmas ornaments and more for trimming your tree with plenty of locally-flavored holiday ornaments to choose from.
The store was started by Nita Hobbs-Whitesel. She began the Christmas-themed store after her husband Thomas K. Whitesel Jr. started a frame shop. After her death in 2006, their daughters operated the store. Other relatives have also been a part of the business.
The family-owned boutique has been a part of Alexandria’s holiday tradition for years, opening in 1971. Inside the historic shop, in a building that dates to the 1800s, you could step into a wonderland of the holidays spread out over two floors.
The Christmas Attic specialized in unique items including European hand-blown glass, locally designed souvenirs, snow-covered village houses and German collectibles as well as angels, Santas, snowmen and ornaments galore. Later, the store added everyday gifts, books and accessories in The Urban Attic section of the store.
