By Ross Sullivan, Staff Writer

On April 12, The Christmas Mouse store in Nags Head was engulfed in flames. It burned down the building, leaving only parts of the structure and countless Christmas memories.

“That shop was more like home than a store because we had all been there five or six years together,” store manager Lisa Mitchell said.

After the fire, The Christmas Mouse temporarily moved into the Outer Banks Mall with a small 2,800-square foot store in that complex.

“We all like it: It is a lot easier to take care of since it’s only 2,800-square feet instead of 8,000,” Mitchell said.

Co-worker Beth Saunders is looking on the bright side and attempting to enjoy some of the benefits of having a smaller store.

“The biggest perk is there are no stairs,” Saunders said with a laugh.

The new store is seeing most of the same customers and still receiving good business, especially during the holiday season.

“I would say about the same (number of) customers,” Mitchell explained. “We have some new ones because of the new location and some old ones that haven’t found us yet.”

Following the demolition of the old store, plans were made to build a new full-size Christmas Mouse store in the same location as the old one that burned down. Local officials have seen preliminary site plans for the new store, which could be approved in January.

“This shop is really just a temporary stop along the way until we get back to our old place, ” Mitchell said.

Sophomore Ross Sullivan can be reached at 22sullivanro96@daretolearn.org.