Welcome to Abby Leigh Gifts, a family-owned gift shop located in Berry Farms and named after store-owner Janis Gaudette’s two now-grown daughters.
Dan and Janis Gaudette have always had a love for Christmas. Dan was a retired Nissan executive and Janis had a career in technology before becoming a full-time mom. They started doing Christmas shows as a hobby in 2008, renting a booth in a co-op at Opry Mills. Loving this concept, they decided to open their own co-op in 2009 with 22 merchants in downtown Franklin called The Shoppes on Main. Janis loved their time on Main Street, but when her lease wasn’t renewed in 2018, she “thought she wasn’t
finished just yet with her retail career.”
Their oldest daughter Abby had recently moved to Berry Farms and one day while driving around, they saw a space to lease near the Publix, giving retail another shot and opening Abby Leigh Gifts in November 2019. The store was originally named after their two beta fish, but when the fish died on the same day Janis was filing her corporate papers, she decided this wasn’t a good sign! So she then named the store after her daughters, Abby and Leigh. Abby is a pharmacy tech at the Publix next to the store and
younger daughter Leigh joined her mother at the store full-time after graduating from college in 2020. “I have the best of both worlds with my two daughters. I see Leigh every day at work, and Abby eats lunch at the store on the days she works at the pharmacy.”
“The holidays are always big at Abby Leigh Gifts,” notes Janis. “We like to say the store looks like ‘Christmas threw up’ because we go crazy with decorations. This year we’re excited about our hand-painted egg ornaments which are very delicate but make a wonderful keepsake.”
Their top jewelry line is E Newton gold-filled, tarnish-resistant jewelry. “Customers love stacking the bracelets and mixing the many styles and colors,” says Janis. “Another top seller is Ronaldo Jewelry which is 14K gold and sterling silver.” The store recently expanded into the space next door allowing them to add more furniture, lamps, artwork, and pillows to their inventory.
“Our greatest compliment was from a customer who said some days she comes to Abby Leigh to look around when she's having a bad day. It makes her happy. That's what makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
Instagram: @shopabbyleigh
facebook.com/abbyleighgifts