I love talking with Bill; it had been a couple months since I saw him or Eunice in person. I had checked on them during the pandemic, and knew they were doing OK. I figured it was about the new Christmas ornament. I was shocked to find out it wasn't. But any chance to walk around Hixson's when it is not crowded is a good thing, and a rainy Monday was perfect. Bill turned 91 this year.
As I walked in I instantly noticed a major change! There was room to walk around! Anyone that has been to Hixson's knows it is wall-to-wall with narrow aisles and tons and tons of great gifts and holiday items going back over a century. "Bill, what's happening?"
As we walked around the front and moved to the back he smiled as he talked about the break, COVID, and how it has given him an opportunity to reinvent Hixson's. As I walked through the front of the store and back to his desk, I was amazed at how much more roomy it felt. It is still ceiling-to-floor with amazing items for those who love gifts, history, holidays, and yes Christmas.
To get space he has been running a 10% off sale, 20% off for members of the Hixson’s Club, for the past month when they are there. That sale ended yesterday but today starts a sale on a wall of wreaths and other Christmas Decorations with 50% off until Thanksgiving.
50% off anything on this wall until Thanksgiving.
We sat down and talked about what he had been up to. Each year he likes to go over to Japan where he works with a couple orphanages and local artists. Of course this year he was not allowed to go. We spoke of the past and what is going on. While he has to be careful, he lives for talking to people and Christmas. The effort he has put into making the place safe for all shows.
Each year Bill himself designs 1-10 new ornaments. This year it was 5 new ones, including a couple that he thought people in Northern Ohio would like and enjoy. More often than not they reflect current events or past historical events or both, like the West Side Market ornament that came out when they were thinking of closing it. Today the Market and the ornament have become favorites again.
After nearly an hour, I was busting at the seams. I feared Christmas jumping Halloween-- now I was desperate for an answer. "Bill, anything new for Christmas?" With a wry smile he got up and walked me into the ornament room: a long narrow room with thousands of ornaments in it. In the past there were racks running down the middle, but they have been removed to give shoppers more space. In my entire life I have only seen one other room that even remotely reminds me of Bill Hixson's Ornament Room, that being Elvis Presley's Gold Record/Award Room. Both are impressive in size and content, but Bill's room is dedicated to all of us and the things we celebrate. As we walk down the room I look at the ornaments, the subject matter, and the quality. I mention these old bird ornaments we had with elaborate tails. He becomes very business-like, and says, "Oh yes we have them over here," and there they were! Finally we get to the far end of the room, and he reaches up for an ornament, places it gently in his hand and says, "This is new-- who didn't have one of these as a kid?"
It's a little red wagon, I smile. Then think, wait, this isn't one of his new designs!
"No, Bill, I meant what do you have new this year?" We walk back about halfway down the room and he stops again. Reaches for two ornaments and holds them out. Now we are talking, finally the big unveiling.
Well, how about that, new ornaments. Now I am bursting at the seams. The one thing I feared is the only thing that will quench this thirst.
"No Bill, come on, what do you have NEW, from you, your new stuff?
"Well, I do have a limited number of these for 2020."
While it encapsulates Christmas 2020, now I know he is playing with me.
He smiles and points over to the Mr. Jing-A-Ling section. Yep, that's right, a whole section just for Mr. Jing-A-Ling, and finally says, "There is one over there."
The Christmas ornaments are not included in the store-wide sales. But Bill will be there most days until Christmas to sign ornaments and tell the stories of Christmas past. Speaking of past Christmases, this is only the second year in more than a decade where Bill will not be going to the White House to decorate one or more trees. This year he is sending up the decorations with instructions describing what is should look like when done. In keeping with that tone, Bill has a White House/Washington DC ornament for those who haven’t had enough politics this year.
If you get a chance, stop by and see Mr. Christmas, say hello, get your photo taken with a legend, and take advantage of the sales and slow period up until Thanksgiving. Like voting, it is far easier to enjoy Hixson’s when it is not prime holiday shopping. Bill has assured me that they will be open, safely, with masks mandatory and social distancing from today all through Christmas.
Take a break, enjoy some historical perspective and a taste of normalcy in this crazy 2020 year.
Peace/Love, Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
Hixson's
14125 Detroit Ave.
Hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday: CLOSED
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