Some of the gifts available for purchase at River House Gifts & Decor in Woodland, July 2.
A view of River House Gifts & Decor in Woodland from the outside, July 2.
Francina Grant, the owner of River House Gifts & Decor sits in her shop while speaking with The Reflector in Woodland July 2.
Just off the banks of the Lewis River in Woodland lies the “River House Gifts & Decor,” a one-stop shop for home decor, quality souvenirs and a friendly gathering place. Located at 1360 Lewis River Road, River House opened up in the early spring and has been full speed ahead with stocking the store full of hand-made and quality souvenir items for your home and garden.
“There is no place in Woodland you can go and buy a gift item,” owner Francina Grant said. “(At River House) you can come in have a cup of coffee, free wifi and buy a gift for a birthday or anniversary and walk out the door with a reasonably priced unique item you can’t get in a box store.”
The store features retail space on one side and spots for different vendors on the other. Some of the retail at the store includes salt and pepper shakers and plantable postcards (postcards that grow into plants). Vendors on the other side of the store choose their own products to put on display. Karey Dillingham, one of the vendors, features local artwork, decor and more.
“There’s a good relationship between all the vendors,” Dillingham said.
Grant opened up River House in March of this year after driving past the building a few times and making a note of its location on the Lewis River.
The building looked like a “wonderful place for a business,” she said.
Grant’s goal is to make River House a place where people in Woodland can gather and socialize, mentioning her future plans of building a wine bar on the back deck of River House.
Opening during the third weekend of August, plans for River House wine bar include seating along the back deck, fire pits and a selection of local Pacific Northwest wines.
“There is no place (in Woodland) that you can go after work and have a glass of wine,” Grant said. “We just want to be a part of the community, we want it to be a gathering spot.”
Grant plans to make the deck and gathering areas a place to rent out for events like bridal showers, birthday parties and other small parties of people.
