A new business that recently opened in the downtown area offers an all-around gift-shopping experience, complete with personalized monogramming and embroidering.

The Blue Crab Monogramming and Gifts, one of the newest additions to the downtown storefront community, recently opened under the ownership of Meredith Dixon. Dixon’s grandfather, Jimmy Fortescue, owns Washington Jewelers, and now, Dixon has joined the family tradition of being part of a tight-knit downtown community, she said.

“I’ve grown up downtown,” Dixon said. “I’ve worked down here since I was 10 [years old] so I’ve always had an affection for downtown. It’s nice to be a part of it on my own, and everybody, especially on this side, has been very welcoming. It’s a nice little community we have down here.”

A 2004 East Carolina University graduate and Marketing major, Dixon joined the downtown community and moved into her father’s building, located at 223 West Main St., after the April 25 tornadoes hit her house, she said. Prior to that, she had been monogramming from home.

“I started monogramming and stuff like that on the side about a year and a half ago just to have some income but be able to stay home, and that was going great,” Dixon said. “Then the tornado hit our house — the one back in April — so I was kind of forced to move out of the house. This is my dad’s building, and he said I could just come here and operate out of here until I could get back home. I decided that I like being out of the house more than I thought I did. One thing led to another, and the store opened.”

And Dixon’s passion for not only being part of the downtown community, but also for what she does is illustrated in her work. With a high demand, locally, for monogrammed merchandise, Dixon has used her Marketing degree, as well as her native roots and networking to open a business that specializes in one of the most coveted arts among the Washington population, especially the female demographic.

“I think, being a native of Washington, I know a lot of people around town,” Dixon said. “I just enjoy meeting new people and developing new relationships with people so when somebody comes in here and they look around and say, ‘Oh, I like that,’ I keep mental notes of this stuff and if their husband or someone was to come in and say, ‘Hey, has Mary said she wants anything,’ I know what she wants, I can point you in the right direction and that kind of stuff. That’s one thing I excel at.”

And Dixon uses that skillset, along with a timely return on orders, to generate repeat business. Each order takes about five to seven business days, and for those last-minute shoppers or those who are unsure of what to purchase for their special someone, family or friend, the Blue Crab offers inexpensive, personalized options, Dixon said.

“I’m quick — it’s not a two- or three-week wait to get stuff — It’s a quick, very personalized gift that you can take something that’s not expensive and make it very personalized,” Dixon said. “I try to get good, recognizable brands, and I’ll take outside work, too, so if someone wants to bring me something to monogram or embroider, I can do any kind of special order.”

Among some of Dixon’s hottest sells include Charles River Apparel raincoats, clutch bags and Ella B Neighborhood candles — custom-made soy candles that have been personalized by Dixon to reflect landmarks throughout Beaufort County, she said.

“They’re all named after landmarks in Beaufort County,” Dixon said. “It’s a company that does it, but I pick the scents and I picked the names. One of them is Washington Park, one is Lil’ Washington, River Road, Smallwood, Beaufort County Christmas and Carolina Autumn — they’ve been real big sellers. It’s a popular thing.”

In addition to the best-selling items, however, Dixon has an array of reasonably priced merchandise — shirts, vests, boots, kids’ items and more — that can be personalized to anyone’s desire, she said.

“I can pretty much monogram anything,” Dixon said. “There isn’t much I can’t do.”

The Blue Crab Monogramming and Gifts is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To place an order or for more information, contact the Blue Crab at 252-940-0150 or visit facebook.com/thebluecrabmonogramsandgifts.