Succulents and style meet at Fab Finds
Fab Finds & Succulent Souls: How friendship, faith and a shared love of beautiful things brought a new shop to downtown Kinston
What started as a porch conversation between two friends has blossomed into a new Kinston destination for unique home décor, handmade succulent arrangements, and one-of-a-kind treasures.
Alison Merritt and Robin Stewart didn’t set out to open a store together. Merritt, recently retired, was using the back of her son-in-law’s downtown building for furniture projects when she toyed with the idea of selling plants. Stewart, who moved to Kinston from California three and a half years ago, had been quietly tending her own succulent creations after a long career and a move across the country.
The two reconnected by chance when Merritt bought decorative owl figurines from Stewart through Facebook Marketplace. They had known each other years earlier, when Merritt cut Stewart’s hair, but had since lost touch.
Stewart recalls that just the night before, she had prayed for something to fill a creative void in her life. The next day, Merritt was on her porch asking if she wanted to sell plants in a shop.
“She answered my prayer,” Stewart said. “I’ve been doing plants since I was a little girl, but I’d lost that creative spark. This brought it back.”
The shop — which they decided to call Fab Finds — grew from the plant idea into a space filled with handpicked décor, affordable “smalls” for gift-giving, and statement pieces for the home. Stewart’s Succulent Souls arrangements are a focal point, often created in repurposed vessels customers bring in for sentimental or aesthetic reasons.
Merritt says the goal is not to be “just another consignment or thrift store.” The pair carefully curates everything so the store flows like a home rather than a collection of separate booths. Prices range from bargain deals to higher-end gift items, with the hope that anyone stopping in can find something special.
They’re also planning classes on succulent care and arrangement, and Stewart offers in-home planting services for customers who want to refresh their own pots.
The two are keeping shop hours flexible — Mondays and Wednesdays from about 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with evenings and occasional events sprinkled in. A grand opening with local vendors is planned for Aug. 14th, weather permitting, with live guitar music from Merritt’s husband.
For both women, the store is as much about community as it is about sales. Merritt, a lifelong Kinston resident, and Stewart, a newcomer who chose the city for a house she fell in love with, share a deep appreciation for the town’s resilience and small business spirit.
“We want people to know this is a place to find something unique, especially when you need a gift,” Merritt said. “If you’ve got a birthday, a luncheon, something special — we want to be that spot you can count on.”
Fab Finds and Succulent Souls is located behind Dalia and Birch at 211 Blount St. in Kinston.
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