By ROD LEE

After four years as an anchor tenant in the Baker Building at 68 Church in downtown Whitinsville, Heather Glode of LuLu’s Jewelry & Gifts has a new address, and she could not be happier.

LuLu’s took up residence in a storefront in the strip mall on the north side of the Whitinsville Plaza a few weeks ago. There, her shop joins such established operations as King Jade and Postal Center USA, with the Reunion Tap & Table restaurant about to join the mix around Valentine’s Day.

Reunion Tap & Table will be an extension of a popular family-run restaurant in Grafton (see The Feisty Fork column in this issue of the Blackstone Valley Xpress for more about Reunion).

The smile on Ms. Glode’s face the morning of February 1st had as much to do with the prospects of success at the location on Providence Road as it did with the sunshine showering the windows of her store.

“Visibility and parking,” she said, of her main motivations for moving from what has long been considered the heart of the Whitinsville business district.

“It’s a pretty happening little strip mall,” she said. “The space is smaller than what I had but I was able to cram everything in.”

Ms. Glode had actually looked at the main part of the Whitinsville Plaza as a future home for LuLu’s, “pre-pandemic.”

She will be missed on Church Street, not only as one of the quirkiest retailers around, but also as a strong promoter and supporter of Shop Small 01588.

The good news is that she remains in the same zip code, and with the same dedication to offering unusual giftware and jewelry, and for standing with community—as evidenced, for instance, by a recent donation to the Northbridge Middle School’s International Club event.

A quirky approach coupled with a sense of humor have been key ingredients for LuLu’s from the outset.

Current hours are Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Her inventory including crystal gems and jewelry is better than ever.

“I’m all grown up,” she says.

Visit lulusgiftsco.com for more information.

Contact Rod Lee at [email protected] or 774-232-2999.