Whether you’re searching for a holiday-themed outfit, ornaments, or a custom-made headpiece, look no further than Social Chair – Old Town Bay St. Louis’ quirkiest gift shop. Social Chair is a perfect fit for the area’s easy-going atmosphere and coastal scenery. With exclusive wares offered unlike anywhere else in the Bay, Social Chair is a must-visit for everyone in the heart of the city looking to do some gift shopping.

     A perfect spot to buy for yourself or someone else, Social Chair has a “little bit of everything,” says owner Yuki Northington, making it an easy place to find a great, unique gift for anybody at an affordable price. Shops like hers, according to Northington, are what “make Bay St. Louis what it is.” A recognizable and well-loved part of the downtown Bay area, the gift shop has been open for over 17 years. Northington says the most consistent thing about Social Chair is a “willingness to grow and change with what is needed and wanted in our community.” She wants people to know it is important that those who enjoy the aura of the Bay need to support the local businesses to maintain it.

“That’s what keeps bringing people back,” she said. “…We have to keep this going.”  

Yuki Northington, Owner, Social Chair

     “That’s what keeps bringing people back,” she said. “…We have to keep this going.”          
     Northington opened Social Chair in May of 2006, following the event of Hurricane Katrina. Because of the lack of options in downtown Bay St. Louis after Katrina, Northington hoped her shop would give people a better place to buy what they needed, excluding food items, rather than at a large corporation, and in the process, support a local business.
     Social Chair provides a worry-free way of obtaining a bespoke gift that is perfect for the occasion and person. Shopping has never been easier, as customers can call the store with a spending limit and event in mind and have Northington, or one of her staff, pick out the gift, wrap it, and have it ready to be picked up within no time.

     “We wrap gifts for free,” Northington said. “They (customers) know they can call if they’re late, we’ll wrap a gift, drop it off, leave it on the ramp…
     “They know they can just come in, get something, and look like they put a lot of thought into it. I save a lot of men at the last minute…the local people; I know their favorite candle. I know what jewelry their wife already has. You don’t get that at a big box store.”
     Customer Laura Lucore, a resident of Bay St. Louis and assistant third-grade teacher at Coast Episcopal School, has been shopping at Social Chair since it first opened its doors. Lucore said she has purchased furniture pieces, lighting fixtures, as well as wedding gifts there. She has even received some interior design services from Northington.

     “Yuki has done great interior design work for me at my current house,” Lucore said. “I get so many compliments on the lighting fixtures she has chosen and the fabulous painted horizontal stripes she chose for my master bedroom among many other amazing design choices.
     “I know I can walk into Social Chair and tell Yuki what I need, and she will find the perfect item. I also love going in when I am feeling a little down and buying myself something sparkly, like a new tiara!”
     Another loyal customer, Maria Salter of Bay St. Louis, said, “There are always great gifts. I am a realtor, so I come here to get closing gifts. Yuki always takes good care of me. She always wraps everything so neat. I just love all the little niche things she has here. Plus, it’s good to shop local.”
     Salter continued, “Yuki has a lot of stuff that is indigenous to Bay St. Louis and Hancock County. I love the unique things like her Frida Kahlo items…She has stuff from local potters that are one of my go-to gifts. Also, her cutting boards are in the shape of the state of Mississippi that show unique spots in Mississippi, and I have a lot of clients who have moved in from out of state so that always goes over really well.”
     Social Chair provides high-quality, hand-crafted goods from community-based vendors as well as a multitude of items for major holidays celebrated along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The store’s products include but are not limited to tiaras/crowns, art prints, hand-made jewelry and pottery, holiday-specific clothing, and silly socks. Though small, the shop offers a wide array of articles, with a clear emphasis on showcasing local suppliers. Helen Marie’s custom-made jewelry, LOV Pottery, and others, are staples at Social Chair.

Customer and vendor Christine Gex of Waveland partners with local resident Nancy Wilcox to provide the Helen Marie jewelry pieces to the shop. “We have been here shopping and doing this with Yuki for seven years,” Gex said. “I love the store overall. We have traveled, and we always say there is no store like this that we have run into. We have been to different places and there is just not a store like the Social Chair anywhere. You can find a gift for a child. You can find adults gifts. You can do a wedding gift, gag gifts, or you can do a little happy. There is something for all seasons and all occasions. She also has local artwork. She is great for the community.”
     Before visiting the gift shop, customers might not know just what Social Chair has to offer, Northington says, with people unaware of the custom headpieces she makes for Frida Fest, the Witch’s Walk, and two krewes in New Orleans. Once realized, it is no surprise to learn that the tiaras and crowns are some of the most popular accessories showcased in the store. The customizable crowns and tiaras draw attention to the gift shop due to the store “filling a void,” according to Northington. She strives to stock up on merchandise that no one else in the area has, with the crowns currently sourced from over 39 different vendors.
     “I try really hard to have exclusives on things,” she said. “I am constantly looking for new sources, new vendors, and I go to markets all over the country.”

     Northington says she likes when customers bring her their outfits so that she can “work off what they are dreaming of” and create a cohesive piece. Orders for headpieces usually take a couple of weeks to fill – depending on the intricacy of the request and how busy the owner is – if they are not chosen from the premade selection already available at Social Chair.
     The cherished gift shop offers festive items to raise your holiday cheer year-round. The eclectic store supplies custom Bay St. Louis ornaments and Oyster Trees around Christmas time that are locally sourced. Northington says the shop’s “busy time starts with Cruisin’ the Coast” and stays active through Christmas and into Mardi Gras, so make sure to visit for a superb example of how the Mississippi Gulf Coast celebrates the holiday season.

     Join the annual Witch’s Walk where every October hundreds to thousands of witches roam the streets of Old Town Bay St. Louis. Contests are held throughout the day to determine who is the best dressed, has the best broom, and the best hat. Several shops participating in the event, along with a few nearby restaurants, offer discounts during the Witch’s Walk, making it the perfect time to get your shopping done before the holidays. As she prepares for the Witch’s Walk, Northington says she fills her shop with season-specific “unique hats and jewelry.” If you are on the lookout for an elaborately designed costume for Halloween using unusual materials, visit Northington over at Social Chair, as she makes “special order, custom hats for several witch events along the coast.”

     Northington says she is a “firm believer in giving back to [the] community,” which is exhibited by her involvement with and donations to organizations such as Rotary, CASA, The Arts in Hancock County, and the Old Town Merchants Association.
     Lucore, whose family has lived in the area since 1999, adds that she and other local customers attribute the shop’s success in meeting the ever-changing needs of the community to Northington’s active participation in local causes.
     “It really allows her to know the pulse of Hancock County,” Lucore said.

     Social Chair also supports the local schools and sports teams through donations as well as by hiring high school students from Bay High and OLA as part-time workers in the shop.
     Pick out the perfect gift for that special somebody at Social Chair. Pop into the gift shop at 201 Main St., Bay St Louis, Miss., between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday. Check the shop’s schedule before visiting on Thursday, as it is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
     For more information about Social Chair, call 228-466-5853. Visit Social Chair on Facebook and Instagram to catch sweet deals and get a sneak peek at any upcoming new items that will be available soon.

On the cover: Yuki Northington, owner of Social Chair gift shop located in the heart of Bay St. Louis, Miss., is proud of her business that is and was a bright light for residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina more than 17 years ago.

Maya Wood

Southern Miss Gulf Scholar! Maya Wood is a native Mississippi resident currently working on obtaining her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Southern Mississippi ‘s Gulf Coast campus. She plans to continue on to a master’s degree with an emphasis in literature or creative writing and is currently a member of the inaugural class of the nationally recognized Gulf Scholars Program, which is a program that focuses on supporting states and communities along the coast. This article is one of several stories for her Gulf Scholars project whose purpose is to highlight local businesses and their contributions to providing “the good life” for Mississippi residents and visitors. Maya’s long-term goal is to do what she loves full time: work as a writer and eventually become an author, as she finds great joy in reading and wants to spread that feeling to others.