This October, The Woods Gifts proudly celebrates 40 years of bringing unique, handcrafted and heartfelt gifts to our community. What started as a small shop along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis has grown into a beloved destination for one-of-a-kind treasures. We’ve learned a lot the past four decades, and we couldn’t have made it this far without the support of our amazing customers, dedicated team and a little help from some creative gifts.
Our Humble Beginnings
In 1985, we opened our very first store at St. Anthony Main in Minneapolis. Originally named Davlins, the store was named after Dave and his wife, Linda, who shared a passion for quality craftsmanship. The name was a combination of their first names, a personal tribute to the vision they shared for the store. It was an exciting time, as the mall required every store to be brand-new to Minnesota—so we were truly stepping into uncharted territory!
The first merchandise we offered reflected our love for fine craftsmanship—handmade wooden gifts like cribbage boards, jewelry boxes, kaleidoscopes and even wooden neckties! People loved the quirky, creative items we carried. Among our favorites were handcrafted wooden cars by an artist named Jerry Kron, which quickly became a signature of our store.
In the early days, we worked side by side in our tiny office, sharing ideas and dreams for what the store could become. We were excited to offer unique products that weren’t found anywhere else in the state.
Growing Beyond One Store
As our business began to flourish, it wasn’t long before we were ready to expand. In 1988, we opened a second location at Ridgedale Center in Minnetonka. This was just the beginning, as we followed with new stores at Rosedale Center in Roseville, Burnsville Center in Burnsville, and Southdale Center in Edina (the first fully enclosed shopping mall in the US!). For a while, we had five locations open—each brimming with special gifts that reflected our vision for quality and craftsmanship.
The journey from one store to multiple locations was a whirlwind of excitement, challenges and triumphs. It was a time of rapid growth, and we were thrilled to see so many people embrace our products.
However, as the retail world continued to shift, we made the decision to streamline. After some time, we closed most of our stores, focusing on two core locations—Maple Grove and Woodbury.
The Woodbury store gave us a chance to nearly double the selection available at our east Twin Cities location to match the level of inventory available at our Maple Grove store. Plus, we were able to even better engage with the community through our events! We started hosting events in our first year in Maple Grove with a visit from the Easter Bunny, and continued the next Christmas with a visit from Santa Claus and his live reindeer. We’ve held these free events and others ever since and are thrilled to now see parents who saw our Santa Claus as a child now bringing their children to see him, too.
The Maple Grove Store: A Landmark
Meanwhile, the Maple Grove store, which opened in 1997 (pictures from this store and grand opening), became a true community staple. For our grand opening weekend, we teamed up with the Minnesota Zoo to bring animals into the store, and local celebrity Chef John wowed customers with wild game appetizers. The store even sold furniture at the time, offering a full range of beautiful pieces to complement our handcrafted gifts and an improved selection including candles, greeting cards and seasonal décor. Over the years, we’ve seen so many memories made in that store, from picking out a special gift to simply browsing our collection of unique items.
Throughout the years, our Maple Grove store has remained a favorite for many of our customers, becoming a cherished spot for finding gifts that feel both personal and special. It has truly become a hub for our community, where everyone knows they can come to find something unique, whether it’s for a birthday, holiday or just because.
More Than a Gift Store—A Tradition
For 40 years, The Woods Gifts has been more than just a place to shop. We’ve been part of holiday traditions, milestone celebrations and everyday moments made special. Whether you’ve picked out a cozy candle, a unique home décor piece or a heartfelt gift for a loved one, we’ve loved being part of your story. We’ve become a part of the community, offering free events and even giving back for community projects – including planting trees on Arbor Day, participating in Walk for the Cure Breast Cancer Research, and picking up trash along local roads in Maple Grove. We couldn’t be happier to be celebrating four decades as part of such a wonderful community.
As we celebrate this incredible milestone, we want to say thank you—to our loyal customers, our hardworking team and everyone who has supported us throughout the years. We couldn’t have done it without you. Here’s to the next 40 years of bringing warmth, charm and a little bit of magic into your homes!
Visit us in-store or online and celebrate with us—we look forward to making more memories together!
