Maya McFadden file photo
Thursday's ribbon cutting.
New Haveners can now find love — and gift baskets — in Kimberly Square, at the newly opened Angela’s Unique Creations.
In advance of Valentine’s Day weekend, city officials visited the new shop Thursday and encouraged New Haveners to “Shop & Love Local.”
The ribbon-cutting celebration for took place at 9 Kimberly Ave.
Residents were encouraged to shop for their holiday gift baskets, flower bouquets, and gifts at New Haven’s many small businesses.
Owner Angela Keeton opened the business with her family a year ago, in December 2020. Three months after Keeton opened the shop, her Arthur Street home, which she shared with Hill leader Abraham “Uncle Abe,” Gallishaw, burned down in a fire.
Angela's gift baskets at 9 Kimberly Ave.
Mayor Justin Elicker, Alder Kampton Singh, and city Business Development Director Carlos Eyzaguirre celebrated the resiliency of the city’s small business community at Thursday’s event.
“It’s much more likely that every dollar you spend on a locally owned business is going to stay in our community,” Elicker said.
Over the past two years over, 60 businesses have opened in New Haven despite the pandemic, Elicker said.
Business has been slow. Keeeton looks forward to it picking up this summer.
Keeton makes gift baskets for holidays, skin care, children, birthdays, retirements, and get- well-soon occasions.
Patricia Cunningham, Angel Keeton, Corneil Hill-Williams, Angela Keeton, Abraham Gallishaw, Aaron Keeton.
Keeton has been making homemade gift baskets for her kids for over 35 years. She started with making Easter baskets, then began creating them for all occasions for her four kids, goddaughter, and dozen nieces and nephews.
Before opening the shop, Keeton was selling her baskets on Facebook throughout the community.
She gets help in the shop from friends and family, Corneil Hill-Williams, Patricia Cunningham.
Her oldest daughter, Angel Keeton, and son Aaron Keeton, described their mom Thursday as an inspiration and “motivation to go hard.”
“She’s motivated me more to get into my crafts,” Angel said. “I know I can do it now.”
Angel Keeton's t-shirt prints sold at gift shop.
Angel does T‑shirt printing, Late Night Snack catering, and is working on releasing a food seasoning line in the near future.
Aaron, who is a contractor, helped his mom with putting the shop together with shelves. He recalled getting storemade baskets from his mom while young and watching her shift to making them more unique and handmade for him and his three siblings.
“Me and my four kids still get baskets,” Aaron said.
