SILVERHILL, Alabama — Looking for that unique gift this Christmas season? Or maybe you’re looking to add a little Christmas cheer to your own home? A poinsettia or a tree, perhaps?

Or maybe an antique or a one-of-a-kind item by a local artist is more your style?

Whatever it is, there’s a good possibility that the new Silverhill Market has what you’re looking for this holiday season and beyond.

Brothers Phil and his wife Starr, Steve and his wife Lori Shackelford purchased the property, an acre and a half residence, on Highway 104 in Silverhill and, following extensive renovations, opened the business in September.

“We always wanted to open a retail nursery locally,” said Starr Shackelford, “and when this property came up for sale, we thought it would be a great idea to utilize the residential space as  to offer unique gift items.”

All four are local natives and graduates of Robertsdale High School. Steve and Lori Shackelford live in Silverhill, while Phil and Starr Shackelford live in Daphne.

Phil Shackelford is a graduate of Auburn University and spent 18 years in the wholesale nursery business, the past 12 with Steve as owners of Field In Bloom wholesale nursery in Silverhill.

The pair still maintain the wholesale business and about 90 percent of the plants offered at Silverhill Market are grown at the nursery.

“We have been growing poinsettias for years and it’s one of our more popular items (at Silverhill Market),” Starr Shackelford said.

The Shackelfords offer a variety of seasonal plants and offer a wide range of Christmas trees, which were shipped in from North Carolina for the season.

Among the other popular items found outside at the Silverhill Market are the metal lawn ornaments and an area filled with bamboo, which was part of the original property, Starr Shackelford said.

Also outside is a courtyard area, which, when the weather warms up in the spring, will be utilized as a tea service area, Starr Shackelford said. Right now, the shop offers coffee and seasonal hot apple cider.

“We want this to be a warm, inviting place,” Shackelford said. “We want this to have a down-home feeling, a place where people will come back and bring a friend, or at least send someone else who is looking for a unique place to shop. So far, the response has been very exciting.”

The Shackelfords also plan to expand its greenhouse area in the spring, offering a full-service garden center with plants, potting soil and a do-it-yourself potting area behind the shop.

Inside the gift shop, you will find literally wall to wall filled with unique gift items, many of which were made by local artists.

Another unique area is what Shackelford calls “The Garage” which offers a mix of artistic items and refurbished antiques.

In addition to the four owners, Starr Shackelford said, the business has four employees.

“We all have full-time jobs,” said Starr, who is a Realtor by trade, but has devoted all of her time to starting the business since its opening. “My schedule is more flexible than the others, so I have pretty much been here full time, but we have all devoted a lot of time to making this work. It takes a lot of effort to make it all look effortless”

The response has been somewhat overwhelming, she said.

“We can’t say enough about the support we’ve received by the people here and from the town’s leaders,” Shackelford said. “We’ve been very humbled by the response.”

The business has been open at least six days a week since September and has expanded to seven days a week for through the Christmas season.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.mon Sunday.

For more information you call call the business at 251-945-6500. Updates are also available on the Silverhill Market’s fan page on Facebook.