OFF THE RECORD

Law Partners Rock Around the Christmas
Tree – All Year

By Tara Shockley

Whether client or personal friend, if you have not visited the law firm Bayless & Stokes in a while, you will be in for a big surprise. In October 2005, Bobbie Bayless and Dalia Stokes transformed the ground floor of their law office building at 2931 Ferndale into the embodiment of their dreams – a year-round Christmas store.
The long-time law partners decided they didn’t need the large conference room or the library that occupied most of the first floor. With this “extra space,” they combined Dalia’s love of decorating for Christmas with Bobbie’s hobby as a rock hound and created a unique shop called “Christmas Rocks.” Currently, “Christmas Rocks” is the only store in Houston open year-round that is devoted to all things Christmas, which includes everything from ornaments and nativity sets, to rugs and garden decorations. The shop also displays unique gift items, some of which reflect Bobbie’s love of rock hunting. In addition, “Christmas Rocks” offers jewelry, handmade tiles, music boxes, pet gifts and even furniture, including some lines by Texas artists.
Even with such a variety of inventory, there is no mistake that this Upper Kirby shop resonates Christmas. Each room unfolds as a wonderland of Santas, snowmen, angels, nutcrackers, reindeer and candy canes. Bobbie recounted that the store started out small, but it soon grew from room to room, and even into the kitchen, which spotlights Christmas dishes, towels and serving pieces. The merchandise spills out to the courtyard, which features outdoor and garden art for the holidays. The garage now houses their inventory, as well as shipping and receiving.
As Christmas and the holidays fill the downstairs, Bobbie and Dalia still maintain their law office upstairs, where they both handle full caseloads. Bobbie, licensed in 1980, is a business litigator, while Dalia, licensed in 1981, practices probate and estate planning. They admit, though, that some inventory finds its way upstairs for storage. “We just make it work,” Bobbie says.
In the beginning, Bobbie and Dalia experimented by stocking the store with things they loved and found in their travels to markets and craft fairs; however, the store soon grew to be “way more than an experiment.” The responses from customers amaze Bobbie and Dalia, especially with advertising based on mostly word of mouth.
“We wanted to have a lot of variety, but we wanted things that were hard to find, such as imported German ornaments by Wilhelm-Schweizer that have been made for 200 years,” says Bobbie. In fact, the shop stands as the only Houston representative for some of the unique lines it carries.
The distinct nature of the merchandise provides the key to success for “Christmas Rocks.” You can find nativity scenes from Mexico and Russia; simple, yet beautifully stylized ornaments from Scandinavia; and table decorations, stockings and lights from all over the world. The store carries toys, books and special holiday-themed gifts for children of all ages. Dalia’s daughter, Lelia Thell, who lives in Minnesota, contributes by making handmade tree skirts, stockings, wall hangings and cards. As the primary stylist for the store, Dalia constantly changes displays and moves products around to display them at their best.
The store is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. In October, the store will begin opening on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5
p.m., or possibly until 6 p.m. if the demand is there. Typically, “Christmas Rocks” hosts a “Christmas in July” sale where the store remains open on weekends in July. Shawn Teague, the legal secretary for Bayless & Stokes, along with her teenage daughter, also help mind the store.
“It is always surprising, what’s popular and what’s not,” says Dalia. Admits Bobbie, “We used to worry that people who know us wouldn’t want to come in because they would feel obligated to buy something, and they were probably thinking, ‘What if I don’t like anything?’” Apparently, that concern has not proved to be a deterrent to the success of “Christmas Rocks.”

Tara Shockley is the communications director for the Houston Bar Association.

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