Sweet Cee’s joins new shops downtown

South Boston Mayor Ed Owens is flanked by Candace and Nelson Baskerville (foreground) as he cut the ribbon Friday to welcome Sweet Cee’s to downtown South Boston. Joining the celebration were friends and family of owners Candace and Nelson Baskerville, representatives of the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Businesses and property owners, Town of South Boston, Halifax County IDA, Destination Downtown Board Members, and community members. Sweet Cee’s is the third SoBo Start-Up! business to open downtown and they offer a wide variety of customized apparel, decals and gifts. Sweet Cee’s also has local artisans and vendors selling their handmade and high quality gifts, jewelry and decor.

By Wil McLaughlin
News & Record

SoVaNow.com / July 10, 2017

Finding gifts for friends and family can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for products that are made in Virginia. Sweet Cee’s, a new downtown business operated by Candice Baskerville and her husband Nelson, offers affordable and personalized gifts, 85 percent of which are made in the state.

Candice herself is a producer and an old hand at the merchandizing trade. She’s been making personalized t-shirts, banners, car decals and koozies, among a wide variety of other items, for three years in her home. “We were doing all that from our house and it was quickly taking over,” she said.

“I wanted an affordable place where you could get cool gifts,” she said, “There’s a lot of cool things here [in Virginia] that nobody knows about.”

Friday’s grand opening at Sweet Cee’s marks the third business opening under the So Bo Start-Up! entrepreneurial initiative. Sweet Cee’s was awarded a $10,000 grant through the Destination Downtown program to open the retail shop at 441 Main Street.

Candice started making personalized items for herself and for friends several years ago, but it soon morphed into something more. She was making products that couldn’t be found in mainstream stores and cost less than many typical gift items. Plus, her creations were local. Through word of mouth, demand grew.

“We think shopping locally is the best thing in the world,” she said.

The boutique-style business offers personalized bows, tank tops, cards, wreaths, Virginia is for Lovers merchandise, Senegence products, pillows, candles and soaps, among many other gifts. The store even has bath bombs. “I cannot keep them in stock!” said Candice.

A native of Catawba County, N.C., Candice also coaches junior varsity girls soccer at Halifax County Middle School and teaches dance at The Prizery. Her husband, Nelson Baskerville, teaches eighth grade science at the Halifax County Middle School and coaches basketball there. “He’s the calm to the wild,” she laughed.

“I’m not from here, but I wouldn’t choose anywhere else to call home,” Candice said, “[T]his is a community that I want to give back to.”

Sweet Cee’s hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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