DANVILLE – Going for the unique, but staying close to home, the Vermilion Heritage Foundation has opened its own gift shop.

Stage Presents – The Fischer Theatre Gift Shop opened Thursday in the south storefront of the theater at 158 N. Vermilion St. The space was last officially used as the foundation office.

In the 1980s, it was Ervin's Jewelry Store and its built-in display cases, now strung with clear holiday lights that shine down through the glass shelves, show off an array of merchandise with sparkle.

"The project naturally evolved from having a booth at the farmers' market all summer," said Cher Pollock, foundation chairwoman. "We did really well there."

Pollock said the foundation board has a good mix of people with different areas of expertise – architectural, historical, maintenance and merchandising and buyer backgrounds as well those good at window dressing, social media and Web site construction.

Carol Nichols, foundation board member and chair of the gift shop committee, enlisted Linda Federman's help because of her years of experience as owner of Woodbury's Book Store.

"She said I spent way too much time doing other things and needed to get involved here," Federman said with a laugh. "So, I just kind of helped set up and with the decorating.

"The merchandise is of high quality and I think they've hit every price range from $5 to $10 to the really unique at $500," Federman added. "It's a great time to be involved. People are so interested in wanting something to happen with the theater."

Organizers have enlisted artists and craftsmen and put together items that tie to the "Danville 5," Dick and Jerry Van Dyke, Donald O'Connor, Gene Hackman and Bobby Short.

Local artist Amy Chisman's Vermilion County Landmarks series features predominantly in the shop, especially her Fischer Theatre rendering with various sizes of prints, both matted or matted and framed; a wintry version was created as a Christmas card, and postcards are available of the first six in the eventual series of 12.

Sculptor Suzanne Berkes has created miniature bricks with the outline of the much earlier vertical Fischer Theatre marquee on one side and "Danville" on the other in several styles.

Other artists' creations include jewelry, woodworking, photography, handmade socks, knit purses and vests.

A holiday tree features the Danville USA wall sculpture replica and stained glass white stars created from the broken glass of the old marquee.

"We were able to put this together without using foundation money," Nichols said. "Volunteers cleaned and moved the things that were stored in here. Others set things up and word-of-mouth got the artists to bring things to us on consignment."

T-shirts from productions that took place in the theater are also available and a collection of books authored by some of the "Danville 5," copies of their movies and other similar items are being accumulated for sale.

Nichols said the project goes beyond the profit that will benefit the foundation.

"It goes to the pride that people who live here have in the people from Danville who have accomplished so much," she said.

The shop can still use volunteers to staff the store, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. It is also willing to take more local artists' items on consignment as space allows.

"We'll be glad to look at what people have or if people are aware of artists we should have in the shop, they should let us know," Nichols said.

For more information on the shop, consigning art or volunteering, call Pollock at 474-6638.