by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
Walking into Earth Gifts, one is greeted by the soft aroma of Sandalwood incense, calm new age music and smiling faces. Every wall in the store is covered in colorful fabrics or bookcases or ornaments. In the center of the store, there is a spiritual sanctuary motif,fit with stone statues and several meditations fountains.
The “Metaphysical Supplies” store and gift shop located on the Westside sells everything for the spiritually enlightened from incense and smudging sticks to herbs and crystals – a one-stop shop where you can pick up a new dashiki, aroma therapy oils and books on meditation.
According to owner Wayne Marriott, the store offers something for everyone.
“We’re a spiritual gift store, but specialize in all different spiritualities,” said Marriott. “Everyone is welcome.”
Jewelry, literature, crystals and clothing are among just a few of the items that Earth Gifts carries. They also offer a plethora of spiritual supplies for numerous earth-based religions like Pagan and Buddhist.
The fact that Earth Gifts is a one-of-a-kind store was the main inspiration for Marriott’s business endeavor back in 1992 when he first decided to leave his job as a computer programmer.
“It took a lot of courage to go for it, but I had to,” he said. “There was nothing else like it (Earth Gift) here in Jacksonville and I was at a crossroads in my life where I was starting to re-evaluate what I would be most happy doing.”
Marriott said he put himself on the line financially, maxing out all of his credit cards and flying by the seat of his pants in hopes that Jacksonville would be ready to embrace a store so unique.
“It’s not that I thought people were not going to be receptive,” said Marriott. “It’s just that when people hear the words ‘pagan’ or ‘witch’, they get nervous and we do cater to Pagans and Buddhists just like we do to all other spiritual denominations.”
Embrace it, they have. Since opening in 1992 at a small shop in Five Points, Marriott said Earth Gifts has relocated a total of four times, all to accommodate the growth of the store and the demandfor new inventory.
“Each year, it just gets better and better,” he said. “After fourteen years, people have come to recognize the name.”
Store manager Ethan Wethington agrees. He came to work at the shop in 2003 and said that on a weekly basis he gets customers from as far as Orlando and Georgia.
Marriott previously leased the spaces at all his other locations, but purchased the building off San Juan that the store is currently in.
“This will be our last and final location.”