Gatherings for the Home, a Stafford antiques shop on North Main Street for three decades, is the city's September Business Highlight.

The City of Stafford announced the selection on Friday, Sept. 4, calling the shop at 2829 N. Main St. a "Stafford institution for 30 years." The store sells primitive antiques, folk art, textiles, lighting and handmade home accessories.

Owner Cherry Whittington opened Gatherings in 1996, according to the store's Yelp listing. She started with a small antique space nearby. She later partnered with a friend to open a store in Stafford, then expanded into the building next door and added home accessories to her collection of primitive antiques, she told VoyageHouston in a prior interview.

The shop sits in a historic building and stocks antique crocks, baskets, wood tool carriers, tinware and items from American artisans, Whittington told VoyageHouston. She described in-store displays as central to the shopping experience.

"Displays are a big part of what I do in the store," Whittington said in the VoyageHouston interview. "I think that is important to show how to use unusual, and unexpected objects to decorate your home."

Highway 90 road construction tested the business over the years. Whittington told VoyageHouston that the disruption was "a bit challenging" but that loyal customers kept finding their way to the store.

Stafford, which has had no city property tax since 1995, runs the monthly Business Highlight through its Multimedia and Communications Department. The program showcases local businesses the city says are dedicated to contributing to the local economy.

Gatherings for the Home is open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is (281) 261-2983.