KARM Christmas Store opens for holiday season, supporting Knox Area Rescue Ministries

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Christmas may still be months away but the holiday season is getting closer. The KARM Christmas Store opened this week.

The KARM Christmas Store opened on September 5 at noon. The store is located at 5425 Clinton Highway in Knoxville and will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday through early January.

KARM shared that they have had people come from across the nation to visit the store.

“We get calls and emails starting in July from people out of state asking to plan their vacation around the store opening. So we have people that come from all over just to experience it. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s just an experience to walk through and see all of the different magical things,” said Julia Dietz, director of marketing and communications.

The store first opened in 2010 in a 1,500-square-foot space in a strip mall. In the 14 years since it has grown to fill a 40,000-square-foot facility.

“It’s just grown incredibly every single year in the amount of donations that we get and the impact that we’re able to have on the mission, which of course is the reason why we do everything we do,” said Dietz.

Organizers said they collect Christmas decor all year long, including Christmas trees, nativity sets, collector nutcrackers, Christmas china, ornaments, wreaths, Christmas villages, and more, to put them on display in the store.

“It’s just amazing to see the way the community comes together to make this happen,” said Dietz. “We have so many beautiful decorations. Our staff really just goes over and above expectations when putting this beautiful store together.”

She explained that 100% of the profits from the store go to support Knox Area Rescue Ministries from providing meals to people in the shelters to healthcare to job training. She said the goal is to help people get back on their feet.

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