Glen Alpine family offers handcrafted furniture and more on North Green Street

After years of selling woodwork out of booths and borrowed spaces, husband-and-wife duo Jamey and Melissa Griffin have finally opened the doors to their own store in downtown Morganton. For the couple, it’s a dream that has turned into reality.

On North Green Street in the former Aster Rose boutique building, Melissa’s Decor and More specializes in woodworking and furniture restoration, accompanied by other handmade goods. In 2018, the couple started their own woodworking business called “Turn Up the Positive Creations.”

The business name stems from Jamey’s personal motto following a kidney transplant, which was an experience that reshaped his outlook on life and inspired the couple to pursue their long-held dream. The couple previously sold their work at Tea Tree in Glen Alpine, Back Porch Antiques on Carbon City Road, and through vendor booths at other events and places, but it was always a goal to have a place of their own.

Melissa’s Decor and More has become not just a place for Melissa and Jamey’s talents, but a space for their family’s as well. From the couple’s 17-year-old niece Lydia, who creates and sells intricate paintings, to their daughter-in-law Destiny, who crochets household supplies and accessories, the store is stocked with all handmade goods.

Even the youngest members of the family are showing off their work. The Griffins’ granddaughter Mady has her own corner of beadwork. She offers pens, bracelets, and keychains.

So far, the most popular items have been Jamey’s wooden flags, crosses, and furniture, which can be customized, according to Melissa Griffin. Jamey crafts the furniture, and Melissa brings new life to hidden gems the couple uncovers at marketplaces.

The couple recently created a bedroom suite royal blue with gold accents.

“Everybody was really pulled towards that,” Melissa said, adding that people also really enjoy the store’s wooden Bigfoot signs, as many people in the area are drawn to Bigfoot lore and attend the festivities in Marion every year.

The store opened in November 2025, and Melissa said the response from the community so far has been overwhelmingly positive. In the future, she said they want to bring in more furniture and bring in more hobby items.

“We’re new to this. This was definitely something that we had really been wanting to do,” Melissa said.

The store is at 211 N. Green St., and Melissa said pets are welcome as she always has treats on hand. The store is open Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. As business picks up more, Melissa said she may increase the store’s hours.

‘This is my dream job,” Melissa said. “We’re always trying to bring different items in. We want it to be cost-efficient for everybody. There’s a lot of places that are just so outrageously priced, and we don’t want to be those people.”

“We prayed about this for a while, and we’d had our Turn Up the Positive part since 2018, and I’ve always said that when God was ready, it would just take off, so we’re just excited,” Melissa said.