A. Dodson’s

Adorable boutique with a few locations around Hampton Roads. I love to shop local and this store is one of my go-​to places for gift items. They have something for everyone. Baby & kids stuff, Dad stuff, mom stuff, dog stuff. Lots of jewelry and home décor, as well as, clothing and hand bags. A portion of their sales goes to a local charity and I believe they change it up every month or so. This particular location is in Ghent so it’s a fun place to stop in for a visit.

I just left this store in tears! It’s so disheartening. I’ve shopped at Dodson’s several times before and each time has always been a bit uncomfortable because of their overt and intrusive customer service construct, but I do love the trinkets they have. This issue is the sales clerks. They are lovely and yet always a bit much. The initial greeting is great. Thank you for offering me Toffee and trying to help me find a gift but really I’m just going to browse. No I don’t need a 3 minute commentary on every item I look at. No I don’t want you to take my one item and hold it for me. Im holding a postcard so I think it’s extreme to ask me if I want it up at the register three different times. No I don’t want a basket. Thanks for asking once but why do you need to ask me several more times? At this point I have said postcard and a bracelet. And now two of you are watching my every move. Oh you didn’t see exactly the earrings I picked up so you chase me down to ask me. It’s awkward. This is crazy. But the one point where I lost it was here — And yes it’s partly my fault: Two woman were carrying a large box completely weighed down. I’m standing at the door so I go and open it for them. Yes I had items in my hand, and opening the door meant I left the store as the door opened outward. I wasn’t thinking about that. Instead I simply opened the door, let them pass and immediately came back in — hand never left the door handle. The clerk inside is beside herself. I say oh sorry. I’m already back in the store. She tells me I am not allowed to hold onto my own items and demanded I hand them over. I was in such shock. One of the woman I held the door for was a store employee meaning I was never out of sight. Regardless I understand it was bad judgement to open that door. I get it and I was sincerely sorry. The nastiness of the employee was uncalled for. The store policy on customer interaction, as the employee told me, she’s required to stand over my shoulder and talk through my shopping experience. Sometimes you want to just get lost in own thoughts and wonder the store. Just not at Dodson’s! Never again. So much for supporting small business. I’ll get trinkets elsewhere. *update: They offered me a gift card and an apology for the misunderstanding. I declined because I won’t be returning.

Oh how can I describe this jewel of a store? This place is like a mash up of Pottery Barn, Anthropologie and Lilly Pulitzer all thrown together in the most perfect of ways. But best thing is you can come here sin e its locally owned.
They have beautiful clothing, housewares, jewelry and anything you might not need in your life until you see it in their store. I was lucky enough to come here and look through clothing that was cute and affordable. 17.50 for a 70 dollar dress… cha ching!
To seal the deal, they round up your total to donate to charity. Perfect I tell ya, ill be back.

Awesome store! Super cute gifts and all kinds of items — clothing, accessories, children’s clothes/​toys/​books, nautical items, stationary, sunglasses, kitchen things, etc. Great customer service and they donate to local charities every month too! Will definitely be going back soon!

I love A. Dodson’s and am SO happy they blessed my hood with a new store! I use to have to drive out to Suffolk– yikes! I love their adorable merchandise– especially the «Happy Everything» merch! They have super cute home décor, clothes and gifts. My favorite store!