This feature originally ran in our Community Matters magazine.
Shannon Berse opened her thrift boutique in spring 2025. She chose the name Fairytale Cottage, she explained, because everyone deserves a fairytale. She has kept the name over the years when she has sold merchandise, provided charity and also had it as the name of her previous store.
“It fell together,” Berse said. “We had a building on this street before and when this one opened up we were contacted and it just fell into place.”
She said having the opportunity to open up shop again has been “awesome.” “It is definitely a God thing. I get confirmation from God daily on what is going on. Someone will ask for something, then it comes through the door and I give it to them. That has happened here several times where they are standing here asking – then someone shows up to donate and it will be right there.”
Berse is very diligent when it comes to helping the community. She volunteers often with The Link of Cullman County, Curt’s Closet, Victoria’s Hope and Home Street Home.
“We all communicate back and forth. If someone, for example, is outside their age limit or they are too booked for them to be able to come in, they will send them to me,” she said of the collaboration among local nonprofits. “We make sure I have whatever is needed with the donations I’ve gotten to get them situated first and if I do they come in. Everyone that I work with puts back into the community and all of my proceeds go into the community as well.”
Berse has helped individuals buy pet food, pay for medication and even keeps a small pantry for those who need it.
“We even have a box truck now to pick up donations,” she said. “We’ve been very blessed and we are growing tremendously.”
Fairytale Cottage Thrift Boutique is not only a great way to give back to the community, it is also an intriguing place to shop. Berse said she aims to ensure there is a warm, uplifting and magical atmosphere when you enter her shop. The store has many treasures to hunt and sort through, ranging from clothing, books, home decorations, jewelry and more. It even offers custom framing at reasonable prices.
Fairytale Cottage is located at 320 First Ave. SE in Cullman. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Berse said she will likely open the shop on Mondays as well. Any updates will be posted on her Facebook page, along with pictures of recent donations.
For more information or questions about donations, message Fairytale Cottage on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FairytaleCottage2.
