SERENITY SHOP PROVIDES HEALING ENVIRONMENT FOR RECOVERY

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East County News Service

December 24, 2015 (Santee)--Kellie and Dallas Coates-Legare had fleeting but frequent thoughts of opening a "serenity shop" sometime in their lives. They wanted to create a place focused on all of the anonymous recovery programs that would enhance the recovery journey of individuals while creating a supportive and compassionate environment for all seeking serenity in their lives; a place to buy tokens, books, cards and gifts of inspiration, celebration and healing.

This desire came from a long history of addiction and alcoholism in family members and friends which created a unique awareness of the disease of addiction in Kellie, both as a registered nurse and personally.

On November 29, 2013 after a short three months of planning Step by Step – Serenity & Beyond opened.

When searching for the perfect location, Kellie knew she wanted it to be located in East County where her own father had found recovery back in the 80s and also the area where the greatest need seemed to be through her research. Kellie and Dallas also wanted to include, in addition, to retail space, enough square footage to include a meeting room that would become home for additional 12 Step, Anonymous meetings in the community.  Step by Step – Serenity & Beyond would be a one stop recovery shop for those in recovery, family and friends supporting them or “normie” folk looking for a special gift for themselves or another.

Celebrating their second birthday in business you will find 28 additional recovery meetings have been added to the community. There are daily Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings,  Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings six days a week, men-only meetings and women- only meetings. The shop is open 365 days a year and the meeting room has the capacity to hold up to 50 people and offers a very different environment with soft lighting and a large fish tank.

The store front provides an eclectic, fresh, reasonably priced inventory.  You’ll see a small fish tank along with two parakeets named Bill and Lois, plus a cockatoo named Jazz who greets customers at the front door .

When Kellie was creating the space, she kept in mind the comforts of home and included things that would help individuals who are struggling and seeking a supportive, calm, accepting environment.

 “All business that has blessed the doors of Step by Step has come simply from word of mouth,” says Coates-Legare. “ Everyone who has benefitted from its creation share their experiences there with others, in or out of recovery.”

 Kellie and Dallas have made a point to support community by hosting events, planning holiday potlucks, and donating to other organizations’ fund raising events. Most of all, customers love the different ideas for their anniversary tokens. Whether it is a Swarovski bedazzlement or a “Time in a Bottle” Kellie and her crew are always coming up with unique and creative ways to present tokens and to display them.

You can see for yourself what makes Step by Step – Serenity & Beyond such a unique new business in the East County by visiting them at: 

Step by Step - Serenity & Beyond

8790 Cuyamaca Street, Suite D, Santee 92071

Phone: 619-433-8027

 

 


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