Fall River Store Sells Positivity

At Gnome Create in Fall River signs advocating positive thinking and action are on display and for sale.

The store was founded by bank executive and former B.M.C. Durfee High School wrestling coach Christopher Antao who tells NBC10 that many of the items in the store are made by local artisans and some items are even made by the local youth who wear them.

"We sell apparel, we sell art, kids can come in and design their own T-Shirt, physically make it and leave with it that day," said Antao.

The store got its name from a Gnome Antao picked up in Germany but its inspiration for the store came after a fence at Antao's home was spray painted with grafitti.

In response to the vandalism Antao replaced the graffiti with a window box and positive messages that were posted on the entire length of the fence.

It was also extension of a similar effort, a surf school started in 2015 called Gnome Surf Academy.

"We have a lot of kids with autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, but you only get three or four months out of the year for surfing here in New England," said Antao "this was a way to keep the positivity going and the concept."

Antao says the store provides these very kids with a chance to take part in productive activities at a very low cost.

"It’s basically a positivity center for kids, we have art classes, paint nights," said Antao "we sell apparel, we sell art, kids can come in and design their own T-Shirt, physically make it and leave with it that day."
Proceeds from the store are going to Antao's ultimate goal of creating a nonprofit camp for kids in need, called Project Happy Camp.