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Lakewood's 'Mr. Christmas' creating family memories for generations

Bill Hixson's store has become notorious for its unique, handcrafted ornaments and Christmas atmosphere.

LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Head in past the two-story Raggedy Ann doll straight to the back of Hixson's and your world is transformed into a Christmas Wonderland.

Trees and decorations take over every available space and in a green armchair sits the man some call "Mr. Christmas."

At 93, Bill Hixson knows a thing or two about the holiday and what people are looking for to celebrate. Thousands of handcrafted ornaments imported from all over, each with a story.

"People come in here to have a good time," Hixson says. "We rarely have a person that's unhappy, but I can usually turn them around. I have some foolish stories to tell them, or whatnot."

Hixon has been around long enough that new generations are experiencing his store for the first time, while others have made a regular tradition of it.

"Every year, we've gotten ornaments from here and we've gotten them signed by Mr. Hixson himself," Patron Bailey explained, "but we use it to celebrate milestones, celebrate the year going by. Every year we accumulate different ornaments for each family member."

For Hixson, he doesn't sell "things."

"We don't sell things here; we sell memories," he declared. "We have kids come in this big and get an ornament for the tree; now they're bringing their children in."

Memories that hang from the branches of Christmas' most notable centerpiece, to be enjoyed year after year after year.

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