Gifted is expanding

Gifted, a colorful gift and card store in the Archie McPhee style, is expanding in its Ballard Avenue location.

Work on expanding the store deeper into its building has been going on for a month and will be totally completed by Seafood Fest, Gifted owner Emoret Fossum said.

When a new owner purchased the building at 5427 Ballard Ave. N.W. last summer, he decided to expand the spaces of both Gifted and Kavu, though that store will be moving in the future, Fossum said.

Fossum said she was more excited for the expansion at the time it was announced before the recession.

"It was last summer before the bottom fell out," she said. "We're a little nervous now, but hopefully it will be a good thing."

She said Gifted will use the extra room for more of the same and will have a little more room to spread out.