The bead shop has long served as a gathering place that unites makers
By Lauren Rouse | Photography by John Michael Simpson
Firefly Carrboro has transformed over the years, but its creative spark has only grown brighter. The store began as The Original Ornament on Franklin Street in 1992, where locals discovered gemstones and learned to craft jewelry. It moved to Carr Mill Mall in 1997, and after a brief closure, reopened as The Bead Store in 2009.
The shop changed hands four years later when Aja Kelleher became the owner. She rebranded it as Firefly Carrboro in 2017, and then Melanie Jackson purchased the business from Aja just before the pandemic. Despite lots of changes, generations of makers continue to find inspiration, no matter the name on the door. Sidra Grove started working at the shop in 1999 and has seen it evolve firsthand. “I’ve stayed because I care about the shop and what it represents,” she says. “I care about bringing joy, whether we fix a beloved necklace or teach someone how to make one.”
Aja renamed The Bead Shop to Firefly Carrboro because she wanted to expand beyond selling beads. “The employees were all very good artists and made a lot of finished jewelry for sale,” she says. “We started to sell small clothing items, candles and other gifts.” She asked Melanie to design Firefly Carrboro’s logo. “It was my daughter’s favorite little bug,” Aja says. “She would chase fireflies, and I thought Firefly sounded whimsical.”
Melanie had joined the team as a part-time employee in 2012 while raising her first son. “I thought beads were a simple craft until I worked alongside customers and discovered their endless possibilities,” she says.
Today, Melanie’s sons, Ace Jackson, 13, and Ethan Jackson, 11, love coming to the shop their mom now runs. “When they’re not helping pick up beads from the floor – there are many – they’re typically making something,” Melanie says. Under her leadership, Firefly Carrboro has continued to grow as she’s found the balance between bead shop and gift shop.
“My dream was to always own a gift shop,” she says. “I grew up around Hallmark stores, as my grandparents owned two of them. I never dreamed I’d be the owner of a bead shop, too. It’s the perfect job. I get to be creative and sell my creativity while inspiring others.”
Today, Firefly Carrboro blends tradition with connection. Customers gather at The Bead Bar to create, learning from one another or through private lessons. They browse a curated selection of fair-trade gifts and handmade jewelry, finding inspiration in every corner. For many, the shop is more than a place to make things – it’s where lasting bonds are formed. “I’ve made some of my best friends in the world at the store over the years – coworkers, customers and even the shop owners,” Sidra says.
