Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christina Cison. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Christina, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Thank you so much for having us! We’re so excited to talk about our property with like-minded creatives! I think for my husband, Johnny, and myself, we came into this knowing that it would be a hard project, but worthwhile because of how meaningful it is. We aren’t just restoring a home, we are stewards for this entire property and the buildings on it. What it has meant to the community, and for the families that came before us. Occasionally we will find items in walls, or they work their way out of the dirt. And it is a reminder of how long the history is here. The general store is almost like a time capsule with items on the shelves and it’s always so special when people let us know stories of coming here when they were children, or visiting the store when it was open and what they remember.

Christina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

We are the Cison family, behind Our Corner of Currituck. Married couple Johnny and Christina and our 8 year old daughter. We previously lived in a McMansion in an HOA neighborhood, but when our daughter was born really started to shift what we held important. We started a garden, spent way more time outside, and just had a new perspective on the life we wanted. We adopted the phrase “less house, more yard” and started hunting for properties. Our area is nestled between two booming areas of growth, and unfortunately lots of properties are being over developed. With this in mind, we set off on the hunt of an old house and acreage to call home.

In March of 2020, we closed on our house just as Covid lockdowns were implemented. There was something powerful about quarantining in a home that kept families safe for almost 140 years, through the pandemic in 1918 as well as countless storms and hurricanes. Obviously our first priority was to make our old home a safe place to live, but we fell in love with the property for what it meant to the community and the idea of restoring that as well.

In front of our house in a General Store and filling station, built in 1930. A favorite gathering spot for locals, it has been the star of many a roadside photo snap since it closed in 1987 when the road was widened. People stop by to admire and ask us questions, but locals have also come to let us know what this store means to them and their memories. Slowly, but surely, we are working to be able to open our property back up to hold that special place in Currituck again. The store will be restored, and in the meantime our email list keeps followers updated with small projects such as selling seeds, photo shoot opportunities, craft classes, and community get togethers. Some are free of charge, and others we put aside 100% of the proceeds to help towards the store’s restoration. In the future we hope to offer a lot more and be able to reopen the store and host bigger and better gatherings and local events.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

We often joke that we can tell right away who sees our vision, and who doesn’t. Especially certain trades or service people that point out our historic home or general store would be easier bulldozed and built new, versus restoring. Non-creatives seem to think the end goal is just a stable building, but our creative vision is the entire restoration process. Not just the buildings, but the property, connection with the land, and the simplicity of family, wonderment of childhood, and sense of community. Each thing we do, and the products, classes, or gatherings we’ve offered all are curated to build that vision. Let the naysayers be confused, they don’t need to get it. Those who understand and appreciate it will follow you and that is all that matters.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media presence is an area I have struggled to come to peace with. I used to food blog about 15 years ago and it was much easier to grow your numbers then, without having to worry about so many platforms and complicated algorithms and trends. Through the sharing of Our Corner of Currituck, I’ve really come to appreciate social media audience as a “quality over quantity” connection. Would it feel more “successful” to see a follower number in the tens of thousands? Maybe. But, like our property and the community connection we’re striving to restore, our social media accounts have also provided deep and meaningful connections. We have been able to find families on the same, chaotic journey as us. Living in homes while DIY restoring them. Other general store owners giving these important buildings new life after sitting vacant for decades. Because of our location, we have been able to meet with followers near and far in person and show them around, and inside the store. Just be true and authentic in sharing on social media and your people will find you. Whether that’s 100 or 100,000 be grateful they see the value in you and what you are offering and appreciate that connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: ctuckin.com
• Instagram: @ourcornerofcurrituck
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ourcornerofcurrituck
• Other: @ourcornerofcurrituck on tiktok

Image Credits
The first image of us on the store porch in PPE is credit Brooke Mayo Photography.