Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel recently unveiled its 2025 Christmas ornament, which serves as a symbol of resilience, community and recovery following Hurricane Ian in September 2022.
The ornament is crafted from a piece of the original Bailey’s sign that was salvaged from the parking lot in the storm’s aftermath.
For visitors to A Bit of Bailey’s at the interim Rabbit Road location, the weathered sign fragment has become the first thing they see upon arrival — a daily reminder of both what was lost and what has been rebuilt. The family shared that by transforming the piece of history into an ornament, it invites the community to celebrate not only the season, but also the spirit of perseverance that defines Sanibel.
“We have a bit of the sign for A Bit of Bailey’s,” fourth-generation family member Dane Johnson said. “It’s a reminder of where we’ve been and where we’re going, as we continue toward full recovery.”
The family noted that adding even deeper meaning, this year marks the arrival of his daughter — the first of the Johnson family’s fifth generation.
“The ornament serves as a symbol of continuity, honoring the past while looking forward with hope and gratitude to the future,” it shared.
The tradition began in 2009 with an idea driven by one of Bailey’s longtime staff members, Pat Kiely. Kiely’s unfailing dedication to the Bailey’s brand led to her creation of the first ornament, custom-made and gold-plated by the Charleston Mint, which featured the Bailey’s logo. It has since sold out forever.
The 2025 ornament will be available for purchase through Bailey’s online store at https://baileysofsanibel.myshopify.com/ and at A Bit of Bailey’s, at 975 Rabbit Road, Sanibel.
A portion of proceeds will support ongoing recovery efforts on Sanibel and Captiva.