Erin Werner gives a presentation on her local business Wrapped & Rooted at May’s City Council meeting.

Local entrepreneur Erin Werner shared the story behind her growing downtown business, Wrapped & Rooted Gift Shop, during a presentation to Warren City Council.

Werner, who opened the gift shop back in November, told council members the business has received a positive response from the community during its first six months of operation.

Located at 201 Liberty St., Wrapped & Rooted offers a unique mix of gifts, houseplants, specialty foods and locally made products. Customers can also take advantage of the store’s potting bar, where they can create personalized plant gifts.

“We’ve had a lot of positive comments from people coming in,” Werner said. “They like all the different options that you can’t find in other places.”

The shop features products from several local vendors, including handcrafted metal artwork as well as a variety of products from Wild Card Design Co. Werner said she hopes to continue expanding opportunities for local artisans to showcase their work.

The business occupies the downtown space that once housed PNC Bank. Werner noted that several original features remain, including the bank vault and tile dating back to 1903.

In addition to gifts and plants, Wrapped & Rooted recently introduced tuxedo rental services. Werner converted a former conference room into a fitting area and served customers for Warren Area High School and Eisenhower High School proms during the busy spring season.

Werner said the store has also begun attracting visitors from outside the area, including customers from Jamestown, N.Y. She sees the business as an opportunity not only to draw shoppers downtown but also to promote other local businesses.

“When people come in from out of town, it’s nice to be able to tell them about other local options and places to go to,” she said.

Council members also asked about the inspiration behind the store’s name. Werner explained that she worked at a Hallmark store while attending college and always dreamed of owning a gift shop. The “Wrapped” portion reflects gift-giving and gift-wrapping services, while “Rooted” highlights her passion for houseplants.

The store recently experienced a successful Mother’s Day season, including a special event that allowed children to shop for gifts and decorate gift bags for their mothers.

Wrapped & Rooted is currently open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.