Shop serves as a liaison between Plano and Scandinavia for tourists and residents alike

Located inside a restored home in Plano, The Wooden Spoon transports customers to places far beyond the city limits. Floorboards creak as the customer walks among displays of Norwegian sweaters, Swedish dishes, colorful figurines and shelves of Scandinavian food items.

Storeowner Gwen Welk Workman, an American of Norwegian and German descent, set up her Scandinavian shop in the Foreman House in 1992 featuring items from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland. A grocery store makes up the left side of the store where Workman sells items such as fruity beverages, cans of Norwegian fish balls and homemade cookies. Walking to the right of the store, one finds merchandise such as dolls, Viking hats, destination calendars and T-shirts.

Through her business, Workman said she meets all different types of people who travel to or live in Plano, and she said she enjoys making connections.

"When you move, you're totally disjointed," she said. "There's a lot of lonely people and so they come in [to the store] and we might share a cup of coffee and a cookie. Then they'll tell [me] what their problem is and I'll give them a contact. I call it 'your Scandinavian connection.'"

Workman said visitors from all over the world come into her shop.

"[The store] attracts more than just Scandinavians," Workman said. "Anybody who is traveled, anybody who wants to experience another culture, that's who comes in."

Organizations like the Sons of Norway and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce meet on the second floor of the shop. Workman also arranges for various instructors to provide language lessons at the store, including beginning and intermediate lessons in Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish.

Workman said Plano's diversity has made people more aware of other cultures, especially children in school.

"[Students] get seated in a classroom with so much diversity. If we're not reaching these kids about their heritage and their culture, how can they begin to understand someone else?"

Workman celebrated 26 years in business Sept. 13 and said orders continue to flow in. She is already juggling requests for hams for Christmas celebrations. Her business keeps her busy, but Workman said she loves what she does.

"I just feel like I belong here, and that what I'm doing is what needs to be done," she said.

The Wooden Spoon, 1617 K Ave., 972-424-6867, www.woodenspoon.ws, Hours: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Closed Sundays