The best holiday gifts I know come from independent shops, where someone picked every item and can tell you who made it. Below are two standout independent shops in each of the 20 cities Open Shelf covers, from New York to Detroit, all with storefronts you can visit. Each city name links to its full guide, where you'll find more shops by neighborhood.
A quick note before you go: I describe each shop by what its own website says it carries, not by specific products or prices, since stock changes fast in December. Check the shop's site for holiday hours.
Where should I shop for gifts in New York City?
- Pink Olive (West Village). An eclectic gift shop of "beautiful, inspiring and thoughtful" items, from stationery and art to baby and kids' gifts, accessories and food gifts.
- Exit9 Gift Emporium (East Village). A mom-and-pop gift shop that calls itself "unique, whimsical, quirky and functional," with off-beat books and themed versions of everyday items.
More in the NYC guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Los Angeles?
- Lundeen's (Downtown Culver City). A gift shop across from City Hall that's "always excited to discover new makers and thoughtfully designed products," and it offers complimentary gift wrap.
- Burro (Venice, Abbot Kinney). On Abbot Kinney since 1999 and inspired by the American West: stationery, trinkets, coffee-table books, handcrafted accessories and goods for hearth and home.
More in the Los Angeles guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Chicago?
- Inkling (Lakeview). Quirky gifts, greeting cards, an apothecary section and home goods.
- Neighborly (Lincoln Square and Wicker Park). A woman-owned home and gift shop of independently made goods, supporting 200+ small businesses.
More in the Chicago guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in the San Francisco Bay Area?
- Rare Device (Divisadero, Western Addition). A gift and design shop that also publishes artist interviews.
- The Perish Trust (Divisadero, Western Addition). A modern-day general store, open since 2008, of home, hearth and old-fashioned hospitality goods.
More in the Bay Area guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Seattle?
- Sfingiday (Fremont). A woman-owned gift shop of handmade goods and fine art from 500+ independent brands and makers, with seasonal local-artist pop-ups.
- The Handmade Showroom (Downtown, Pacific Place). An independent gift shop of small-batch, artisan-made goods since 2015. About half its makers are from the Pacific Northwest.
More in the Seattle guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Portland?
- TWIST (Nob Hill). An artist-owned shop that has sold fine crafts and jewelry for over twenty-five years.
- Crafty Wonderland (Downtown and Alberta). A handmade shop with two stores that also runs the city's Crafty Wonderland art and craft markets.
More in the Portland guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Austin?
- Maaribu (South 1st, Bouldin Creek). A café and gift shop, with a sister home and design store on Guadalupe.
- Parker + Scott (Allandale). A community-oriented shop of sustainable goods, from children's toys to home supplies, from local and women-owned brands.
More in the Austin guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Philadelphia?
- Occasionette (East Passyunk, plus Chestnut Hill and Collingswood, NJ). A colorful gift shop with a big card wall and gifts meant to spark joy and creativity.
- OMOI Life Goods (Old City). A Japanese-inspired stationery and life-goods shop, open since 2006.
More in the Philadelphia guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Denver?
- XO Gift Co (Wheat Ridge). Handcrafted, local and one-of-a-kind gifts: jewelry, stationery, self-care, local delicacies, Colorado items and baby goods.
- Show of Hands (Cherry Creek). A gift gallery showing work by artists, which the shop calls its "Happy Place."
More in the Denver guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Nashville?
- Made in TN (12South, with more stores around Nashville and Franklin). Only Tennessee-made gifts, across four stores.
- Bound Booksellers and Gifts (Downtown Franklin). An independent bookstore and gift shop with a local-authors shelf.
More in the Nashville guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Boston?
- Pod (Cambridge, between Harvard and Porter Squares). A corner shop, since 1998, of quiet, well-designed homewares, found objects, women's apparel and personal care.
- Fire Opal (Coolidge Corner, Brookline). American handmade jewelry, ceramics and gifts, made by artists or in their studios.
More in the Boston guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Atlanta?
- Wild Oats & Billy Goats (on the square in downtown Decatur). A folk art and handcraft gallery-shop since 2010, selling the work of Georgia and Florida artists.
- The Pharmacy at The Supermarket (Poncey-Highland). A small gift shop inside The Supermarket arts venue, where every shelf is stocked by a local Atlanta maker. It's in person only, and hours shift around private events.
More in the Atlanta guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Minneapolis–St. Paul?
- i like you (Northeast Minneapolis, plus "i like you too" in St. Paul). A handmade-gift shop of local and independent makers, with 300+ artists over 18 years.
- The Future (Longfellow, South Minneapolis). A gift shop that's always looking for new artists and designers.
More in the Twin Cities guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Washington, DC?
- Urban Dwell (Adams Morgan). An independent, veteran-owned boutique gift shop: home decor, accessories, books and stationery, kitchen items and baby gifts.
- Steadfast Supply (Navy Yard). A gift shop and community space curating story-driven products from independent makers and small brands.
More in the DC guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in San Diego?
- Pigment (North Park, Liberty Station and Del Mar). A design-minded gift, home and plant shop that began in 2007 as a gallery for local artists.
- Artelexia (North Park). A Mexican-inspired gift, home and craft shop.
More in the San Diego guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Houston?
- Space Montrose (Montrose). 200+ independent brands, highlighting artists and creators who live and craft in the USA.
- The Whimsy Artisan Boutique (Houston Heights). A small boutique of handmade art and gifts by artists and artisan crafters.
More in the Houston guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Dallas–Fort Worth?
- Gifted (Near Southside, Fort Worth). A lifestyle shop of design-conscious home and personal gifts, many from local makers and small businesses.
- Mosaic Makers Collective (Bishop Arts and the Dallas Farmers Market). A collective of Texas women makers selling handmade goods.
More in the Dallas–Fort Worth guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in New Orleans?
- Judy at the Rink (Garden District). A gift shop and gallery that has sold home decor, tabletop, gifts and local art for more than 40 years.
- Miette (Magazine Street, Lower Garden District). A whimsical artist shop, a self-described "little artist warren," celebrating handmade art and Mardi Gras float art.
More in the New Orleans guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Miami?
- Kollective (Wynwood, plus Las Olas and Delray Beach). Co-op style boutiques of South Florida artists, designers and entrepreneurs.
- Coral Springs Museum of Art Museum Store (Coral Springs). A city museum store stocked with work by local and regional artists and makers: original art, handmade jewelry, ceramics and clothing.
More in the Miami guide.
Where should I shop for gifts in Detroit?
- City Bird (Midtown). Detroit, Michigan and Great Lakes goods, with its sister home-and-plants shop, Nest, at the same address.
- Pewabic Store (East Jefferson Ave). The store of the historic Pewabic Pottery, a National Historic Landmark, selling work made on site plus a curated collection from independent ceramic artists.
More in the Detroit guide.
How do I get the most out of holiday shopping at small shops?
From my side of the counter:
- Go early in the day, when owners have time to help you find the right thing.
- Ask who made it. Passing that story on with the gift is half the fun.
- Check holiday hours on the shop's own site before you go.
- Can't make it in? Many of these shops have their own websites, linked from each Open Shelf listing.
FAQ
How did you choose these shops?
I picked independent shops with storefronts that carry gifts, home goods, art or design, and I aimed for different neighborhoods and styles in each city. Each description is summarized from the shop's own website.
Do these shops sell online?
Some do. Each listing links to the shop's own website. Some, like The Pharmacy at The Supermarket in Atlanta, are in person only.
Where can I find more shops in my city?
Each city name above links to its full guide, or browse all 20 on the cities page.
Are prices or holiday hours listed here?
No. Stock and hours change fast in December, so check the shop's own site before you go.