This has been a hard year for everyone, especially independent businesses. Shopping locally is a great way to find unique gifts, as well as ensuring the stores you love are still here next year. Here are a few suggestions…

 

Want a sweet treat for that sweet friend? Stock up at Gearharts Fine Chocolates. Located at Grove and Libbie, Gearharts has been making artisan chocolates since 2001. It’s a can’t-go-wrong gift, but don’t forget to pick up a box for yourself. For a great variety of candy, check out For the Love of Chocolate in Carytown. They stock thousands of candy items from all over the world. A box of truffles makes a wonderful gift, and it’s the perfect stop for fun and unique stocking stuffers.

 

Apothec is always one of my first stops for bath and body, herbal goodies, wonderful teas, and handmade items. They are now offering curbside pickup, standard shipping, and delivery within ten miles of the store. Cricket Cove Soap Company offers a wonderful variety of handcrafted soaps. Check out their website for where to find their products, or try their seasonal pop-up store at 3007 West Cary St.

 

If you are the type of person who doesn’t know what to buy but knows it when you see it, head to Mongrel. It’s the home of unique gifts for anyone, particularly those friends with a great sense of humor. Where else can you find a Bob Ross 2021 wall calendar or a Jellycat Riverside Rambler Hedgehog delivered to your door? Look no more. When you’re done, head across the street to World of Mirth for a great selection of toys and whimsies for kids and kids at heart. 

 

Well, as they say in Shopping Land, that’s a wrap! From a grateful heart, thank you so much for all the love, laughs, and support you have given me personally and professionally this year. I literally could not have done it without you. May this holiday season fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with cheesecake. Lots and lots of cheesecake. 

 

Cheers!