I absolutely adore this store and it's right downtown, so very very walkable! I'm seriously just a…read moresucker for all things cute, and Oh Hello really does the best with providing local artist and curated items that every time I go, I cannot help but buy something! Even if it's just a little sticker, a pin or something more. It's the perfect shop for a small gift for a loved one and if you are interested, you should join the locker club! It's a monthly club and I finally got a sneak peek inside.. absolutely ADORABLE!! What a great way to support a local business and artists.

Oh Hello is one of my favorite places to go to! It's right downtown in the middle of so many nice…read morethings. If you have any time to kill before a concert, it's a third Thursday, or you're just wanting to browse, this is definitely the place for you. The store specializes in cute fun gifts and trinkets. They have everything from cookbooks to baby toys to stickers. There are gifts for almost every age and demographic. There are often goods from local artists and creatives which is really nice. One of my favorite features is the monthly art locker. For a one-time cost, you get a physical key with access to a locker with monthly goodies! The staff may be some of the kindest I've met. You can always talk about your day or learn about what's been going on downtown. There is a shop cat named Yuki who is soooooo cute and is my personal "where's waldo" whenever I'm in the store. Their marketing and promotions are really fun and the videos often make me laugh. They offer some free and paid events, making it a nice place to meet new people and engage in creativity. One of these days I need to make their cloud workshop!

Commune is one of the cutest shops in Grand Rapids! The shop is filled with an assortment of home…read moregoods, trinkets, gifts, and more. The vibes of the shop are playful, chic, and cozy. One thing that sets this store apart is the owner. She is genuinely so kind and goes above and beyond to help with the little things without you having to ask. She seems to be supportive of other local businesses and actively works with other community members. I was lucky enough to buy a small collection of presents for friends and she diligently handwrapped each one without me even having to ask. The items in the store will be slightly higher price but I've found the quality is often reflected in the price. It's centered in a really great location that makes for a fun day out and about. NOTE: There are stairs that lead into the main entrance, there may be an alternate route for those who may need it!

One of my favorite places to shop during the holidays. Their window display is always so modern and…read morefestive. Then have the best gifts for the hostess in your life. I've picked up cookbooks, martini glasses, wine openers. They are some of my favorite gifts to give. Pro tip: go check out their jewelry and perfume all the way toward the back. So underrated, and you can find some great deals!

I found this hidden treasure while looking for a downtown Grand Rapids bookstore. What I found was…read morean amazing store front for various local small businesses to display their products. If you're in the West Michigan area, and wanting to shop for a special gift, this is a beautiful, unique, and affordable place to browse and find something special.

This is such a cool concept and store. The Arts Marketplace is a nonprofit that exists to support…read moreand further woman and minority owned businesses by providing them subsidized rent to have their goods displayed at the Arts Marketplace store. This is a one stop shop for anyone you could probably think of! I saw tons of fun gifts and products, including clothes, jewelry, accessories, home goods, coffee, Polish pottery, books, tea, cards, art, etc. I love that it gives the opportunity for these small businesses to have a space to sell things even if they don't have their own storefront. I'm not sure how often the vendors rotate, but it's always fun to stop in and check things out. I especially love the Public Thread bags and accessories, the Polish pottery, and all the interesting art. There are signs everywhere letting you know that if you break something, you buy it, so be careful. I have purchased gifts here for myself and others and hope it sticks around for a long time!

What an interesting, intimate place to be to get all your must have for teas candles, Incense and…read moreastrological trinkets. We parked on the street by a meter for $1.50 an hour. Meter was very easy to use and operate. It's located next to a few restaurants In a strip type of building setup. The store itself is not very big but it's packed from top to bottom with lots of lovely stones, jewelry, cards and artists items to take home. The space is used very well and items are displayed for you to look over, maybe Smell or even touch. There was not someone present to do a reading when we arrived but they do have a website where you can reserve a time or they do have a up-and-coming Black Friday deal for the holiday that provides reading a discount. They were very friendly and accept credit cards. I'm definitely planning on coming back for a reading.

The 12th House GR is a great spot for holiday shopping or if you're looking for something to treat…read moreyourself. The space is incredible and the first thing I noticed walking in is the beautiful mural featuring the different signs of the zodiac (or the 12 houses). This inclusive store aims to be a space where people of all backgrounds can come and see themselves represented, with lots of LGBTQ+ themed items. Many items are locally made and the owner, Sarah, is wonderful. I browsed books, stickers, keychains, crystals, jewelry, bath items, decor, wood pieces, snacks, cards, and more! I really think you could find something for everyone here. In addition to all the wonderful products, you can also have a tarot reading done or get a henna tattoo at the shop! I'm looking forward to having a reading done in the future and would love to gift this experience to a friend. It's so nice to have another local shop to add to my favorites whenever I'm in need of a thoughtful gift! If you like Rebel or Spirit Dreams, definitely make a point to check out The 12th House.

Love this concept!…read more Come support the Pack Elephant, a shop filled with local artists that make a variety of items from clothes, edibles, cards, jewelry, etc. Everything is laid out beautifully amongst small display areas that I assume local artists rent out. I fell in love with these pictured earrings, but I'm currently on a budget and resisted the urge to purchase. Way to go will power! Check this place out to gift something special to someone you love, or maybe treat yo'self! I love that the staff slides in the artist business card during check out. It makes you feel connected with whom you bought from. Overall great vibes here.

Pack Elephant is a new store located in the Studio Park plaza downtown. It features gifts and…read moreproducts from local artisans and makers, many are women and minority owned. The space is large, bright, airy, and open, with lots of space for distancing and plenty of local artwork on the walls. My boyfriend and I stopped in on Valentine's Day and were pleasantly surprised with the wide range of items we found! Coffee, greeting cards, apparel, snacks, bath and body products, tea, pet items, beauty products and makeup, eco-friendly products, plants... I could keep going! Each maker has a little bio and information about the products which is so cool. This is one of the many reasons why I love supporting local shops like this. Getting to know the backstory behind someone's business makes me more likely to purchase something! Pack Elephant is definitely going to be high on my list for go-to shops for when I need a gift. I love the mission of the place - supporting hyper local, small makers and especially women and minority owned businesses. I ended up getting some tea, cheese popcorn, and coffee! The employee who rang up our purchases was very polite and sweet. They've just recently opened so definitely check them out if you're in need of a gift for yourself or a loved one.

I love independent bookstores! Cellar Bird Books is now open on Bridge Street in the former Mitten…read moreState shop. I think it's a really great addition to the area, and a nice place to pop in if you're waiting for a table at a nearby restaurant or walking in this area. The vibe inside is a bit moody and dark but I like the big window in front. It was decorated with origami cranes when I was there. The selection of books I saw was varied and I think they stock something for everyone. The owner Lea was very kind and chatted with me a bit about her background. I always love learning about business owners so that was really nice. I particularly liked the non-book items like puzzles, tote bags, locally made pins, cards, handmade mugs, and more. I'll definitely be visiting again in the future for gifts for myself and others!

We were passing through on our road trip and stopped in between our brewery visits, so in awe of…read morethis cute, local, independent bookstore! Staff was friendly to share about the store and area!

A really great space filled with all sorts of cute gifts, household merchandise, and more! I've…read morealways heard about the shop from friends and coworkers and finally stopped by. I was able to park right outside the entrance, with metered street parking. They have been hosting small businesses to do popups and the day I went was to visit a friend who runs a micro-bakery called Smorris Desserts. It was easy to support a small business who also pours back into other local small businesses and the community. There are so many cute things and also other small artists and creators hosted in the store as well such as Atelier Celeste which is one of my favorite local ceramics artists. I bought a super cute necklace from their jewelry/build your own charm bar near the registers. They had a mix of gold AND SILVER which was really nice since so many places I go to often only sell gold. I also got a cute bag charm for my purse. The prices were honestly really reasonable especially for a small local business. I think if you're able, I would try to get gifts here for friends, parties, etc. The staff is also super great. Lindsay is one of the people who I often see there and they are the coolest, kindest, and most knowledgeable people about the are. They are able to give really great recommendations for things in store and also gave me a local business recommendation for something they didn't carry. Tip: spread out your gift purchases, especially for christmastime, throughout the year! It's easier on your budget to do small things at once and it feels so nice at the end of the year to realize you already did all the hard work!

I came here as a tourist from out of town, found a mass produced book and pulled out my phone to…read morewrite the book name down. The reality was, I couldn't travel with the book because it was too large and heavy to add into my luggage. The person who I ASSUME is the owner came over and immediately raised his voice and started calling me names. Saying I'm being shitty and I shouldn't "do that to a small business." I tried to explain why I was doing what I was doing and he made sure to tell me he didn't care. Not that this person will change how they operate but all he had to do was be like "hey do you mind?" And I would have pulled my head out of my ass and been understanding. However! Raising your voice and approaching anyone in that manner is deeply shitty and clearly an attempt at humiliating me. I'm not here to argue that I was in the right, I was just too busy thinking about myself and how I was bummed I couldn't travel with the book. Anyway can't wait to receive that book from literally anywhere else but this shop

I don't find myself on Cherry St that often, but when I do a stop at Gemini is a must! It's such a…read morenatural, earthy vibe. I am always inspired when I shop here and often find myself wishing I earned more money to buy all the treasures made here. Gemini makes their own hand crafted leather belts as well as offering monograms on all sorts of leather curiosities. My favorite was an ingenious cyanotype "tie dyed" leather contraption that transformed a glass jar into a coffee mug. So inventive. I also love that they sell DIY cyanotype kits amongst all their marvelous creations. Long ago, I bought an airplant from this establishment and it's still going strong. I thoroughly enjoy perusing the art, clothes, bags, jewelry and other thoughtfully designed items. It brings me peace walking in and smelling that leather along with their delicious scented candles. I take heart knowing everything is ethically sourced and locally owned. I hope you find as much joy shopping here as I do. Enjoy.

I recently found out about this venue from the Uptown Shop Hop map. I had never noticed it but was…read moreintrigued. I was instantly greeted by the shop dogs who were extremely polite and did give you space. The family was all behind the counter and it was really wholesome to see a family business in action. As I've been trying to shop locally for the holidays, I knew Gemini would be great. They have a great range of products for anyone in your life. They have a section to make your own belt, wallets, bottle holders, coasters, jewelry, and more. The prices are all really fair and it's cool to see parts of the studio where things are made. I'd definitely recommend coming here especially for one of their craft events!