There's not a lot of options around Austin when it comes to sustainable, climate-friendly products…read morefor your home, surprisingly. I was excited to find Parker and Scott during our transition to trying to make our home plastic-free with refillable soaps/detergents/etc and Earth-friendly cosmetics. I hope to never buy another plastic bottle again! The prices are not super marked up from the online prices of these items. They have a really nice set up for a local small business and have opened several similar stores in the area which is a great additional to the Austin community.

This has been a go-to spot for thoughtful and intentional gifts when I want to highlight a gift…read morefrom a local Texan artist or unique cards to accompany anything I'm handing out. I've also had the chance to use this location to pickup some items from Burlap & Twine which has made it super convenient. What I like most is the ample parking!

Alright, so it took me about six years to return to this place because I had some major PTSD from…read morean employee (who still happens to work here unfortunately). However, this time was a lot different and I was able to find the perfect gifts for my friend's birthday as well as fun items for myself. It seems like the selection has remained the same although Atown is keeping up with current and modern trends. For example, there were a lot of ICE based items tucked away as well as current celebrity crushes who are on everybody's minds. The coolest thing I found was a James Talarico candle but other than that, a lot of the items that were for sale were pretty kitschy and I believe they are the same wholesale items I have seen before. I must shoutout the incredibly helpful service from Audrey who went above and beyond to help me find items for my friend's birthday. She was super sweet, and I would've been wandering around the store aimlessly if it wasn't for her direction. Additionally, she even came up with combination gift ideas which was pretty sick. Atown is lucky to have her! I think my PTSD is no longer because of her assistance. Great store, unfortunately high prices. However, no one does it like Atown!

The stuff there is very cool, but it's very expensive. It's very interesting. The employees are…read morevery nice, and there is a lot of things

A few years later and I am still a big fan of Slow North and their candle arrangement and…read moreapothecary needs. I've been coming for a few years now and can't rave enough about their candle scents and store layout. The aromas that touch your nose will tingle your senses and have you ready to find that signature scent for whichever room you're looking to scent. From linen sprays to candles and oils, Slow North has you covered. Don't let the pricing be a deterrant as they are definitely well worth the investment. The burning time on their candles is really good and more of a slow burn. Take an opportunity to do a candle making class or participate in their other workshops!

The Hubs and I came for a midday date and we enjoyed every second of candle making. We learned so…read moremuch and were both wowed by the scents we created.

Love this place and enjoy popping in when I'm near one. They have such a selection of beautiful…read morewrapping paper, bags, cards and a few fun things. The Lego options were cool along with the puzzles and the 3D small rooms you could build. I could spend hours just looking at everything. Nothing bought this trip just a browse around.

They are located in the domain, near the park area. It's a cute gift shop type place. Greeting…read morecards, mugs, candles, other small gift items. Staff is so nice and helpful. I just needed a birthday card. But since I was there I had a little walk around. So many items to look at. Bath bombs, candies, wrapping paper, all sorts of different gifts.

Fun store with all sorts of cute items from stuffed animals to wide variety of snacks (candy,…read morecrackers) to household items as well as face make-up. Customers service here is top notch and we had the best first impression visiting the store today. Plenty of parking in Chinatown complex. Surrounded by great Vietnamese eatery and coffee/boba shops.

So many cute Disney, Sanrio items and so much more! Novelties for all ages and for all genders!…read moreThey even have scents and skincare and make up! Not to compare but much better quality items than Daiso.

Kinokuniya Books is one of the coolest bookstores I have ever visited in Austin. Calling it a…read morebookstore is almost a misnomer...it is so much more. In addition to an incredible selection of Japanese and English-language books, the store is filled with stationery, art supplies, anime merchandise, pens, unique gifts, charms, and all kinds of fun gadgets. Wow, wow, wow! I was completely overwhelmed...in the best possible way. There was so much to see that I had to take three deep breaths, slow down, and explore one aisle at a time. Everywhere I turned, I discovered something new and interesting. I found myself just as captivated by the beautifully displayed merchandise as I was by the books. As soon as I walked in, a friendly staff member greeted me and asked if I was looking for anything in particular. When I replied, "No, I'm just browsing," she smiled and pointed out the store's main sections, making it easy to begin my adventure. Everything I looked at was reasonably priced. Fun, eclectic, non-standard bookstore...

Such a helpful staff!!!! Whether in person or over the phone they are SUPER helpful, there's one…read moregentleman in particular (I wish I had gotten his name) very friendly and polite. Despite the fact that they have products up to the brim- everything is very organized. The only problem is trying to decide what to get without breaking the bank!!!

On June 20, 2026, a beloved north Austin bookstore will cease operations as a brick-and-mortar…read moreshop. Their online presence will continue during the transitionary period. Black Pearl Books, one of Austin's few Black-owned independent bookstores, is closing this chapter of their physical operations. Husband-and-wife owners Eric and Katrina Brooks stated that this move comes as they "rethink life as empty nesters." I got an opportunity to chat with the couple. Eric said their daughter, Alicia, will be going off to college. He said they still continue to do pop ups with community partners like ACC Highland campus and the Austin Public Library. The owners will work toward their future plans and continue to host authors through the fall. The closing celebration on Saturday will include live illustrations, henna, matcha, and a live reading and book signing. Importantly, the City of Austin has designated June 20, 2026, as Black Pearl Books Day. This bookstore has been a beacon of light in the Austin community and will be sorely missed! For me, it is a bigger issue...we see more and more smaller businesses closing especially over the last few years. Big box national book sellers seemingly are expanding. While Black Pearl Books owners are closing their brick-and-mortar shop, I am excited for the new opportunities that await them. We say so long for now...not goodbye!

Now that they're about to close, I decide to write my review. Well, it's another one that has been…read moresitting for SO LONG as a pending draft, I may as well get to it. Though they are closing the brick & mortar, the owners say they aren't going anywhere and this makes me happy. I am hoping this means we will continue to see them involved in all things books, social justice, and more. This is a place I started going to when I first started coming to Austin on twice-yearly visits (prior to relocation here). For several years in fact. It is one the best places to obtain banned books. The collection is impressive and IMPORTANT. Though it is a small shop, they have EVERYTHING. If they don't they get it for you. They go above and beyond! I write this as if they are still in existence and that's because as I write this, they are. While there is still time, get out and support this local, Black-owned, glorious bookstore! When they're gone and doing other things, continue to support them. We need MORE people and MORE places like this. Period. They walk the walk and talk the talk! A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Halloween is already out!…read more Every month I get a free greeting card as a member. I do send out birthday cards to friends and family. But I also like to send cards out as just a note to say "hey, I'm thinking about you" Today my free card was a birthday card. I looked over the large selection of cards. Found the one I thought was fitting. And went to the counter. I showed the cashier my app with the bar code for the free card. And that was it. Fast easy, and free!

Scammy service. I went in and made a purchase of a variety of the squishy dumpling things. Turns…read moreout the kids already had them so I went to return them, there were unopened and untouched. No where in their store, receipt, online or during my purchase was I told that the items were final sale. But the employees were crazy rude about me trying to return it. One of the ladies pulled a sign out from a drawer that stated Needohs were final sale.... I didn't buy Needohs. None the less the refused to refund items they sold. 100% would never recommend anyone shopping here due to their shady tactics and poor customer service. Funny to add their motto on their bag is to be kind and they were anything but kind.