Locally owned businesses who believes in equality for all and basic human decency. They have the…read morecutest gifts all year round but I particularly love their Christmas displays and ornament selection.

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 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!

Super cute little local shop!!! Really makes an effort to support local artists while still being…read moreaffordable! Very cute little boutique. Hand sanitizer and masks provided. 10/10 will shop again.

This shop is the cutest honey hole for all the gifts and home accessories that you could ever want!…read moreThe store is beautifully merchandised and clean. The owner and staff are extremely helpful and friendly. It's very hard to go in for a gift for someone else and not walk out with an item or two for yourself! :)

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.

The Color Forest is literally one of my new favorite places in all of Grand Rapids!! It's a small…read morebusiness run and owned by a Grand Rapids female!! It's a polymer clay earring business... and the earrings are so colorful and so fun!! There is a storefront located on Division... that is so bright and happy!! Things you can do at the store... shop the earrings, participate in earring making classes, or shop all of the other goodies in the store!! I participated in an earring making class, and it was one of the most fun DIY classes I've ever done!! You get to make your own earrings from start to finish... and it's so neat to be able to do this entire process!! I'm for sure going to do another class!! If you're not interested in a class or shopping the storefront... you can order some earrings online!! If you're from Grand Rapids or are traveling to Grand Rapids... PLEASE make some time for The Color Forest!!

I'd never been in to this store so I decided to pop in after picking up some books at Books and…read moreMortar across the street. I was happy to see a lot of really fun cards upon first entering YT Galleria. I have a collection of cards at home and love being able to brighten someone's day by sending them out. They have cards at YT Galleria I hadn't seen before, which was fun. They range from beautiful blank cards to cheeky and more serious messages. They also have lots of great gift ideas, including a whole collection of prayer candles featuring some "patron saints" like Lizzo, Beyonce, and even Harry Potter. I've only ever seen a few of these locally so it was fun to see a large selection at one place. The shop also has a good selection of kids' items like books, games, puzzles, and some toys. I will definitely keep it in mind as many of my friends have young kids. There were also some pottery pieces that I assume must be locally made. They were beautiful but not really my style. One half of the store is all apparel, which was also not my style, but I saw some people checking out the clothing. I personally felt that the clothing was for a much older female audience. Nothing wrong with that of course, just an observation. I think YT Galleria is a great place to look for gifts, and I love to support local businesses as much as I can. I wish I could give a full five star review but I was completely ignored by the two employees working there during my visit. Since there were only a few other guests in the store at the time, I think a nice "Hello, let us know if we can help you find anything," would have been welcoming and would've encouraged me to stay longer. I browsed for a bit and saw some items that I may buy in the future but didn't really feel that welcomed. I truly believe that great customer service can go a long way, so it was a little disappointing that I wasn't even greeted when I came in the door. I look forward to my next visit to YT Galleria and hope it will be a five star experience!

If you are tired of dressing like every other woman in the mid-west, forget an expensive trip to…read moreChicago--Lake Drive is all the farther you need to go for unique European fashions and clever but comfortable style. The Yours Truly Galleria is actually a classy gift shop with a small but carefully curated collection of beautifully cut pants, tops, and jackets, along with artist-created accessories, purses, scarves, and hats. Susan and Naomi are expert at picking colors and styles that compliment the wearer. They've been known to say "No!" to a client who wanted something unflattering. They care strongly that women of all ages and sizes should feel great about themselves, so they provide clothes in rich fabrics, stunning textures, and top shelf European tailoring, from 02 to size 20. They only have a few pieces in each style, and they are priced honestly for the high quality each garment is, but Susan also has generous sales policies. Clothing is only a small part of this unique boutique! Intricate puzzles, adorable umbrellas, and games for small, smart children abound, as do ceramic and fabric exquisite gifts for adults. Everything for sale at YT Galleria has been carefully chosen to be the best gift ever!

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!

The perfect spot to shop for the guy you don't know what to get! There are so many handmade leather…read moregoods here that are durable and will last a long time. The staff are so helpful, and if you're lucky you'll get some love from their sweet pup!

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.