I think I could buy the whole store!…read more I don't live in Rockford but stumbled across this gem before having an appointment at 'A Charmed Life'. Having a small time frame to work with definitely saved my bank account from completely unloading into the store. Seriously, such cute things. They have a lot of great local artists showcasing their work with a lot of Michigan-themed items. The store is full of fun items to decorate with as well as a unique gift to give a friend. Definitely, give yourself some time to browse around in the store because there is a lot to see and take in! The store isn't all that big but everything is styled and displayed in such a way that it all just seems to go together, you may miss a gem if you just give an area a quick look! They seemed to get new things pretty frequently so feel free to come back often and you'll always find something new! Also, the ladies in there have always been super nice to me when I am there and are very helpful!

I love this store! It's small but they have such unique things, it's an amazing place to find a…read moregift, or something for your home. They have sweet baby items and an awesome candle assortment. Such a wide variety of things, so happy to have this in Rockford!

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! :)

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!

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.

Croft haus is the cutest! Everything is great quality and I get a lot of compliments on my clothing…read moreitems from there! Quincy is the sweetest and her customer service is so personable and genuine! You can tell she puts in the work to know her store well and to serve the ada community joyfully!

From the owner: Croft Haus is focused on quality made goods for your home, for your body and for a friend. Every…read moreitem is hand selected to meet our standards, our style, and your needs. Croft- A small cozy dwelling found in Scotland, each unique to its owner and a representation of their personality, needs, and wants. Croft Haus has created that unique desire to be you, in your home, with what you wear and the gifts you give. With different collaborations, we have created areas for the adventurist, the modern and simple, the old country home and the trend setter. 

Cute new boutique to add to the east town shops. Friendly staff and a lot of neat stuff to look at…read more Big baby/kid section as well as bath, jewelry and plant/decor sections. Great place to get Baby Shower, Mother's Day, etc gifts.

Super cute shop! A little bit of everything. Dinner and drinkware, rustic soaps, candles, holiday…read moredecore, leather and metal jewelry, clothes for kids and women. Maybe they had mens too, but l can't remember. Staff said they bought the shop next door to make it more of a women's boutique. I forgot to take a pic of the womens clothing, but they had cute sweaters and hats. Excited to explore that once it opens! Lots to look at, unique items, not too pricey, pretty much what l would expect from an independent shop owner. Hey, they got bills to pay too, right? All their items looked like they were made from quality material. Highly recommend for unique gifts!

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 stopped into Kennedy's to pick up some flowers for a friends birthday and was blown away with how…read moreextensive the gifts portion of the store is. Yes, they have lots of beautiful flowers but the gift shop was really unexpected. This is a one stop shop for selecting something special for any mom, daughter, friend, sister, wife, girlfriend in your life. They've got jewelry, clothing, kitchenware, home decor and more. I walked out with a simple bouquet of tulips and my friend was delighted! The service was stellar and the owner even gave me a tour around the shop. She was extremely passionate about her shop and you could tell that she puts a lot of thought into the items that are selected. During no covid times, I understand they have lots of flower courses you can take with friends - which sounds fun!

Absolutely adorable shop with helpful and friendly staff. Kennedy's has gifts for babies to adults…read moreas well as home decor and clothing. The build your own bouquet section has so much variety and the prices were really reasonable. They have lots of parking and also host classes and events! I'll definitely be back and will recommend to others!

Who is in need of some retail therapy? ‍⁣⁣ ⁣…read morePink lemonade is one of the most adorable boutiques in East GR. It has everything for children, home, & her AND they finally opened their doors yesterday!! They have the cutest stinkin clothes and accessories; if you don't believe me, head to their page @pinklemonadegr ⁣⁣ They even have a section dedicated to mamas. If there is one trend out there that is blowing up as much as the tie-dye trend, it's the "mama" trend. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

Pink Lemonade often has a chalkboard outside advertising "Cute Things," which always makes me…read moresmile. And the store delivers! I've popped in there a few times needing a birthday present and can always find something. Snarky cards, interesting glassware/home decor, cute notebooks and office supplies. A great place to try if you need a hostess, bachelorette, or birthday gift for a girlfriend in your life but don't quite have an idea yet. The store isn't huge, but it uses all of its space efficiently so there is always a good selection of items. The owner is very pleasant and cheerful, happy to help if I need it or let me browse if I don't. They offer gift wrapping, as well, which is always nice if I'm in a rush. I don't have kids (or many little ones to buy for) so their selection of kids' clothing and toys is lost on me. But for the many EGR moms out there, I highly recommend checking this out!

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.