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!

This shop makes me think of a real life Etsy store. They have a lot of different items, from…read moreclothes to bath & body products to things to decorate your home. Many items are from Michigan/Grand Rapids. You can find a unique gift or cool accent piece for your home here.

The salespeople are always nice and helpful. I can always find birthday presents for my friends and…read morefamily! They have amazing decorations and furniture. This shop is one of my favourite stores! The prices are right on as well. They're never too expensive, they're just the right price!

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.

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!

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.

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!