i friggin love this place. so many different awesome goodies. last time i went i got some sheep's…read moremilk soap that cured this mysterious rash i had on my chest. i also love the nonna's cookies, the ice cream, and the hair clips.

It was a very Electric City Christmas for many on my shopping list this year, and I have…read moreSchenectady Trading Co. to thank. A welcome addition to the Schenectady small business retail scene, it's very on-brand, and I'm here for it. I was able to get quite a few Schenectady-centric Christmas gifts here, and since I always try to support local makers and businesses first, this shop made it super easy - lots of one-stop-shopping potential. My haul included: - two ornaments for the Christmas trees of my Schenectady born-and-raised sisters who no longer live in the 518 - a cute little crocheted elf for my 5-month old niece made my a local granny - a rather stunning wooden bowl, handmade by a local engineer/former colleague of the owner who parkates in woodworking as a hobby - Electric City themed gifts for my boss, who's a Schenectady guy at heart, including a wooden/metal hybrid bottle opener with "ELECTRIC CITY" boldy branded on the front, a pint glass with a cool 70s-esque, retro font ("ELECTRIC CITY"), matching sticker (for the laptop!), and a coaster, but not just any old boring coaster. This one had an illustrated scene printed on glossy enamel depicting a Schenectady police officer playing basketball with a child. Not only did this fit my theme, but the I knew the coaster I chose (there were several different ones) would be significant because his father is a retired Schenectady cop. I guess the pictures on the coasters were part of a public art project, where Schenectady-themed scenes were drawn and then selected to appear on merchandise for the Greenmarket and other items, like these coasters sold here. This is a rough Cliffs Notes version of the project, but it was cool learning about it, knowing it was part of something bigger and community focused. It's the little touches like that which make gift giving feel so special, and I know I wouldn't have found any of those beautiful, thoughtful, local gifts without a shop like Schenectady Trading Co. It would have been even better if there was a small card with a write up about the art project, so I could have gifted the coaster with a bit more "purpose." I like it when I can include a write up about the artist or project or whatever interesting element might need further explaining to make the gift even more interesting. Aside from my local finds, there's plenty of other merchandise, and items that stuck out were a selection of Tough Traveler bags (hometown favorite!), "Electric City" and "Schenectady, Light Up the World!" apparel, a cool assortment of Schenectady inspired vinyl stickers, chocolates from Schenectady-based chocolate shop, Uncle Sam's, and quite a few other odds and ends. I'm thankful that shops like this exist, backed by business owners who have an appreciation for the city and realize there's a need for some Electric City gift giving magic. Wishing them lots of luck, and excited to see what type of programming the owner has in mind down the road (she hinted on wanting this to be more than a retail shop, with poetry nights and books clubs and other outlets for mental stimulation - bring it on!)

Such a unique store that takes several times of walking around to really see everything they have!…read moreBeautiful mix of vintage and new and all fairly reasonably priced! Always find something new to fall in love with and staff are friendly and willing to help however is needed. Great to have them back open.

This quant little store is filled with nothing but one of a kind finds, perfect gifts for those who…read morehave everything.... but they don't, because they don't own something from this adorable shop. From paintings with moons, to lamps made out of old ice fishing rods.... you can't go wrong. It' is hard to narrow it down to just one item, so go ahead and shop til your heart is content. Any item you choose is unique and quite individual, catered to the inner artist in each of us. Unfortunately, we live in LA area, and are limited to how much we can shop or ship. I never visit Troy without stopping by to browse, and buy. The owner is super sweet and many of the paintings are done by her mom, all the more reason to stop by and support this local business.

Love to support an independent and local bookstore, especially one that sells gifts, jewelry and…read morehas a toy and game section. I am a "Frequent Buyer" here and earn points. Stopped by for a summer read and a few items for grandkids on family vacation in RI. Hope the teens like the game I selected: True or False. See photo of all purchases today. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable! Store supports local artists and writers.

I went in to browse and found some lovely books for my grandsons and a birthday card for my sister…read more What a large assortment of stunning items for almost everyone I know. Free membership that doesn't expire. Discounted items (including book shelves of them as well) from holidays and their book selection offers. Helpful, kind present people working there. It's downtown Schenectady so street parking. (Best to go on Sunday)

If you're a person of color you're most likely not wanted here…read more I collect a lot of trinkets so I am always very excited to find a store like this, however every time I find myself coming to the owners store i'm always given dirty looks or watched vigilantly as if i'd steal. It's kind of hurtful. It's happened multiple times, inside and outside of the store. I recall going to the farmers market and him being inside the store until I came around, he immediately came outside and followed me around :/ It's a big shame as I want to like the store but just can't

Very random and dense collection of vinyl, but it's not "curated" - the selections look for the…read moremost part like they're just culled from garage sales in the area. That said, the Re-Collector has picked up a few gems so if you're a hard core collector, you'll likely spend a little time flipping through the bins. There's some CDs, DVDs, cassettes, and even a shelf of 8-tracks, and then a bunch of completely randomized tschotschkes. While I'm a sucker for this sort of thing usually we haven't found anything interesting on repeated visits. The music and vibe can be interesting or annoying, which goes double for the Re-Collector himself; he seems to be a bit moody. The store's pretty cramped, too, so go in with your claustrophobia under control and I recommend not taking any bags in, either. Worth a buzz-by if you like random odd used stuff stores, but not a can't miss one-of-those-things IMHO.

We stopped by this cute gift shop. Mary Ann helped us and was incredibly nice and helpful. I love…read morethe selection of items available. A lot of the jewelry is from Dublin, Ireland and some can be ordered if she doesn't have your size. They also offer custom family crest items which would make a fantastic gift!! There are so many awesome items there!

Lovely shop with a huge variety of food and other items, including jewelry. Perfect timing running…read moreinto this shop as we were walking around the downtown as I really wanted a pair of claddagh earrings to go with my claddagh charm in time for St. Patrick's Day. They had a really nice selection of jewelry and the woman working was nice enough to open the case and let me have a look. I decided on a pair and she even told me the background, including a famous shop in Dublin where they were produced. I loved the pendant too but didn't want to splurge too much (they were around $70) but it's on my list to get the next time I pass by.

Amazing shop! Quirky antiques, especially for ladies. Great local handmade gifts. Not to mention…read morethe 2 sweets cats who reside in the store during business hours.

I always go by here when I'm in Albany for work and loved it. Bought a bunch of stuff. But the…read moreowner's Facebook post...um..no.

Disappointing... mostly the owner. I have check it out and asked the owner for a specific item that…read moreI noticed he does have for sale but wanted to know if he got more of them, he said "Yeah we got some more" Great!...so I had a plan, so I need leave but will come back later to test/check out the items as I told him. I came back two days later, saw the items... and then he said "oh no... I don't sell them".. I was confused, he seem like he didn't want to talk with me, the another employee seem wasn't sure to answer me but kept saying we don't sell them. I'm not up for this and his attitude if he keeps changing his mind either to sell or not to sell, I don't have time for people like him who keep changing their mind and etc if you get to know him more... but people, don't waste your time going there, its his storage room... not an business. Good luck!

This whimsy little shop sits happily on Jay Street in downtown Schenectady, and its vintage vibes…read moredefinitely take you back to the days of Mad Men and Mrs. Maisel. I picked up the cutest vintage baby sweater/bonnet set for my niece as a Christmas gift! I first spotted the pair on Instagram, as the shop keeps a colorful, lively feed (@downtowndesignsonjay) and I thought it could be the perfect gift for my 5-month old niece. The sweater set is from the 1930s, and while it was in pristine condition, Richard, the shop's charming proprietor, offered to replace the ribbon on the bonnet to freshen up the garment, and it was an easy offer to accept. I purchased it on a Sunday afternoon, and it was ready for pickup Friday afternoon, complete with a beautiful wrap job; what an incredibly nice touch! Especially during the holidays, one less gift to wrap a present in itself! I strongly encourage anyone with taste in vintage threads to give this little shop a follow on social, and stop in one of these days! It's finds are definitely tailored more for the fancier vintage crowd vs. those looking for Levi's or more casual pieces from end of the 20th century, but it's wonderfully curated, and I appreciate the TLC and attention to detail the owner gives this shop. I currently have a small obsession with finding certain vintage brands, and after chatting Richard up about my vintage Pendleton dreams, he promised to keep an eye out for any finds when he and his team do some hauls, so fingers crossed I can add to my collection!

Downtown Designs is one of the finest shops on Schenectady's Jay Street. Richard has excellent…read moretaste and curates a collection of classic vintage clothes, accessories and jewelry. You can find a variety of vintage styles whether you prefer the psychedelic look, mod fashions or Hollywood glamour. There is truly something for everyone here. Everything is nearly organized and displayed, and the shop is pleasant to peruse. The prices are very reasonable, especially because the clothes are in such mint condition. Richard is very knowledgeable and reasonable regarding vintage clothing, and always a pleasure to speak with. I would highly recommend Downtown Designs to anyone interested in vintage clothing or accessories, and anyone looking to learn more about vintage and see some beautiful garments.

Second time holiday shopping here this month. Great shop for gifts at all price points that will…read morebe enjoyed. Brought my daughter and grandson this time. The store has incredible items that are unique and exciting. Will selected wonderful stained glass window decals for himself and his sister. He picked out a Muzak radio with flashlight for himself and helped me select one his sister would like. I bought a wood toned Muzak radio as a gift to myself! It is a small portable blue tooth speaker. I will listen to FM radio on it. Cool items: Pizza glass cleaning cloth Adorable gingerbread stuffed animals Saw shaped plastic knife for cake ( great for lettuce too) Stickers Etc. This Jay Street store was bustling was customers today! So happy it is a success. Amanda is not only smart, she is a hard worker with a good eye for merchandise, affordable art, and gifts for most people on your list.

the best store there! all the cute kawaii things, home decor, toys, stationary, stickers, tees,…read moreetc. the store was very hot and the ac should be on!! but other than that i spent money here and i loved wut i got. staff is very friendly too!