Local Holiday Shopping Spots

Ellen’s Guide to Local Holiday Shopping

If you know Ellen, you know she shops locally at every opportunity! Why does shopping locally matter? When you shop small, you also often experience:

Convenience

Local shopping doesn’t leave you hanging, waiting on long shipping and delivery delays. Just drop by your local shops and ta-da! You’ve got your groceries, your holiday gifts, and no shipping waits or fees!

Creativity

Say goodbye to cookie-cutter items and say hello to thoughtful, meaningful items. Tailormade clothing, local honey from nearby beekeepers, and intriguing pottery pieces will give your home the warmth and character you long for.

Consistency

Local vendors are more likely to produce top-quality, durable items of a higher value than mass-produced items. Enjoy excellent clothing, dishes, vases, and bags that are made to last instead of having to replace your belongings every couple of months due to poor quality.

Community

When you purchase from local shops, you’re supporting your neighbors, friends, and family in their businesses instead of large, impersonal chain stores.

This holiday season, choose to enjoy all the benefits of shopping locally! Do your holiday gift shopping at local boutiques, or purchase gift cards from local salons or eateries! Check out Ellen’s list below for some ideas on where to shop small this holiday season.

Local Shops for All Your Holiday Needs: 

A Store Named Stuff: I always find fabulous, unique gifts here! They have the best Christmas tree of decorations that make great gifts for teachers and Secret Santas.  This “Artistic Lifestyle Store” has everything you can dream of: ceramics and pottery, fine art and sculptures, books, apparel, candles, and even items for kids. There is not space to describe how many gifts I have purchased at “a store named STUFF!” Check out their rug collection in person, or shop online for holiday gifts!

Fiddly Fig Florist: My favorite florist in all of Kansas City! This Brookside alumnus has moved over to Holmes but they still deserve my Brookside love!  I’ve already picked up a fabulous bouquet – and their beautiful Christmas decorations are ready! Purchase a gift for your loved ones, or enhance your own home with beautiful creations from Fiddly Fig!

The Roasterie: Take a break from the busyness and enjoy some local coffee! In fact, go ahead and add The Roasterie to your holiday shopping list! While you grab your caffeine pick-me-up, it’s easy to purchase a gift or two for the coffee lovers in your life. Who doesn’t love a gift card for coffee? You can never have too many! Or, for those who prefer to make it at home, purchase a bag of the Roasterie’s beans! Whatever you do, enjoy your coffee and don’t forget to shop local!

World’s Window: Featuring hand-crafted items by artisans around the world, this place is just fabulous! Find artistic home décor, clothing and gifts when you drop by.  They have they BEST scarves made from old silk saris and the most epic coffee mugs – I have 4 of their mugs! This year they’re also displaying incredible nativity sets made from around the world. The one in the picture is Nepalese! Find a little piece of the bigger world right here in our own Brookside corner when you shop at World’s Window.

Brookside Jewelry: Looking for something timeless and meaningful this year? Brookside’s own local jewelry shop specializes in watch/jewelry repair, as well as custom by-hand engraving! They also feature several wonderful antique and vintage pieces – I just bought 4 super cool vintage pins! Find that perfect piece for your loved one – or for yourself – this holiday season at Brookside Jewelry.

Sky’s Limit CrossFit: One of the best gifts you can give someone is the opportunity to invest in themselves. I’ve been training with Ronnie at Sky’s Limit for several years now, and I absolutely love my results! Support a friend’s fitness goals or invest in yourself this year with Sky’s Limit CrossFit or personal training.

Brookside Barkery & Bath: This local bathing/grooming pet shop has way more to offer than originally meets the eye! The Barkery’s focus on pet nutrition and wellness is simply astounding. Plus, while you wait for your dog’s trim, you can take a look around the store at all their incredible treats and toys. One of my seasonal favorites is their great selection of Christmas dog sweaters!

Café Europa:  Who doesn’t love good comfort food? Now imagine enjoying your favorite comfort foods in a classy eatery with an in-house bakery. Yum. This local dining spot also offers a beautiful selection of food gifts to create a basket of goodies. Additionally, Café Europa has delicious, prepared food you can take home from their refrigerated cases. You can’t go wrong with their EPIC lemon cake.

Shop Girls: Next door to Brookside’s Barkery, this fun boutique has beautiful clothes, beautiful clothes and more beautiful clothes. I just love their unique and current options for women. If you’re looking for quick, popular gift items, Shop Girls also sells candles, home décor, hair clips and more.

Pooches Paradise: My boxer Marley loves this doggy daycare. She drags me in the front door, and at the end of the day, I drag her to the car exhausted from playing all day. With boarding, daycare, and grooming options, your fellow pet parents will absolutely love a gift certificate to Pooches Paradise.

Leopold Gallery: This art gallery in little Brookside is not only nationally-ranked, but also the home of some wonderful art consultants who have worked with thousands of private collectors. My favorite piece of their gallery? Their fabulous Lyman Whitaker wind sculptures! In fact, my sisters and I donated a wind sculpture by Lyman Whitaker to the Labette Community College in Parsons, KS in May! Find your own wind sculpture, or discover the perfect art piece for your loved one at the Leopold Gallery this holiday season!

More Local Shopping Ideas

These Brookside shops offer a wide variety of gifts ideal for your holiday shopping needs; there’s a little something for everyone!

In addition to these local shop, you can support your local community by purchasing gift cards or pieces from any of the following local shops and salons.

• Hairstylists and barbers
• Makeup artists
• Nail artists
• Personal trainers
• Local chefs and restaurants
• Massage therapists
• Local artists
• Local boutiques
• Any local business

Get into the holiday spirit when you shop locally this holiday season! Invest in the small businesses around you and enjoy the convenience, creativity, consistency, and community you will discover.

Follow Ellen on Instagram and Facebook for all the insights into Local Holiday Shopping and for further information on real estate and homeownership in Kansas City!