Shop like your city depends on it.
In an ever-evolving New York, one thing remains the same, against all odds — we’ve got some of the greatest, most unique independent businesses on earth. And Small Business Saturday is one of the biggest days on the calendar for these cornerstones of Big Apple life — a full-on celebration of neighborhood hustle.
Falling on the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, the event was first created by American Express in 2010, to shine a spotlight on mom-and-pop retailers, restaurants, and service providers amid the start of holiday shopping frenzy — steering more than $200 billion in revenue their way since, according to data.
A decade and a half on, the day has become as iconic as Black Friday — and all over Gotham, shops will be rolling out special deals, festive events, and exclusive finds, whether you’re strolling the streets looking for inspiration, rushing out to buy gift cards, or even just shopping online from city-based businesses.
“Small Business Saturday is a great chance to slow down, browse local options, and stretch your holiday dollars in meaningful ways. A little intention goes a long way in helping neighborhood shops thrive,” said Matt Schultz, an analyst at LendingTree, which found in a new survey that a majority of Americans plan to participate in the event this year.
That’s good news for shop owners like Caroline Weaver, owner of the Locavore Variety Store in Greenwich Village — where the next few weeks are among the most important of her financial year.
“So many small businesses make the majority of their income during the holiday season and really rely on local shoppers,” Weaver told The Post.
Besides running her eclectic corner shop stuffed with finds, Weaver has spent years on a citywide treasure hunt, scouring the five boroughs and logging nearly 14,000 stops since 2021 to produce the Locavore Guide, a pocket-sized cheat sheet showcasing 670 of the city’s coolest indie shops.
Here are four of Weaver’s current favorite NYC neighborhoods for a holiday gift buying adventure — each with a high density of finds in multiple categories.
“You don’t have to be great at gifting if you’re surrounded by great shops — we’re so lucky in New York to have so many world-class retailers to choose from,” she said.
Greenpoint
Have a trinketcore fanatic on your gift list? Weaver says to head straight to Store Called Store at 141 India St. — a delightfully unhinged little wonderland stuffed with witchy wares, retro oddities, and the kind of treasures only a true knickknack addict could love.
Think Mattel’s Mystique Fortell tarot cards from 1969, cartoon-bright stickers, and vintage blow-mold panda banks straight out of your childhood bedroom. Run by local artist Kelly Adelia, it’s a nostalgia-drenched trove where the weirder the find, the better the gift.
You can then head to Brooklyn Craft Company at 165 Greenpoint Ave., which Weaver calls a “supremely fun craft supply store with lots of kits and gifts for anyone who’s crafty.”
Carolyn Heitmann’s cozy craft nook is basically catnip for anyone who loves to make things from scratch. Inside, you’ll find everything from yarn and fabric to embroidery floss, sewing notions, and every DIY doodad your Pinterest board has been begging for.
She even hosts hands-on classes — knitting, stitching, sewing and more — for anyone ready to level up from “I saw it on TikTok” to “I actually made this.”
Next stop: Eastern District at 1053 Manhattan Ave., where Sam and Sami Shah serve up artisanal cheeses, tap-filled growlers, toasty sandwiches as well as craft brews — and gift baskets big enough to impress your in-laws.
Weaver says that the shop “has all sorts of pantry items, many of which are local or hard-to-find and they do fabulous gift baskets.” She adds that “it’s great for host gifts.”
After enjoying the world of cheese and tasty sandwiches, you can browse Cueva at 49 Franklin St., where you can find “a stunning selection of clothing and accessories,” according to Weaver, as well as “great independent menswear designers.”
Justin Felizarri’s shop is a treasure trove of independent and international designers, handpicked for style, originality, and serious craftsmanship.
Need a sugar pit/ refuel stop? Swing by the beloved Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop at 727 Manhattan Ave.
Owned by Christos and Donna Siafakas, this retro bakery serves up donuts, milkshakes, egg creams, and NYC classics like black-and-white cookies — all ready to eat at the counter or take on the go.
Lower East Side
Your LES crawl should start at November 19 at 37 Orchard St., Weaver says. This gift-and-home-goods hotspot (owned by Clark Chung) stocks everything from jewelry and ceramics to vintage threads and treasures from international artists — like pug mugs, latte-scented incense, hand-painted paisley bandanas, and more quirky, beautifully crafted finds.
Weaver calls it her “personal go-to for gifts” as they have “lots of treasures from Japan and all over Europe for the table, the bathroom, for kids, and lots of unique fashion accessories.”
Next, head next door to Sweet Pickle Books at 47 Orchard St. — the only bookstore in New York where your dog-eared paperbacks can score you… pickles.
Founded by Leigh Altshuler, this gem lets you trade in your used books for jars of bread-and-butter, dill or spicy spears.
Each month, they post on social media what they’re accepting (philosophy, fiction, romance, sci-fi) and what they absolutely are not (sorry, cookbooks and parenting guides).
Loyal customers happily hand over their reads for free jars of the shop’s cult pickles, though you can also buy them in-store or online for about $9.50 to $12.95.
And if you’re just here for a good book? Don’t worry — the shelves are packed. Weaver says the place “sells such an eclectic selection of secondhand books, you’re sure to find something impressively tailored to the interests of the recipient.”
Next, toast the day at Magazzino at 83 Henry St. — the wine shop where French finesse and Italian flair meet for a New York rendezvous.
The shelves are stacked with everything from crisp whites and flirty rosés to bold reds, bubbly champagnes, fizzy sparklers, plus vermouth and amaro for the cocktail snobs.
It’s basically a Euro vacation in a bottle — no passport required. “Magazzino is a gorgeous wine shop that sells specifically wines from small producers in Italy and France,” Weaver says.
Celebrate your shopping successes with a treat at Economy Candy at 108 Rivington St. — the LES’s sugar-slinging time machine where self-control goes to die.
With more than 2,000 goodies on deck, you can load up on everything from chocolate-covered grahams (jelly optional) to pretzels, jelly rings and gummies galore.
The place is a bona fide NYC legend. It started as a shoe-and-hat repair shop with a humble candy cart out front — but when the Depression hit, the sweets started outselling the soles. By 1937, the cart became a full-blown candy kingdom.
Wrap up your day at Helena Barquet and Fabiana Faria’s Coming Soon, 53 Canal St., a playful design mecca in the trendy Dimes Square micro-neighborhood, where high-end home décor meets quirky gifts — like swan-shaped spoons for caviar or ice cream, sleek vintage furniture, and NYC-themed puzzles that’ll keep the kids busy while you shop.
And don’t leave without a peek inside Elbow Bread at 1 Ludlow St. — where pastry wizard Zoë Kanan has teamed up with Eric Finkelstein and Matt Ross of Court Street Grocers to serve treats and coffee worth hanging around for. Golden, glossy challah loaves make thoughtful host gifts, too.
East Village
Kick off your spree at Mr. Throwback (437 E. 9th St., between 1st Ave & Avenue A), a retro mecca for 80s and 90s sports gear.
Think windbreakers plastered with NFL logos, classic MLB snapbacks, NBA shorts, NHL jerseys, and even vintage sneakers, video games, and toys.
Owned by Michael Spitz, this shop is a nostalgia jackpot for anyone craving old-school street style and playground vibes. Weaver calls it “a must for sports fans” as the shop “specializes in vintage sports gear for all sports and teams.”
Next, wander into Village Works at 12 St. Marks Pl, Joseph Sheridan’s literary time machine. Weaver says it’s a “really special bookstore that specializes in books about New York culture.”
It stacks local authors, indie presses, and self-published treasures, all with a Village-meets-NYC lens.
From books chronicling the city’s best record stores to photo-filled odes to four decades of Tompkins Square Park, it’s a cultural hub with exhibitions, author signings, and enough city grit to make you feel like a true New Yorker.
Then, hit Rosemary Home at 315 E. 9th St., where vintage chic meets table-ready glam. Think hand-painted bowls, floral antipasto plates, elegant spoon rests, and heart-shaped card holders — perfect for wowing at your next dinner party.
“They have their own line of punchy striped Murano glassware that I just love,” Weaver shared.
After that, give Exit9 Gift Emporium at 51 Avenue A a try, where Charles Branstool’s flagship is a pop-culture paradise.
You can grab Freddie Mercury keychains, Miffy pouches, disco-ball candles, and other delightfully quirky NYC keepsakes for pop culture stans in your family or friend group.
Need to refuel? Of course, no East Village spree is complete without a stop at Veneiro’s Pasticceria & Cafe, 342 E. 11th St., where espresso, cannolis, biscotti, and tiramisù have been delighting sweet-toothed New Yorkers since 1894 — under a gorgeous stained-glass ceiling, no less.
Astoria
Start your Queens adventure at 36-12 34th Ave. and Newtown HQ, Cindy Cortez’s pop culture playground packed with stickers, feline plushies, blind boxes, Girl Power mugs, Lady Gaga magnets, and more.
Weaver calls it a “great pop culture gift shop” that’s “stocked full of blind boxes, toys, stationery and art.”
Then, stop by 29-23 23rd Ave to hit Pimbeche Vintage, Lisa Ferrari-Sullivan’s sustainable gem where every piece has a story — like a 1960s Peter Pan collared babydoll minidress begging to spill its secrets.
Hunt for Y2K Diane von Furstenberg silk slip dresses or vintage Gucci Brown Supreme GG Web Boston bags. “It’s a a lovely, well-curated, well-priced vintage shop with lots of unique treasures to find,” Weaver says.
Hunting vinyl for the music fan on your list? Go to Pancakes Records at 20-77 Steinway St., run by couple Tanya Gorbunova and AJ Pacheco, for everything from brand-new Chappell Roan drops to classic Smiths albums — used, but still spinning strong.
Weaver says the place is “a beloved community-focused record shop with a great selection of mainstays and deep cuts.”
Next up, Athena Gourmet Market at 23-38 31st St. brings Greece to Queens with top-notch cheeses, baked treats and spices — each bite a love letter to the country’s culinary heritage.
For the biliophiles, you can’t miss the indie staple that is Astoria Bookshop at 36-19 30th St., run by Lexi Beach and her wife Connie Rourke.
You’ll find everything from rare new age, tarot and witchcraft reads to expertly curated works by Native and Indigenous authors.
Next, visit the Noguchi Museum Shop at 9-01 33rd Road in nearby Long Island City, where music, design, and Isamu Noguchi’s iconic Akari light sculptures meet curated gifts from artists carrying on his legacy.
Lastly, for your Queens pit stop, hit Balancero Coffee at 30-95 37th St., a cozy Serbian-American-owned nook serving delectable lattes, strong cortados and fresh cappuccinos — and donuts for the neighborhood’s coolest coffee shop crowd, even if the only seating’s on the sidewalk.
