Who else is starting to think about holiday shopping this year? While I love the twinkling holiday lights, watching classic movies, drinking hot chocolate and decorating the tree, my favorite thing about the holiday season is spending time with friends and family – and choosing the perfect, meaningful gift for everyone on my list.
And while I always appreciate a good Black Friday deal, my favorite shopping day of the season is Small Business Saturday. While I believe in shopping small and buying local year round, Small Business Saturday serves as a good reminder to support all the fantastic boutiques and independent shops that make our neighborhoods thrive here in the Boston area. Can’t make it? Another great opportunity to shop local are the festive neighborhood Holiday Strolls happening around Boston over the coming weeks.
With holiday shopping season nearing full-swing, we spoke with several of our favorite boutiques and shops around Boston to hear what they’re most excited about offering this holiday season. We also wanted to highlight some of their most popular gift items this year to provide some inspiration for your holiday wish-lists. (Who says you can’t also get a little something for yourself, amiright??) Read on for more from Boston’s best boutiques for holiday shopping this year – and then stop in for awesome holiday gifts for everyone on your list!
Boston General Store
305 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
Located on Harvard Street in Brookline’s Coolidge Corner, Boston General Store has a focus on craftsmanship. Owner April Gabriel makes a point to carry functional, high-quality goods, crafted by makers from around the world – and they offer many gift options for men, as well as women. “We have the types of things that you won’t find everywhere else. Because we’re a general store we have a little bit of everything, making it easy to find gifts for all types of people.”
When speaking about popular items this holiday season, April mentioned the shop’s 100% Pure Donegal Wool Blankets made by McNutt of Donegal. “They’re new to us this year and we absolutely love them. They’re so cozy and perfect for getting through the long New England winters.”
She told us that another go-to for gifting are the shop’s refillable leather notebooks. “We have a couple different brands, including Traveler’s Company and Le Kraft. Both are beautifully made and people love the fact that they can refill them once they’ve used all the pages.” For a higher-end special gift, April says that customers really like the shop’s Bradley Mountain backpacks. “They’re handcrafted and built to last. They’re the type of gift that someone will have for the rest of their life.”
The store’s bar section is also packed with some great stuff this season. April notes, “we have a Craft Your Own Bitters Kit, a bunch of drink recipe books, and cocktail syrups made from hand-foraged ingredients. With all the parties, dinners, and get-togethers, the holidays are a great time to try out some fun and different drink recipes.”
She also gave a nod to the shop’s growing “Zero-Waste-Home” section, which offers items like reusable food storage wraps made from beeswax, stainless steel straws, and french market net bags. “We’re always excited about sustainable products like these, and our customers seem to be too,” says April.
Follow the Boston General Store on Instagram at @bostongeneralstore to stay updated on what’s new, and make sure to stop in for your gifting needs this holiday season!
Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill
46 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill is a charming shop on Charles Street (one of my favorite streets in all of Boston!) that offers a wide selection of locally-made gifts. They offer items from some of my favorite local brands – including Live in Mosaics and Jill Rosenwald ceramics – and have a ton of great gift options this holiday season.
Blackstone’s owner Jennifer Hill told us, “Hot on our list this year are our new and incredibly soft fleece blankets made in Rhode Island. Images range from vintage Fenway Park (perfect for that Red Sox Fan) to maps of Boston. We also carry a collection of exclusive pieces with our own Boston artwork available on plates, mugs, towels, and pillows – all made locally in Massachusetts!”
Jennifer told us that she “often refers to Blackstone’s as a magical holiday emporium with musical holiday TVs and snowglobes and a store filled with twinkling ornaments!” The shop is popular with collectors of holiday brands like Byers Choice Carolers and Wee Forest Folk Mice. And Jennifer noted that new to the shop’s collectibles line this year are Spiritiles – glass on copper enameled art blocks with touching quotes along their sides.
Blackstone’s is also a great place to pop into if you’re hosting a holiday party or dinner. The shop carries a large assortment of holiday crackers (a fun British tradition). And is also Beacon Hill’s one stop-shop for paper goods, including cocktail napkins, plates and more – making any holiday get-together even more festive!
Follow Blackstone”s on Instagram at @blackstonesboston to stay up to date on new offerings – and make sure to pop in during the Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll on December 6.
Flock
274 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118
Located on Shawmut Ave in the South End, Flock is known for their carefully curated selection of women’s clothing and jewelry (including designs from the ever-popular Kendra Scott). They also always have a great selection of greeting cards and gift items available.
Owner Dani McDonald spoke with us about some of the new beauty products the shop just starting adding to its gift selection, which she’s excited about for the holiday season. “Some of my favorites include the ‘Mercury Retrograde’ roller and Awaken Mist by Little Shop of Oils, as well as a CBD oil made by INDA Creations,” Dani told us.
In terms of best sellers and most popular items, she says that the shop is always fully stocked with hats from Boston-based designer Sh*t That I Knit. And this year the shop is carrying the designer’s new line of Pardy wraps, which are sure to be extremely popular. Flock truly has something for everyone during the holidays. “During the Holidays we stock ornaments, cards, and we also really amp up our jewelry selection,” giving shoppers a lot to choose from, noted Dani. They also have a great selection of colorful totes on offer, along with cute wine bags with clever sayings – perfect to bring to a holiday party.
As an added bonus, you just might be able to catch a glimpse of Flock’s adorable “shop dog” – a golden retriever named Simon – who is always up for greeting guests and helping spread the holiday cheer.
Follow Flock on Instagram at @flock_boston to see more of their holiday offerings, and be sure to stop in when you’re in the South End this holiday season – especially during the Holiday Stroll on Dec. 5.
Loft & Vine
26 Prince St, Boston, MA 02113
With a storefront right on Prince Street in the North End, Loft & Vine is one of my favorites spots to pop into when I need a hostess gift or some new decor. One of the gifts that owner Sarah Garabedian is most excited about this holiday season are new handmade ornaments and ring bowls by local artist Chrissy Ann Ceramics. Sarah noted that Chrissy offers ‘Bliss’, ‘Just Hitched’ and ‘I do’ ornaments, along with pink and blue baby feet for 2018. “Her ceramics are creative and sweet and we’ve already sold out once – but we’ve restocked and are ready for the holiday season!”
Another popular option for gifts are the maple and slate cheese boards the shop offers with the Boston skyline etched into them. Made in Vermont with an awesome local touch, Sarah notes that they make great hostess gifts all year long. The store also offers local favorites like Noted Candles which are hand-poured in Boston (with their Fraser Fir scent being a popular holiday choice), and homemade soaps from Boston-based The Humble Soaper.
When talking about getting ready for the holiday season, Sarah says she’s most looking forward to seeing her regular customers come in and find something special for their family and friends. “That’s the best part of having a shop in the North End,” Sarah told us. “The sense of community and getting to know our customers one by one. We love our neighborhood!”
Make sure to stop into Loft & Vine on Small Business Saturday, or during the annual North End Stroll on Nov. 30. Follow the shop on Instagram at @loftandvine to stay updated on what’s new!
Mint Julep
1302 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446 and 6 Church St, Cambridge, MA 02138
With locations in Harvard Square and Brookline, Mint Julep is a fun boutique that is always full of bright colors and fun accessories. Stephanie Nist, co-owner of Mint Julep, told us about how much the shop loves the holidays. “The store comes alive with seasonal greenery and decorations galore. We have a ton of one-size-fits-all gifts at many price points.” She noted that one of the store’s best sellers year after year are a line of fleece-lined knit hats with fox fur poms, which are handmade in Montreal. “They are the perfect example of fun fashion meets function – and this year we have more colors than ever.”
Mint Julep is a great place to shop for winter accessories, and the shop is fully stocked with items including chunky scarves, lightweight scarves, gloves, mittens, faux-fur hats and more.
Stephanie encourages shoppers to treat themselves or their loved ones to a colorful and unique winter accessory set this year. “As New England dwellers know all too well, the winter is long and harsh – and any little pop of warmth helps.”
Stephanie told us that the shop cherry picks the best pieces from the hundreds of collections they see each season, with a preference for color, prints, and textures. “Anything with a quirky print on it – whether it’s robots, tigers, cats in boots, or the solar system – we scoop up and feature in the store.”
“Boston is full of traditional preppy clothing,” she added. “We like to spice things up with a little fun.”
Follow Mint Julep on Instagram at @shopmintjulep to stay up to date on new offerings, and be sure to stop in during your holiday shopping!
Place & Gather
26 Common St, Charlestown, MA 02129
Place & Gather opened last year as a very welcome addition to Charlestown, and owner Amanda Mitchell always has the shop stocked with a fantastic assortment of jewelry, home decor, books, candles, pillows and more. A perfect option for finding gifts for those who love to entertain (like myself), the shop always has an awesome selection of fun cocktail napkins (great for stocking stuffers!), along with offerings from some of my favorite local brands like Jill Rosenwald ceramics and Noted candles. My husband is also a big fan of their selection of Smathers & Branson needlepoint keychains – especially those with Boston sports team motifs.
When chatting with Amanda about the holiday season, she told us she’s excited about the shop’s assortment of coffee table books this year, which make great gifts – especially for the person who has “everything”. She also noted that between Place & Gather, and the shop’s sister store Junebug (also in Charlestown, on Main Street), they have ornaments for all tastes and styles. “We worked hard to curate a fun variety and can’t wait for people to start scooping them up,” said Amanda.
When chatting about popular items, Amanda told us that the shop’s Santa mugs are always a best-seller this time of year (pictured above). She continued, “we also can’t keep our jewelry in stock. If you have a holiday party to go to I would point you in the direction of our earring selection as they sell out fast!”
In addition to normal shopping hours, both Place & Gather and Junebug are hosting some fun events this holiday season. Place & Gather is hosting their December “Sip & Shop” on Dec. 13 from 5-8pm, during which Boston Blogger @domestikateblog will be signing her new book New England Invite. And this month, Charlestown’s own Donna Garlough, author of Your Home, Your Style, will be popping up at Junebug for a book signing and workshop from 6:30-8pm on November 27th. Amanda notes, “Donna will be teaching us to how style an edible table runner crafted from fruits, flowers, greenery, cheeses and other seasonal goodies,” surely an event not to miss!
Follow both Place & Gather and Junebug on Instagram at @placeandgather and @junebugcharlestown to stay updated on events and new arrivals, and be sure to stop in to both locations for some holiday shopping this season!
Olives & Grace
623 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118
Located on Tremont Street in the South End, Olives & Grace is a shop that is truly focused on its connection to the community and the local makers and artisans in the area. The shop’s mantra is “quality over quantity,” and owner Sofi Madison makes it a point to offer a specially curated selection of beautifully designed, well-made gifts.
When chatting with Sofi about the upcoming holiday season, she told us that this year she’s extremely excited about all of the Boston-made products being offered. “Our Boston blanket is a top seller, as well as the Boston sweater that is coming in soon. Both will be sold in-store and online,” she noted. The Boston Brownstone tea towels that the shop carries also make great local gifts.
She continued, “our favorite types of products are the gifts that give back. There are several items in the shop that raise money and support wonderful causes. Some favorites are Prosperity Candle, which offers hand-poured candles by female refugees. And Ajiri Tea, an African tea company which is raising funds to educate orphans in Kenya.”
Olives & Grace also offers a selection of curated gift boxes, which are also great options for the holidays. You can make your own, or choose from options like the Boston Local gift box, the Rest & Relaxation gift box or the Cocktail Cart gift box.
Follow Olives & Grace on Instagram at @olivesandgrace to stay up to date on what’s new during the holidays and make sure to stop in for some local Boston gifts this season.
Shake the Tree
67 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Having lived in the North End for many years, Shake the Tree is a boutique I made sure to pop into every time I’m over on Salem Street. Owner Marian Klausner always has the shop full of interesting and unique items, including jewelry, candles, scarves, clothing and more.
When we asked Marian what she’s most excited about offering this holiday season, she told us about the shop’s new section of wellness gifts. “We have bundles of sage/wildflowers, chakra cleansing kits, essential oil sprays, volcanic ash Ganesha statues and books on healthy living and creating sanctuary in your home,” said Marian. “They make perfect gifts for your friends who do yoga or anyone looking for peace and balance.”
Marian also told us that they have a lot of customers that come in looking for hostess gifts to bring to holiday gatherings. Instead of bringing another bottle of wine, she suggests McCrea’s Caramels which are made in Boston. She also recommends pine-scented candles by Aunt Sadie’s (formerly of Boston, now hand poured in Vermont), or one of the single varietal raw honeys that Shake the Tree carries.
Marian notes that “so many people holiday shop online or in big box stores and shopping in a local independently-owned shop provides a hands-on opportunity to discover small batch gifts that you might never find online. We love our handmade jewelry, unique ornaments, small batch soaps, cocktail accessories and huge selection of cookbooks!”
Stop into Shake the Tree during Small Business Saturday or during the North End Stroll on Nov. 30, and follow the shop on Instagram at @shakethetreeboston to stay up to date on what’s new.
Additional Shops & Boutiques for Holiday Shopping in Boston:
There are so many awesome independent shops and boutiques in Boston where you can shop local this holiday season. A few more of our favorites are listed below by neighborhood.
Boutiques in Beacon Hill:
Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill
46 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
https://www.blackstonesbeaconhill.com/
Instagram: @blackstonesboston
Crush Boutique
131 Charles St # 1, Boston, MA 02114
https://www.shopcrushboutique.com/
Instagram: @crushboutique
Flat of the Hill
60 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
https://www.flatofthehill.com/
Instagram: @flatofthehill
The Red Wagon
69 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
https://theredwagon.com/
Instagram: @redwagonboston
Whitney & Winston
113 Charles St, Boston, MA 02114
http://www.whitneyandwinston.com/
Instagram: @whitneyandwinston
Boutiques in Brookline:
Fire Opal
320 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
https://www.fire-opal.com/
Instagram: @fireopalboston
Tiny Hanger
314 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446
https://www.tinyhanger.com/
Instagram: @tinyhanger
Boutiques in Charlestown:
Junebug
211 Main St, Charlestown, MA 02129
Instagram: @junebugcharlestown
Mockingbird
219 Main St, Charlestown, MA 02129
https://mockingbirdstore.com/
Instagram: @mockingbirdstore
Boutiques in the North End:
Ensemble
2 Baldwin Pl, Boston, MA 02113
https://ensembleboutiques.com/
Instagram: @ensembleboutiques
LIT Boutique
236 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
https://litboutique.com/
Instagram: @litboutique
Sedurre
28 Prince St, Boston, MA 02113
https://www.sedurreboston.com
Instagram: @sedurreboston
Boutiques in the South End:
Gifted
2 Dartmouth St, Boston, MA 02116
https://www.giftedboston.com/
Instagram: @giftedboston
SAULT New England
577 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02118
https://saultne.com/
Instagram: @saultnewengland
What are your favorite spots for holiday shopping in the Boston area? Let us know in the comments below!
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Categories: Boston, Shopping, The Best of MA
very informative blog about shopping in boston. one can so many ideas about shopping there..
Thanks for sharing all of your experiences!