Small Business Saturday may be behind us, but shopping locally throughout the holiday season is always a good idea. Not only will you be supporting the local economy, and helping our city keep its cool reputation, but you’ll also find an array of unique and one-of-kind gifts you won’t find anywhere else.
So, if you’re ready, head on out and shop local in Austin this holiday season, then check out some of these fantastic stores and shops.
Antonelli’s Cheese Shop – 4220 Duval St, Austin, TX
The Antonelli’s love of cheese is reflected in its various gift baskets, where each item is thoughtfully picked out. For a purely local treat, check out the Taste of Texas parcel, which comes with local cheeses like Dripping Springs’ Pure Luck Dairy. Or you can customize your own gift basket to add in sweet and savory snacks and spreads—either way, you can’t go wrong.
Atown – 5502 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX
Whether you’re looking for a t-shirt that proudly states your Austin status or handmade greeting cards to adorn the top of your gifts, then Atown has you covered. This store is chock full of men and women’s apparel as well as toys, trinkets, and accessories.
BookPeople – 603 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
Independent bookstores are also facing extinction these days—but you’d never guess it when visiting Book People on a Saturday afternoon. This two-story shop is not only packed with books, but with lots of goodies like mugs, socks, bags, and more. If you’re not sure what to buy as a gift, then the helpful sales team will be more than happy to make some on-point recommendations.
Crystal Works – 908 W 12th St, Austin, TX
This store is sparkling with gems, polished stones, and crystals. They also carry wind chimes, dreamcatchers, and just about anything the metaphysics lover in your life would love to receive.
Half Price Books – Various Locations
This Austin family-owned chain buys and sells secondhand books, as well as movies and music in various formats. There’s no telling what treasures you will find for everyone on your list when you visit any of the Austin locations.
Marigold – Gateway To India – 2200 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
For the people in our lives who love bold colors and vibrant patterns, the key to gift-giving success may lie within this treasure of a store. When you walk in, you’ll feel as if you’ve been transported to an Indian bazaar—the selection of earrings, wristlets, and anklets is stunning.
Parts & Labour – 1117 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX
This is the ultimate shopping local store. The range of items you can find in Parts & Labour—from necklaces to key chains, and t-shirts to wall art—are all made by local artists and crafters. They have so many interesting and hilarious gifts to choose from that you’re going to have trouble narrowing down your options.
Terra Toys – 2438 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX
You’d be hard-pressed to find one kid who wasn’t over the moon with excitement about going to Terra Toys. They have it all—from stuffed animals to vintage toy sets, and everything in between. Some of our favorite Terra Toy items include: hand puppets, doll house furnishings, wax bottle candy, and tons of Hello Kitty memorabilia.
Toy Joy – 403 W 2nd St, Austin, TX
There’s more than one amazing place to find toys in Austin this holiday season. Toy Joy is another insanely fun toy store—and is probably the only one in the universe to be known for its vegan soft serve ice cream. This place is full of surprises and all sorts of delightful gifts.
Waterloo Records & Video – 600A N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
Record stores are a dying breed, but since our city has such a thriving music scene, it’s no wonder that Waterloo is like the holy land for music lovers. Not only can you snag some vintage vinyl for a friend’s secret Santa, but you can also scope out the turntables, CDs, DVDs, and much more.
If you’re looking for a great holiday shopping experience, then ditch the malls and get on out there to support local Austin businesses! You’ll be sure to find some amazing gifts all along the way.
