Want to mix up your Christmas shopping? 5 unique places to shop for gifts in Louisville
Most holiday shoppers mix it up when it comes to gift purchases. You may dash to the big box store to scoop up a deal on a Black Friday big ticket item, browse local shops on Small Business Saturday and round out your gift list by making purchases online come Cyber Monday.
This holiday season, the National Retail Federation has released its projections for holiday spending and says to expect a new dynamic with online shopping becoming increasingly more popular. The retail federation expects online shopping to grow by 9% this year, while retail shopping in person will increase by 3-4%.
That's what Summer Auerbach, owner and manager of Rainbow Blossom's five area stores, is hoping to see during the 2023 holiday season. Although Rainbow Blossom is predominately a natural food market, Auerbach carries a wide assortment of books, cards, crystals, handmade clothing, candles, holiday decor, and more.
"We sell lots of essential oils, aromatherapy, and crystals this time of year," Auerbach told the Courier Journal. "Some of my favorite new items that make wonderful gifts are adorable felted stockings for the hearth and felted garlands."
This year, Small Business Saturday is Nov. 25 and the Louisville Independent Business Alliance once again urges shoppers to spend some time (and dollars) this holiday season to support the Louisville economy.
"Every dollar spent at a local business returns two to three times more dollars back into this community than a dollar spent at a non-local business," according to LIBA's website, which also includes a hoLoudays gift guide to help shoppers choose where to spend their dollars this holiday season.
And shoppers will be spending a lot of money over the next few weeks. According to the NRF, Americans are expected to spend between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion between now and Dec. 31.
"It is not surprising to see holiday sales growth returning to pre-pandemic levels," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a media call earlier this month. "Overall, household finances remain in good shape and will continue to support the consumer's ability to spend."
Once you've hit the big box stores for those big-screen televisions and tablet deals, there are special Small Business Saturday events happening in many popular locations such as Norton Commons, Logan Street Market, Paristown, Westport Village, the shops of the NuLu neighborhood and more.
But, what if you thought outside of the (gift) box? To help you find some truly one-of-a-kind items in locations you might not think of as traditional shopping destinations, here are five places in Louisville where you'll find holiday gifts and unique surprises a bit off the beaten path.
Angels Envy Distillery
500 E. Main St., angelsenvy.com
Kentucky distillery gift shops are a great place to find unique items and gifts. Angels Envy Distillery in downtown Louisville carries a wide array of glassware, barware, butcherblock cutting boards, high-quality key chains, logo t-shirts, hoodies and other apparel, and, of course, plenty of award-winning bourbon. If you have a favorite bourbon, check that distillery website for gift ideas. Some also offer gift cards as an option.
Anchal Project
1229 S. Shelby St. anchalproject.org
The Anchael Project, a nonprofit led by sisters Colleen and Maggie Clines, sells one-of-a-kind apparel, home goods, and other products handmade by female artisans in India who have been freed from the sex worker trade. The business, which was founded in 2009 and has been featured by Madewell, Anthropologie, and The Guggenheim Museum in New York City, has opened its first storefront just in time for the holidays.
Baptist Hosptial East Gift Shop
4000 Kresge Way, baptisthealth.com
This may seem an odd choice to do your holiday shopping, but trust us, the large colorful gift store just inside the main entrance to the hospital is filled with much more than figurines, balloons, and get-well cards. In fact, store manager Debbie Skaggs previously said the gift shop often attracts customers who have no other reason to be in the building. From kitchen gadgets to scarves, purses, and apparel — not to mention the jewelry — high-quality children's toys and holiday decorations, the selection fills each nook and cranny of the carefully curated shop.
Brown Hotel Gift Shop
335 W. Broadway, brownhotel.com
The gift shop at The Brown Hotel in downtown Louisville does carry the usual hotel staples like toothpaste, aspirin, and candy bars, but the similarities stop there. Frequent visitors, including commercial airline flight crews who stay at the hotel, say it's the best gift shop anywhere. The gift shop carries specialty items such as Mother of Pearl guest books, jewelry, cufflinks, grooming kits, ties, and embroidered towels. A truly unique item is the Hot Brown ceramic skillet, just like those used in the kitchen at the hotel where the dish was created.
Museum Row Gift Shops in downtown Louisville (and beyond)
Main Street, downtown Louisville
The gift stores located at Louisville's museums are a great place to find an eclectic mix of art, Kentucky-themed items, apparel, food, jewelry, toys, ornaments, home decor, and more.
Take a stroll down "Museum Row" located in the West Main District of downtown, and stop along the way in the museum gift shops including the Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Science Center, KMAC Museum, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Muhammad Ali Center and the Slugger Museum and Factory. Plus, don't forget to include a trip to the newly remodeled gift shop at the Kentucky Derby Museum, 704 Central Ave. The Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. Third St, also has a unique inventory of art-related gifts, jewelry, and books.
Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Where to buy Christmas gifts in Louisville: Museum Row, Brown Hotel
