(Stephanie Birdsong / For The Times)
Pick up the perfect gift at these 44 stores you’ll find only in L.A.
Los Angeles is one of those cities with a fantastic collection of small, independently-owned alternatives to big box stores. So, if you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for a discerning friend or loved one, you must hit Abbott Kinney, Sunset Boulevard, York, or a weekend flea market for something special.
So why not do something great and support a small business in Los Angeles this year? We have made it easy for you by compiling a list of more than 40 independent stores where you can shop for gifts in person this holiday season. As with our lists of Black-, AAPI-, Latino- and women-owned businesses, this is not meant to be a definitive list but a way to highlight small businesses in Los Angeles.
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Showing Places
(Acorn)
Acorn Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock Gift Store
Packed with plants, candles, ceramics and casual apparel, Erin and Laura Tanaka’s Eagle Rock store features a refreshing variety of accessories that won’t break the bank: Maison Louis Marie candles, handmade ceramics by Elizabeth Benotti, Moroccan leather Babouche slippers. The store is focused on California indoor-outdoor living, with an outdoor space devoted to gardening and houseplants. The mother and daughter duo also offers personal shopping services and custom arrangements.
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(Ana Ross)
Alchemy Works
Playa Vista Gift Store
Several years after opening Alchemy Works in the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles (which has since closed), husband and wife Raan and Lindsay Parton added a showroom in Newport Beach and most recently the Free Market at Playa Vista. The stylish showrooms are designed to feel like a well-appointed home where vintage furnishings mix with handwoven linens by Heather Taylor Home, bedding by Morrow Soft Goods, market bags by Apolis and skincare by Noto Botanics. Creative director Raan Parton describes it as “a California edit on everything.”
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times )
Burro
Venice Gift Store
Erinn Berkson’s lifestyle store radiates an independent spirit among the many brand-name retailers on trendy Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Perhaps it’s because Berkson opened Burro, which she says takes its name from the “hard-working, loyal burro pioneering across the desert landscape carrying goods from all over,” in 1999, long before Abbot Kinney became a tourist destination.
The sunny boutique is curated to suit everyone on your gift list: Cookbooks and pretty boxes of tinned fish for foodies, games and books for kids, jewelry, hats and casual clothing for women, home goods and ladybug gardens for gardeners and fabulous stationery and cards for everyone. The store features many local brands, including Flamingo Estate, Brightland, jewelery labels Chan Luu and Victoria Cunningham Jewelry, skin and hair-care brand Wonder Valley and P.F. Candle Co.
The sunny boutique is curated to suit everyone on your gift list: Cookbooks and pretty boxes of tinned fish for foodies, games and books for kids, jewelry, hats and casual clothing for women, home goods and ladybug gardens for gardeners and fabulous stationery and cards for everyone. The store features many local brands, including Flamingo Estate, Brightland, jewelery labels Chan Luu and Victoria Cunningham Jewelry, skin and hair-care brand Wonder Valley and P.F. Candle Co.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times )
Cici ’n Tux
Glendale Gift Store
A few blocks from the Americana shopping mall in Glendale, Arax Hoonanian has opened a gift shop devoted to handmade products from around the world, including many female-owned businesses. Hoonanian stocks natural skincare lines such as Real Fruit Body, plus jewelry, soaps, candles that can be re-purposed as lotion, barware and insulated backpacks you can take to the Hollywood Bowl. Hoonanian’s bespoke inclinations don’t stop with her vendors. On a recent visit, she offered to create a custom gift box from any retail items in the store.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Clover
Silver Lake Gift Store
This longtime Silver Lake boutique offers clothing by local designers, a great assortment of cards, cookbooks, apothecary items, jewelry and specialty gift boxes.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Dekor
Atwater Village Gift Store
Swedish-born interior designer Isabelle Dahlin’s showrooms in Atwater Village and Ojai are filled with vintage furnishings, colorful Turkish kilims and pillows, candles, clothing and jewelry and her own line of custom furniture. Shop for gifts at her second location in Ojai at 105 S. Montgomery St.
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(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
D.L. Rhein
Palms Gift Store
D.L. Rhein, which opened in 2006, is the brainchild of Deborah Rhein, who began by crafting unique accessories at home. She expanded over the years into full-scale design and retail. “I love collecting and hunting for beautiful objects,” Rhein says, “old, new, antique and vintage.” For more than 10 years the store has been stocked with a varied mix of hostess gifts, jewelry and furniture, with a special focus now on serving ware and home products. During the holidays, the store features a wide variety of fun ornaments, from RBG to AOC and David Bowie.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Earthing Earth
Long Beach Thrift store
Located on Retro Row in Long Beach, Earthing Earth is a mix of old and new: selected vintage home decor along with plants, baskets and low-waste sustainable home products.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Flowerboy Project
Santa Monica Gift Store
With Flowerboy Project, which is equal parts coffee house, florist and gift shop, partners Sean Knibb and Stella Shirinda have created an intriguing space that offers a feel-good mix for all the senses. On Lincoln Boulevard in Venice, the concept cafe and flower shop offers apparel, jewelry, Venice Organics chocolate, home decor and apothecary items alongside fresh-cut and dried floral arrangements, and a cafe serving specialty coffees and local pastries. In addition to custom flower arrangements, the store offers one-of-a-kind, limited-edition digital bouquets, priced from $47 to $275.
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(Danae Horst)
Folia Collective
Eagle Rock Plant Shop
Every plant at Folia Collective, from Peperomia ferreyrae to staghorn ferns, comes with a care card written by owner Danae Horst, author of “Houseplants for All: How to Fill Any Home With Happy Plants,” detailing its specific needs. Staff will ask you questions to help you pick the perfect plant and offer tips on how to care for your plant at home. Additionally, Horst stocks houseplant accessories and gifts and hosts monthly workshops and quarterly plant swaps.
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(General Store)
General Store
Venice Gift Store
Serena Mitnik-Miller and Mason St. Peter’s Venice boutique places the spotlight on Los Angeles artists, including ceramics by Victoria Morris, Heather Levine and Humble Ceramics; jewelry by Kristen Elspeth; skincare by Fat and the Moon; as well as vintage goods and an assortment of gifts for kids.
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(The Give Store)
The Give Store
Hollywood Gift Store
The Give Store is an indie boutique that offers handmade goods by Ojai-based Bandits Bandanas, Gina DeSantis Ceramics, candles by L.A. brand Boy Smells as well as fragrances and incense from France, Japan and Mexico. In addition to housewares and gifts, the store stocks a variety of houseplants, succulents and planters.
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(Justin Harrison)
Gold Bug Pasadena
Pasadena Gift Store
Shop for quirky one-of-a-kind collectibles — fossils, trilobite specimens, framed preserved squid — at this family-run store inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe short story “The Gold Bug,” in which an enchanted gold scarab beetle leads the way to buried pirates’ treasure. Located down an alley in Pasadena, Gold Bug features works by more than 100 artists, including art, decor and odd collectibles.
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(Jamie Curtis)
Greenwood Shop
Studio City Plant Shop
In addition to houseplants, Jaime Curtis stocks ceramics, candles, home decor and apothecary items in her Studio City shop. For the holidays, Curtis will have pots from Front Range Terracotta, custom stained glass by Debbie Bean, Mar Mar candles and Boy Smells (both made in L.A.) and her own line of Greenwood candles. Curtis also offers design services to help you transform your space according to light, environment and maintenance needs.
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Grow Venice
Venice Gift Store
Housed in a series of shipping containers, this longtime indoor-outdoor gift shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard specializes in gifts inspired by California living — plants, home goods, T-shirts, beachwear and a terrific assortment of cards. Jam-packed with California-inspired stickers, magnets, socks, tarot decks and candles, it’s also a great place to find stocking stuffers. And as a bonus, the store gift-wraps your purchases.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
The Hangout
Long Beach Gift Store
Housed inside a 4,000-square-foot former grocery store, this collection of small businesses includes Bel Canto Books, House of Rituals and the Golden Garden. The Hangout also features works by more than 50 small makers and recently added a cafe serving beer, wine and snacks.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Household by Nickey Kehoe
Fairfax Gift Store
Interior designers Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe’s newly expanded Household showroom, located next door to their home furnishings store, offers pottery, candles, plants, locally made apothecary items, towels, books and more. Los Angeles-based brands include Bernard Perfume oils, Alix Soubiran scalloped jewelry dish, Jenna Katz jewelry and Todd Magill Totes.
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(Michelle Shiers)
Homage Pasadena
Pasadena Gift Store
Owner Jill Pearson highlights emerging artists, unique gifts and handmade jewelry.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
House of Intuition
Echo Park Gift Store
You can’t help but smile when you walk into Marlene Vargas and Alex Naranjo’s longtime metaphysical store and are greeted by a sign that reads, “Your Intuition Led You Here.” Even the most cynical gift recipient will find it hard to resist a manifestation candle or a specialized energy box for their zodiac sign. You’ll also find organic essential oil kits, crystals and candles.
There are additional locations in L.A. County:
5148 York Blvd., Highland Park, (323) 739-0074
7449 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 424-3421
14520 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 386-8949
5018 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, (562) 588-9032
5223 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 643-3475
22 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, (626) 421-6190
There are additional locations in L.A. County:
5148 York Blvd., Highland Park, (323) 739-0074
7449 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, (323) 424-3421
14520 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 386-8949
5018 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, (562) 588-9032
5223 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 643-3475
22 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, (626) 421-6190
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
The House of Woo
Downtown L.A. Retail
In the Arts District around the corner from Hauser & Wirth art gallery, Staci Woo and Mike Badt’s gift shop and studio offers clothing and home goods produced in their workroom in the back. The husband-and-wife’s Uplifters Ranch, a California lifestyle clothing line that includes baseball caps, cozy sweats and T-shirts, has a California beach vibe. Additionally, the designers stock napkins, funky long wrap skirts and other clothing items. On a recent visit to the downtown L.A. shop, gifts by local makers filled the storefront, including holiday ornaments, crystals, apothecary goods and jewelry. Whether you are looking for stocking stuffers or a special gift, the House of Woo will likely cover all your holiday needs.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angles Times)
Huset
Venice Gift Store
With an emphasis on Scandinavian design, Huset stocks colorful textiles from tea towels to throw blankets, home decor including glassware and cutting boards, jewelry, clothing and kids’ items by more than 60 designers.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, there’s always the self-serve Swedish candy and savory snacks.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for, there’s always the self-serve Swedish candy and savory snacks.
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(Joanna Williams)
Kneeland Co. Rarities
West Adams Gift Store
Joanna Williams, a longtime vintage textile consultant, expanded her company to include a bricks-and-mortar store in West Adams specializing in one-of-a-kind, globally sourced and handmade home goods and jewelry.
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(Thomas Brodahl)
Late Sunday Afternoon
Venice Gift Store
All the scarves, ascots, pocket squares, and bandanas in this Venice store are handcrafted from locally sourced dead-stock fabrics and are knotted and blessed. The store also offers home goods, books, hats and hoodies, baby blankets, candles, jewelry and custom requests.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
LA Home Farm
Glassell Park Gift Store
At their Glassell Park neighborhood grocery and farmer’s market called LA Homefarm, Lauri Kranz and Dean Kuipers offer everything from high-end gifts to produce.
Shopping is fun here, whether you’re looking for art, truffle oil or handcrafted ceramics by local potters. If you can’t decide on a gift, Kranz and the staff are incredibly helpful at creating custom gift baskets that will leave their recipients swooning or, in my friend’s case, with happy tears.
Shopping is fun here, whether you’re looking for art, truffle oil or handcrafted ceramics by local potters. If you can’t decide on a gift, Kranz and the staff are incredibly helpful at creating custom gift baskets that will leave their recipients swooning or, in my friend’s case, with happy tears.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Lake
Silver Lake Gift Store
This high-end clothing store offers beautiful bohemian pieces by independent brands such as Trovata, Apiece Apart and Toit Volant, and many gift items are available on shelves and tables throughout the space. In addition to jewelry, be sure to check out the back room where the store stocks apothecary goods, home decor and gifts for kids by local brands such as Noto Botanics and Block Shop Textiles.
It’s easy to make a day of it on this stretch of Silver Lake Boulevard, with Now Voyager and Müsh across the street, OK down the block and Botanica Restaurant and Market next door.
It’s easy to make a day of it on this stretch of Silver Lake Boulevard, with Now Voyager and Müsh across the street, OK down the block and Botanica Restaurant and Market next door.
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(Lost & Found)
Lost & Found
Hollywood Gift Store
Owner Jamie Rosenthal opened Lost & Found in 2000 as a single storefront on Yucca Street in Hollywood. Now, she has six storefronts and a Santa Monica showroom that offers men’s and women’s clothing, home goods, accessories and children’s clothes and furniture from around the world. Currently open by appointment. Santa Monica showroom is located at 2230 Main Street. (310) 450-9565 for clothing; (310) 450-9782 for home goods.
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(Tracy Levy)
Luca
Highland Park Gift Store
In an effort to create a nontoxic, sustainable alternative to commercial drugstores, Judith Goldstein offers nontoxic nail polish, skincare, pet goods, house cleaning products and gifts. Many of the low-waste brands are based in L.A. and California.
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(Jamie Chapman)
Marz
South Pasadena Gift Store
Owner Marcia Ellinger and her daughter Jasa Cocke stock their South Pasadena gift shop with unusual items including books, candles, papers, hand-milled French soaps, textiles from India, baby accessories, games, toys and vintage finds.
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(Dan Arnold)
Maude Woods
Pasadena Gift Store
Carrie Davich’s Pasadena store is divided into rooms that display furnishings, as well as unique home decor, pillows and throws, apothecary items and vintage goods.
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(Robert A. Villarreal)
Mercadito Monarca Pasadena
Pasadena Gift Store
This Chicanx Indigenous-owned artisanal marketplace and gift shop in Pasadena features products made and owned by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) brands, bilingual and BIPOC books and Day of the Dead items for altars
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Merchant
Santa Monica Vintage store
Walking into Merchant in Santa Monica is like walking into an artist’s enclave packed with vintage furniture, antiques, contemporary ceramics and art.
“I wanted it to look like a house,” says co-owner Denise Portmans, who runs the store, along with an Atwater Village location, with her artist daughter Sara Marlowe. “I like things that are a little unusual.”
The stores are a homage to Portmans’ mother, an artist and ceramicist, and they are stocked with Midcentury Modern furniture, vintage Moroccan rugs, contemporary ceramics from Paris and Italy, and goods by local artists such as Heather Rosenman and All Roads Studio. On a recent visit to the Santa Monica store, prices ranged from $120 for a wooden wine rack to $2,500 for a vintage leather safari chair. Portmans also is open to making deals. (The second showroom, Merchant Modern East, is at 3127 Glendale Blvd. in Atwater Village. The phone number is (310) 266-0572.)
The Santa Monica showroom is open Monday to Wednesday by appointment; noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Atwater showroom hours are Monday and Tuesday by appointment; noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“I wanted it to look like a house,” says co-owner Denise Portmans, who runs the store, along with an Atwater Village location, with her artist daughter Sara Marlowe. “I like things that are a little unusual.”
The stores are a homage to Portmans’ mother, an artist and ceramicist, and they are stocked with Midcentury Modern furniture, vintage Moroccan rugs, contemporary ceramics from Paris and Italy, and goods by local artists such as Heather Rosenman and All Roads Studio. On a recent visit to the Santa Monica store, prices ranged from $120 for a wooden wine rack to $2,500 for a vintage leather safari chair. Portmans also is open to making deals. (The second showroom, Merchant Modern East, is at 3127 Glendale Blvd. in Atwater Village. The phone number is (310) 266-0572.)
The Santa Monica showroom is open Monday to Wednesday by appointment; noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Atwater showroom hours are Monday and Tuesday by appointment; noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Midland Shop
Culver City Gift Store
Paige Appel and Kelly Harris’ boutique spotlights local designers including bags by Agnes Baddoo, casual clothes by Rachel Craven, jewelry by Maya Brenner, organic skincare products by Salt and Stone and hair products by La Tierra Sagrada. There is also a dedicated kids’ section.
Look for a second location in Larchmont Village, 138 N. Larchmont Blvd. (323) 378-6999
Look for a second location in Larchmont Village, 138 N. Larchmont Blvd. (323) 378-6999
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Müsh
Silver Lake Gift Store
Owner Michelle van der Heijden’s tiny storefront is jam-packed with eclectic gift ideas, from the latest cookbooks to vintage jewelry, crystals and ceramics. She also sells vintage furniture online.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Native Sol
Long Beach Thrift store
This Retro Row store is an eco-friendly lifestyle store offering handmade clothing and jewelry by May Salem as well as selected vintage clothing and apothecary items by local makers.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
NicSon Mercantile
Highland Park Gift Store
In York Boulevard’s hip shopping district, NicSon Mercantile is part retail store, part design studio built on the Sonny Boy brand. It’s a great place to pick up limited-edition merchandise for the creative soul in your life, including the recent collab with Strawberry Shortcake. The store stocks art, clothing, jewelry, home goods and greeting cards by local brands Estevan Oriol, Mike Giant, Tristan Eaton, Risk Rock, Gustavo Rimada, Lizz Lopez, Spitfire Girl, Bandits and P.F. Candle Co.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Now Voyager
Silver Lake Gift Store
At her cozy Silver Lake store, Now Voyager, Los Angeles interior designer Wendy Haworth offers pillows, vintage ceramics, home decor and ceramics that she and her boyfriend Michael Towey throw in a ceramics studio behind the shop. Haworth plans to use her Silver Lake Boulevard space as a design studio and gift shop, with an ever-changing inventory of vintage pieces, art and accessories. It’s open by appointment.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
OK
West Hollywood Gift Store
Larry Schaffer’s lifestyle store, now in three locations, offers a wide range of gifts spanning handmade jewelry and books to ceramics, barware and decorative housewares. Other locations are at 1716 Silver Lake Blvd. in Silver Lake, (323) 666-1868, and 2413 Main St. in Santa Monica, (310) 392-2999.
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(Max Hardman)
Pergolina Shop
Toluca Lake Gift Store
Paulanna Cuccinello’s longtime Toluca Lake gift shop offers unique jewelry, apothecary items from France, room diffusers from Italy and handmade masks from Venice.
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(Phoebe Peacock)
Phoebe Peacock
Burbank Gift Store
Jennifer Hardaway’s charming Burbank shop offers a wide variety of goods including her own line of KleanSpa perfume and body products (you can even book a session and create your own custom scent based on your personal selections), vintage glassware and home decor.
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(DGA)
Poketo
Santa Monica Gift Store
Founded in 2003 by husband-and-wife team Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung, the design accessories and housewares brand has grown from a small startup into a mainstay of the Los Angeles creative community. Shop for colorful paper planners and notebooks, clothes and housewares, jewelry and desk accessories. There is also a location at Row DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St. #174
DTLA. (213) 372 - 5686
DTLA. (213) 372 - 5686
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(Alison Ables)
Prelude & Dawn
Highland Park Gift Store
Alison Ables’ Highland Park boutique includes unique handmade candles by Esh, Via Wax and Le Feu de L’Eau, fanny packs and towels by local brand Baggu and vintage and modern clothing.
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(Prism)
Prism Boutique
Long Beach Gift Store
Dayna Mance has been highlighting small, independently owned brands since opening her boutique in the heart of Long Beach’s historic Belmont Heights in 2013. Expect vintage and modern clothing, home goods by local designers like P.F. Candle Co., Baggu and Claystreet pottery. Mance also offers “Prism Take Care” specialty gift sets.
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(Nathan Cabrera)
Pygmy Hippo Shoppe
Fairfax Gift Store
Founded in 2010, Pygmy Hippo is an irreverent boutique where you can shop for “Nude and Naughty” gift sets, Zodiac and magic-minded items, vintage collectibles and rare books and zines.
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(Diane Staples)
Retreat
South Pasadena Gift Store
At Diane Staples’ South Pasadena boutique, visitors are encouraged to pick up and play the handcrafted ukuleles or try on all the jewelry they’d like with no obligation or pressure. Her specialty store includes unique table-size clocks, candles, bath and body products as well as hand-drawn cards, journals, pottery, books and barware.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Rolling Greens
Culver City Drought-tolerant plants
The garden and home design flagship in Culver City, which rests on 2 acres, offers indoor and outdoor plants, succulents, planters and home decor. Owners Greg Salmeri and Laurie Resnick travel the world to shop for home and garden goods. Customers can create their own arrangement at the store’s Arrangement Bar. Also at 7505 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 934-4500.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Rustic Charm & Petals
San Pedro Gift Store
Sandy DeJesus’ charming boutique in downtown San Pedro is inspired by the family-owned flea markets and boutiques she frequented as a youth in El Paso and Juárez, Mexico, with her grandmother.
DeJesus offers a fine selection of jewelry and home goods alongside ceramics, apparel, candles and San Pedro-themed merchandise. In addition to floral arrangements, she also offers a three-month-long flower subscription.
DeJesus offers a fine selection of jewelry and home goods alongside ceramics, apparel, candles and San Pedro-themed merchandise. In addition to floral arrangements, she also offers a three-month-long flower subscription.
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(Tamara Houghten)
Shout and About
Echo Park Gift Store
This tiny Echo Park store is an urban oasis jam-packed with gifts by local brands and independent makers as well as Compartes chocolates, kids goods and jewelry. Always a reliable source for terrific greeting cards, the store also stocks a selection of stunning potted plants that will catch your eye.
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(The Sill)
The Sill
West Hollywood Plant Shop
The popular boutique and online seller carries houseplants, planters and gifts. Plants are displayed according to lighting, water and pet needs and start at $5. The store offers classes on houseplant basics and kokedama, a plant care bar and repotting service.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Soap Plant/Wacko
Los Feliz Gift Store
Billy Shire’s irreverent gift shop offers an eclectic range of pop-culture ephemera (Iggy Pop action figures), novelties (beetles in resin), housewares (colorful oil cloth) and gifts (hedgehog nail brushes).
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(Spitfire Girl)
Spitfire Girl
Los Feliz Gift Store
Kristin Scott’s longtime store offers unusual gifts such as mystical ritual kits and handcrafted fragrances, and home goods with a humorous edge (heart lamps and turn-of-the-century-inspired embroidered pillows). Scott also offers custom gift boxes ranging from the Great Outdoors to the Witches’ Spell. Also at 7401 Melrose Ave., (323) 424-7340.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times )
Stark Studio
Silver Lake Gift Store
Stark Studio, a Silver Lake place specializing in face and body services, has a delightful gift shop in front that offers goods from mostly local makers. The selection of apothecary items, jewelry, kids’ items and accessories includes Los Angeles-based brands Wild Yonder Botanicals, Maya Brenner, Carrie Hoffman, Kin & Kind. and Maptote.
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Sumi's
Los Feliz Gift Store
Store owner Sumi Siegel’s warm and inviting gift shop, in Los Feliz Village since 2014, specializes in handmade and small-production goods that are ethically made. Stop by Sumi’s after a movie at the Los Feliz 3 or shopping at Skylight Books or one of Vermont Avenue’s many independent stores, and you’ll find jewelry, cards, ceramics and original artworks.
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(Julia Carmel / Los Angeles Times)
Tac-Tile Mountain
Pasadena Gift Store
From Fat and the Moon deodorant cream to Siesta Mussels in pickled oil, you’ll never know what comforting thing you’ll find at Scarlett Patterson and Nico Yaryan’s Pasadena boutique. Wedged between Millie’s Cafe and Octavia’s Bookshelf, the tiny lifestyle store is filled with a selection of “beautiful, well made, functional, tasty and sometimes unnecessary things” says Yaryan. That means everything from cooking tools, apothecary goods and pantry items like specialty sea salt to fun stuff for kids.
The couple is also trying to offer regular programming in the space, including classes on pickling, incense-making and book-binding. They recently had programming about death meditation.
The couple is also trying to offer regular programming in the space, including classes on pickling, incense-making and book-binding. They recently had programming about death meditation.
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(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Tansy
Burbank Plant Shop
In addition to plants, owners Shawna Christian and Colette Fowler offer bohemian home goods with flair: colorful fair-trade garlands, plants, metal bells, mobiles, pom-poms and suncatchers. “It’s all about color and plants and fabrics,” says Christian. “I am trying to perfect the art of being insanely creative without being claustrophobic.”
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(Tesoro)
Tesoro
Beverly Hills Gift Store
Replete with artist-made decor objects, hand-crafted bath essentials, and out-of-the-box gift ideas for the person who has everything. Tara Riceberg’s shop also offers gifts for babies, kids, and pets and in-house, hand-painted wrapping paper.
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(Amelie Emi Uchiike)
Tortoise General Store
Venice Gift Store
Keiko and Taku Shinomoto opened Tortoise General Store in 2003 with the concept of “slow and steady” design. The Mar Vista showroom offers a curated selection of timeless Japanese home goods such as Tajika kitchen scissors, ceramic Japan Infinity bowls, colorful 100% cotton Tenugui cloths and Summer Studio wood serving boards.
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(Kelsey Vaughn)
Twig and Willow
Long Beach Gift Store
Karen Quimby Lobo opened Twig & Willow in 2009 in the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach and later opened a second location in Bixby Knolls. Expect boho apparel, rare bath and body products, cult fragrances, home decor, handmade leather, accessories, baby items, and handmade jewelry by more than 60 local artists. Also at 4130 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach, (562) 424-8944.
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(Sarah Zing)
Wildflora
Studio City Plant Shop
This full-service florist shop also offers houseplants, succulents, tillandsia, airiums, home decor such as pillows and candles, and gifts.There is also a location at the Original Farmers Market, 6333 W. 3rd St. Stall No. 708. (323) 452-9339).
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Yolk
Silver Lake Gift Store
This tiny independent design store in the heart of Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction specializes in home decor, toys and fashion for kids, and gifts by local brands including candles, books and apothecary items.
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