Shop These Small Brooklyn Businesses for the Best Holiday Gifts

By Sachin Bhola

It’s the time of year when you shop for gifts for everyone on your list. And, in the spirit of giving, why not use this occasion as a reminder to be intentional with where you spend? To get you inspired, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite small businesses with brick-and-mortar stores in Brooklyn to shop and support this holiday season.  

To make your holiday shopping even easier, we’ve also included original gift ideas to please the pickiest recipients on your list, including foodies, bibliophiles, fashionistas, musicheads, pet owners, cyclists, design snobs, and more. Who said holiday shopping had to be a hassle? Check out our list below.  

BKLYN Larder  
Address: 228 Flatbush Ave.

For the discerning foodie on your list, stop by BKLYN Larder, a high-end deli favored by residents of Prospect Heights. Take your pick from a carefully curated selection of locally sourced cheeses and meats, as well as specialty grocery items—many from Brooklyn producers.  Try one of BKLYN Larder’s holiday gift baskets, like this Christmas treats and snacks one; for something more unique and experiential, check out its private, virtual cheese tastings.  

Greenlight Bookstore  
Address: 686 Fulton St.

This independent bookstore located on Fulton Street, in Fort Greene, is hard to miss. The stylish exterior welcomes you into a space you can easily spend hours in. Browse diverse categories of literature, including art, children’s, fiction, LGBTQ+, photography, and more. Shopping for a bibliophile? Greenlight Bookstore’s First Editions Club is the gift that keeps on giving. The six-month (or ongoing) subscription service delivers a new book every month in a collectible first edition signed by the author. 

Kosuge Bachman
Address: 170 Franklin St. 

It’s no surprise that locals and fashion insiders frequent this boutique in Greenpoint. With Kosuge Bachman’s tasteful selection of women’s and unisex clothing, shoes, and accessories—including vintage, archival, contemporary, and designer—you might find it hard to resist treating yourself. Recent finds include a rare ’90s black-and-white Adidas sweatshirt, a thick silver chain-link necklace, and vintage Prada pumps. The perfect holiday gift is yours to stumble upon here, and that’s really the fun of it. 

Legacy
Address: 247 Water St., #104

Just walking into Legacy is a gift for your eyes and ears. The ’70s-inspired decor and boutique-like space is unlike most record stores. Here, you’re welcome to take a seat, discover new music, and hang out awhile. Legacy was opened by three New York City native friends—two former DJs and one rapper/producer—who have curated a solid selection of rap, hip-hop, blues, jazz, and r&b, among other genres. For something soulful, we recommend gifting Enigmatic Society by dinner party.

Happy Cork
Address: 51 Buffalo Ave.

Brooklyn-born Sunshine Foss founded Happy Cork in 2019, and it’s since become a go-to for discovering Black- and minority-owned wine and spirits. Every bottle the shop stocks has been tasted by its expert team, so feel free to ask questions. If you’re looking for a gift ideas cheat sheet, consult Happy Cork’s Staff Picks section, which includes Three By Wade’s Rosé, a label owned by Dwyane Wade, and Sun Goddess Wine’s Sauvignon Blanc, a label Mary J. Blige is a partner in.  

Lockwood
Address: 485 Driggs Ave.

Recommending a gift shop to buy, well, gifts might sound uninspired, but it’s anything but at Lockwood. The shop carries a variety of items, with a focus on custom and locally designed  products, including desk accessories, unisex apparel, snacks, children’s toys, bath bombs, and so much more. For the toddlers in your life, check out the Hot Dog Pretzel NY Tee, also available as a onesie for babies. For dog owners, you can’t go wrong with this spa kit for pups.      

Open Invite
Address: 317 Van Brunt St.

Shopping for someone who enjoys binge-watching Architectural Digest’s YouTube channel? Then head over to Open Invite in Red Hook, a home goods shop that stocks a mix of independent brands and vintage pieces. For starters, take a look at its selection of vintage vases and statement-making kitchenware—they’re the kinds of pieces fit for an interior decorator or design enthusiast. 

Dixon’s Bicycle Shop 
Address: 792 Union St.

A fixture of the Park Slope community, Dixon’s Bicycle Shop has been serving the neighborhood for over 50 years. It carries a wide selection of road bikes, mountain bikes, and messenger bikes, as well as bike accessories and parts. It’s also well known for its repairs—a service we highly recommend gifting for your cyclist friends.