A unique boutique, a cool interior design shop, a fun consignment store - what's your favorite locally-owned place to shop in and around Charlotte?
I'm getting together a list of such places for our annual "Living Here" supplement magazine, and I'd love to get the best shops around. Since I assume there are plenty of people out there who go shopping more often than me, I'm rounding up reader suggestions (the pros call this "crowdsourcing," which I think sounds like a medical procedure).
So, leave a comment with your suggestion and why you picked that shop. Or feel free to send me an email at elyportillo@charlotteobserver.com or call me at 704-358-5041. Thanks for the help!
I always like The Paper Skyscraper in Dilworth. Haven't been to Charlotte recently... but I hope it is still there.
ReplyDeleteBlackhawk Hardware @ Park Road Shopping Center
ReplyDeleteMetro for Modern on Morehead Street across from Covenant Presbyterian
Paper Skyscraper on East Blvd.
Green With Envy (Plaza Midwood)
ReplyDeleteLark & Key Gallery in Southend!!
ReplyDeletePaper Skyscraper is the BEST STORE EVER!!
ReplyDeleteLax Zone in Pineville! Charlotte's best lacrosse shop!
ReplyDeletePaper Skyscraper! Love it.
ReplyDeleteLark and Key for art/gifts, Poole Shop for clothes.
ReplyDeleteGreen with Envy in Plaza Midwood; Sleep Poet on South Blvd; Common Market in Plaza Midwood;
ReplyDeleteCottage Chic! They have a little of everything: gifts, jewelry, clothes,bath and body goodies, etc.
ReplyDeleteEliza B's at the Arboretum...cute store for the stylish woman
ReplyDeleteI agree with the earlier post..Eliza B's...great gifts and they do monogramming too.
ReplyDeleteBicycle Sport!
ReplyDeleteEliza B's at the Arboretum, I needed a graduation gift quickly and they monogrammed and wrapped it too.
ReplyDeletePaper Skyscraper! Hands down the best shop in CLT!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cottage Chic (in Dilworth). So cute!
ReplyDeleteGOP (Great Outdoor Provision Co) at Park Road Shopping Center!
ReplyDeletePaper Skyskraper, Buffalo Exchange on Central Ave, Junior League Warehouse on Pecan, love love love!
ReplyDeleteHabitat Re-Store on Wendover.
ReplyDeleteI.C. London
ReplyDeletePark Road Books in Park Rd. Shopping Center. Best recommendations on what to read.
ReplyDeleteFor music, I love Lunchbox Records on Central.
ReplyDeletePark Rd Books, Renfrow's Hardware, Sleepy Poet
ReplyDeleteBest Buy for electronics.
ReplyDeleteThe Home Depot for Lawn/Garden.
The Gap for clothes.
Dick's Sporting goods for athletics.
Wait, you mean Charlotte actually has stores that aren't chains/big box?
The Adult Superstore on Wilkinson is great! Love love love!
ReplyDeleteRat's Nest is the coolest! Mr Wilson offers vintage beyond vintage. This is the real deal and he is a REAL person. Not some poser or false store front with corporate backing. Check out his store on 36th off North Davidson near the Evening Muse and buy SOMETHING! Support the independent retailer. Rat's Nest shopping is a fun experience. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteNona's bakery in the university area and Amelie's French Bakery in NoDa. Yes, they're bakeries, but they're more than that. They operate as boutiques. It's rare these days to find excellent baked goods, made by hand on site, and a treasure to find "boutiques" like these. They offer very different ambience from one another, but both offer excellenct experiences.
ReplyDeleteNiche and Blacksheep, both on Camden Rd
ReplyDeleteGNC Live Well@Davidson, NC. off I-77 North Exit 30. Great customer service, very knowledgeable sales associates and the female manager will charm you with her strong accent, but has a genuine concern for your health. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBlackhawk Hardware and Park Road Books - Park Road Shopping Center
ReplyDeleteCanine Cafe - South End
Paper Skyscraper - Dilworth
Pura Vida in NODA
ReplyDeleteA Denim Affair in Blakeney Village. My husband and me love their jeans and staff!
ReplyDeletecottage chic on east blvd is by far the best store ever! a little bit of everything and the absolute most helpful and kind staff. COTTAGE CHIC!!
ReplyDeleteEarth Angel on Independence. They have awesome swimsuits and shoes!!!
ReplyDeleteSleepy Poet!!!
ReplyDeleteTaylor richards & Conger...great men's store in Phillips Place
ReplyDeleteRecycle Boutique in Park Road shopping center. Some great finds as far as clothing and home furnishings and a great line of shoes designed by the owner. It is a must if you are a consignment shopper!
ReplyDeleteHoliday Haus - Matthews
ReplyDeleteFlapdoodle Auctions - Matthews
I didn't read any exclusions on food stores so for me it's Pasta & Provisions on Providence
ReplyDeleteThe Executive Inn in Rock Hill. Entertainment value way better than South Park stores.
ReplyDeleteOld Timers in Matthews.
ReplyDeletePoppies in Birkdale Village- great for unique gifts, monogramming and they are a locally owned and operated business. Love them!
ReplyDeleteThe Map Shop - if you love to travel like I do! They have WAY more than just maps.
ReplyDeleteIn the spring - Rountree Plantation Garden Center
ReplyDeleteAt Christmastime - Peppermint Forest by the mall in Pineville
Pura Vida, Paper Skyscraper, Park Road Books, Blackhawk Hardware, Saurez Bakery (pre-Tizzerts), and Amelie's
ReplyDeleteGentlemans club......Yum!
ReplyDeleteHeroes Aren't Hard to Find on 7th St. in Elizabeth...the best comic book store in the nation, right here in Charlotte! And the organizers of HeroesCon, which brings in tourism dollars every year!
ReplyDelete3:08:
ReplyDeleteYou think you're really clever and-oh-so-chic, don't you?
In reality, you're just another lame suburbanite who schlepped in here from nowhere.
Monkee's of Lake Norman- fabulous Women's shoes and clothes...variety of prices and merchandise... incomparable service. My daughter and mother shop there...Love Monkee's of Lake Norman!
ReplyDeletePura Vida, NODA
ReplyDeleteWe live in Indian Trail and LOVE Candles and Stuff on Idlewild in the Lowes Shopping Center near the intersection of 485 and Idlewild. Melody is a sweetheart and has so many fun and eclectic gift ideas at reasonable prices. From Cameleon jewelry, to handbags, scented candles, hand painted wine glasses for Wedding gifts and Birthdays, energy bracelets, hand made note cards and jewelery as well. She has had Breast Cancer displays, wine and cheese shows and meet and greets. Wonderful neighborhood place to gather and share the gossip as well. EVERYTHING anyone could want and nice that the owner is onsite versus the local Hallmark chain. Enjoy!http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/candlesandgiftsinc
ReplyDeleteI.C. London... wonderful and so helpful
ReplyDeleteI don't get the Paper Skyscraper - a strange place?!
ReplyDeleteYes for Sleepy Poet
I like Denim Affair too. Especially the jeans skirt I bought yesterday that doesn't make this 38 yr old look like I'm trying to hard!
ReplyDeleteWell day-um....Can't believe that VisArt has been mentioned yet. The best selection combined with the most eclectic and intelligent employees anywhere!!!!
ReplyDeleteIC London- great service, staff and variety. Lots of hard to find sizes.
ReplyDeleteCUSTOM jewelry, Pura Vida and Espada Bicycles in NoDa, Bedford Falls for toys and Park Rd. books - go local!
ReplyDeleteI like Wild Birds Unlimited in the Galleria(Wal Mart) shopping center off Sardis Road North. Great birding supplies and fun things for the yard. Great friendly staff.
ReplyDelete* Paper Skyscraper; unique gifts/cards.
ReplyDelete* Park Road Books; Charlotte is severely lacking book stores and it's great that such a wonderful independent store is an option.
* Dilworth Coffee (Quail Corners); the owner and staff have always given me great service and remembered my name and order after only my second visit!
The Bag Lady is my favorite! It's a local book and gift shop that focuses on the wants/needs of women. They also run like a community center with workshops, readers, and local author/book signing events. I love shopping local and The Bag Lady is one I've been supporting for over a decade!
ReplyDeleteI love Bubba's Bait and Jewelry store in Rock Hill.
ReplyDeleteI'll be checking out Sleepy Poet cause of the recommendations here but I like Consignment 1st on Independence and 485 for furnishings and furniture - best store of the chain.
ReplyDeleteBuffalo Exchange for clothes.
Paper Skyscraper all the way!! Both whimsical and beautiful gifts, amazing sales staff. Love, love, love the Scraper!
ReplyDeleteSalutations in Ballantyne
ReplyDeleteDEFINITELY Amelie's in NoDa.
ReplyDeleteSLATE ON CENTRAL!!!!
ReplyDeleteToys & Co. -- Cotswold
ReplyDeleteWoody's Music Rock Hill is nice
ReplyDeleteone of the worst hands down Comunity Thrift store on Wilkinson donated items jacked up to some of the most bizzare high prices you will ever see!
Elder Gallery in SouthEnd is a real jewel for the Charlotte art scene. Great art plus a fun environment.
ReplyDeleteRobyn's Fabrics in Pineville, a gem of a design store.
ReplyDeleteThe Book Lady, Highway 74 in Monroe.
ReplyDeleteLove Sleepy Poets. What a place to find anything! And the staff is amazing. Also Cottage Chic on East Blvd. The best selection of everything...clothes, jewelry, bedding, baby, bath and body, handbags and so much more.
ReplyDeleteI've been to Paper Skyscraper so many times. I agree neat store with interesting stuff but I have never, EVER been greeted or helped by the staff. Ever, stopped going back...
Great new consignment shop on East Blvd called Monarch. They carry designer clothes at a fraction of the original costs. This is more like a boutique not your typical consignment shop. Stephanie, one of the owners, is so helpful!
ReplyDeleteRecently found the Sleepy Poet shop and have gone back four times already! Love that place!
ReplyDeleteThe Time Machine Antique Marketplace in Matthews...great prices I have found anywhere and they are open 6 days a week. My husband and I have just bought a dresser there for next to nothing !!!
ReplyDeleteNo one has said it yet, but I'm going with Book Buyers in Plaza-Midwood. The folks there are friendly, and it's a great place to pick up used books. I always enjoy going there.
ReplyDeleteEliza B's at the Arboretum is a great shop full of gifts for everyone!! SUCH cute baby gifts that are even better monogrammed, which they do there!
ReplyDeleteAgreed - Eliza B's at the Arboretum. Always so helpful.
ReplyDeleteCity Supply on Thomas St- Great custom furniture, cool gifts and candles, and beautiful art!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Art Aspects on Sharon Amity!
ReplyDeleteIt’s Your Home at Northlake Mall, the staff is great, very pleasant atmosphere. They have a little of everything for your home. I notice the store when I was at the mall two weeks ago. I wasn’t going to buy anything, but couldn’t resist. They have a great selection of ready made drapery that come in longer lengths which I had been looking for.
ReplyDeleteCustom. Great little jewelry retailer and custom designer in NoDa. Very helpfull and say hello to their dog Bruce.
ReplyDeleteEliza B's..they gave me lot's of
ReplyDeletehelp picking out some great gifts
for my friends and gifts for my
kids teachers.
It's Your Home at Northlake Mall gets my vote for favorite locally owned place to shop.
ReplyDeleteSurroundings on Carmel Road. Fabulous shop with lots of different things at great prices. Very helpful staff.
ReplyDeleteCity Supply Co. In Plaza Midwood. Great selection of furniture, and great candles. I also love Clearing House Consignments on central, and Luxe on East Blvd.
ReplyDeleteBLACKLION
ReplyDelete