Tuesday, June 28, 2011

What's your favorite local shop in Charlotte?

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!

87 comments:

  1. I always like The Paper Skyscraper in Dilworth. Haven't been to Charlotte recently... but I hope it is still there.

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  2. Blackhawk Hardware @ Park Road Shopping Center

    Metro for Modern on Morehead Street across from Covenant Presbyterian

    Paper Skyscraper on East Blvd.

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  3. Green With Envy (Plaza Midwood)

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  4. Lark & Key Gallery in Southend!!

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  5. Paper Skyscraper is the BEST STORE EVER!!

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  6. Lax Zone in Pineville! Charlotte's best lacrosse shop!

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  7. Paper Skyscraper! Love it.

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  8. Lark and Key for art/gifts, Poole Shop for clothes.

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  9. Green with Envy in Plaza Midwood; Sleep Poet on South Blvd; Common Market in Plaza Midwood;

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  10. Cottage Chic! They have a little of everything: gifts, jewelry, clothes,bath and body goodies, etc.

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  11. Eliza B's at the Arboretum...cute store for the stylish woman

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  12. I agree with the earlier post..Eliza B's...great gifts and they do monogramming too.

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  13. Eliza B's at the Arboretum, I needed a graduation gift quickly and they monogrammed and wrapped it too.

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  14. Paper Skyscraper! Hands down the best shop in CLT!

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  15. I agree with Cottage Chic (in Dilworth). So cute!

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  16. GOP (Great Outdoor Provision Co) at Park Road Shopping Center!

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  17. Paper Skyskraper, Buffalo Exchange on Central Ave, Junior League Warehouse on Pecan, love love love!

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  18. Habitat Re-Store on Wendover.

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  19. Park Road Books in Park Rd. Shopping Center. Best recommendations on what to read.

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  20. For music, I love Lunchbox Records on Central.

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  21. Park Rd Books, Renfrow's Hardware, Sleepy Poet

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  22. Best Buy for electronics.
    The 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?

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  23. The Adult Superstore on Wilkinson is great! Love love love!

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  24. Rat'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!

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  25. Nona'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.

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  26. Niche and Blacksheep, both on Camden Rd

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  27. GNC 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!

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  28. Blackhawk Hardware and Park Road Books - Park Road Shopping Center

    Canine Cafe - South End

    Paper Skyscraper - Dilworth

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  29. Pura Vida in NODA

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  30. A Denim Affair in Blakeney Village. My husband and me love their jeans and staff!

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  31. cottage 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!!

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  32. Earth Angel on Independence. They have awesome swimsuits and shoes!!!

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  33. Taylor richards & Conger...great men's store in Phillips Place

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  34. Recycle 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!

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  35. Holiday Haus - Matthews
    Flapdoodle Auctions - Matthews

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  36. I didn't read any exclusions on food stores so for me it's Pasta & Provisions on Providence

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  37. The Executive Inn in Rock Hill. Entertainment value way better than South Park stores.

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  38. Old Timers in Matthews.

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  39. Poppies in Birkdale Village- great for unique gifts, monogramming and they are a locally owned and operated business. Love them!

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  40. The Map Shop - if you love to travel like I do! They have WAY more than just maps.

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  41. In the spring - Rountree Plantation Garden Center

    At Christmastime - Peppermint Forest by the mall in Pineville

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  42. Pura Vida, Paper Skyscraper, Park Road Books, Blackhawk Hardware, Saurez Bakery (pre-Tizzerts), and Amelie's

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  43. Gentlemans club......Yum!

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  44. Heroes 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!

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  45. 3:08:

    You 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.

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  46. 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!

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  47. We 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

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  48. I.C. London... wonderful and so helpful

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  49. I don't get the Paper Skyscraper - a strange place?!
    Yes for Sleepy Poet

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  50. 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!

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  51. Well day-um....Can't believe that VisArt has been mentioned yet. The best selection combined with the most eclectic and intelligent employees anywhere!!!!

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  52. IC London- great service, staff and variety. Lots of hard to find sizes.

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  53. CUSTOM jewelry, Pura Vida and Espada Bicycles in NoDa, Bedford Falls for toys and Park Rd. books - go local!

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  54. I 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.

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  55. * Paper Skyscraper; unique gifts/cards.
    * 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!

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  56. 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!

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  57. I love Bubba's Bait and Jewelry store in Rock Hill.

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  58. I'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.
    Buffalo Exchange for clothes.

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  59. Paper Skyscraper all the way!! Both whimsical and beautiful gifts, amazing sales staff. Love, love, love the Scraper!

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  60. Salutations in Ballantyne

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  61. DEFINITELY Amelie's in NoDa.

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  62. SLATE ON CENTRAL!!!!

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  63. Toys & Co. -- Cotswold

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  64. Woody's Music Rock Hill is nice
    one 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!

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  65. Elder Gallery in SouthEnd is a real jewel for the Charlotte art scene. Great art plus a fun environment.

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  66. Robyn's Fabrics in Pineville, a gem of a design store.

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  67. The Book Lady, Highway 74 in Monroe.

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  68. Love 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.

    I'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...

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  69. 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!

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  70. Recently found the Sleepy Poet shop and have gone back four times already! Love that place!

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  71. The 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 !!!

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  72. No 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.

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  73. Eliza 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!

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  74. Agreed - Eliza B's at the Arboretum. Always so helpful.

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  75. City Supply on Thomas St- Great custom furniture, cool gifts and candles, and beautiful art!

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  76. Don't forget Art Aspects on Sharon Amity!

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  77. It’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.

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  78. Custom. Great little jewelry retailer and custom designer in NoDa. Very helpfull and say hello to their dog Bruce.

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  79. Eliza B's..they gave me lot's of
    help picking out some great gifts
    for my friends and gifts for my
    kids teachers.

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  80. It's Your Home at Northlake Mall gets my vote for favorite locally owned place to shop.

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  81. Surroundings on Carmel Road. Fabulous shop with lots of different things at great prices. Very helpful staff.

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  82. City 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.

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