We’ve gotten some calls in the past few weeks asking for, basically, a local gift guide for the holidays and beyond. We started a basic list on our Biz Blog last week, and here is the compilation of what we started with and suggestions from readers. Feel free to add more suggestions to the list at http://bit.ly/12nJMRr
LOCAL / REGIONAL GOODS
- Lynnae’s Gourmet Pickles – on the shelves at Stadium Thriftway, Tacoma Boys and other local grocers.
- Valhalla Coffee.
- Johnny’s spices – I bought mine at Fred Meyer. I’ve done a two-jar set tied up with ribbon.
- Tacoma playing cards – I bought several sets for gifts at King’s Books, but they’re available online and at several local retailers.
- Mad Hat Tea – sold at the namesake shop downtown and also at lots of other local retailers.
- Pampeana empanadas – Made a special order last year for Christmas week since we were the host family. They deliver and you can pick up locally. I’m not sure if they ship directly.
- Niki McClure books – I’ve bought them online (see below) and at Best Loved Baby.
- Johnson Candy Co. – 924 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
- Brown & Haley – Locals can shop the outlet store in downtown Tacoma, 110 East 26th St.
- Chehalis Mints – I’d not heard of these before, so I’m not sure if they’re sold locally or not. But you can buy them online! A reader says they’re lovely.
LOCAL SPOTS FOR A VARIETY OF LOCAL / REGIONAL GOODS
- Market on Market – 1122 Market St. Closed until next year.
- Amocat Cafe – 625 St. Helens Ave. You can find T-shirts, Mad Hat Tea, 253 stickers and other Tacoma pride items.
- Sanford & Son Antiques – 743 Broadway. In addition to the antiques themselves, all the little shops inside are fun. My husband and I found a hand-made wooden truck there for one of my son’s Christmas presents.
- The Pacific Northwest Shop – 2701 N. Proctor St.
- LeRoy’s Jewelers – 940 Broadway.
- Best Loved Baby – 4002 S. 12th St.
- The Design Cottage – 2624 N. 21st St. A reader reports, and their website says, they carry many handmade items by local artists as part of their line of home decor and accessories.
- Poppy & Co. – 765 Broadway. This also is a collection of hand-painted furniture and other home decor items made by local women.
ONLINE SPOTS FOR LOCAL / REGIONAL GOODS
- Buyolympia.com – This is where I have bought most of my Niki McClure books, but I’ve also bought some of her books and prints at Best Loved Baby and King’s Books.
- Slide Sideways – I discovered them just a few weeks ago at the Tacoma is for Lovers fair at King’s Books. They make handmade screenprinted goods including posters and tote bags. I bought my sister some of their produce bags. She lives in Austin, Texas, and loves Whole Foods. (I’m also hoping she doesn’t read this.)
- Springtide Press — Jessica Spring. You all must know Jessica’s work, right?
- Anagram Press — Chandler O’Leary. Ditto.
- Tacomashifthappens.com/directory — This is a list of local businesses with links to their online presences.
- Salsa! – Hacienda Flores makes wonderful Mexican salsa and spice mixes, a reader reports. Order online: www.mysalsaguy.com.
- Parisienne Girl Designs – affordable vintage inspired jewelry, a reader reports.
- Libertine Tacoma – gourmet salts by Tacoman Christy Reedy.
- C-Dub’s BBQ Rub – delish, a reader reports, and the business is run by a veteran.
- SeaStone Botanicals – soaps, scrubs and creams made by hand in Tacoma, using either organic or personally wildcrafted herbs from the Pacific Northwest.
- Itty Bitty Kitty Committee – cat-related stationery and gifts made in Tacoma.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are so many wonderful local businesses who don’t sell only local items — or may not sell local items at all, but focus on well-crafted ones made fairly in the United States and other parts of the world. I can’t list all of them here, because we were trying to be focused on local goods. A few of my favorites are Learning Sprout Toys, 809 Pacific Ave.; Teaching Toys and Books, 2624 N. Proctor St.; King’s Books, 218 St. Helens Ave.; Culpepper Books, 2521 N. Proctor St.; Basic Goods, 1734 Pacific Ave.; Purple Peacock, 1744 Pacific Ave.; almost every store on Antique Row. ... See? You get my drift.
Remember that many local businesses, particularly restaurants, offer gift certificates or gift passes. “Experience” gifts are super popular among my friends.
Kathleen Cooper: 253-597-8546
kathleen.cooper@thenewstribune.com
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