As the holidays come upon us, many look for local shops to buy their loved ones the perfect gift. During a time of work and stress, supporting small businesses is a great way to help your community. Small shops can offer a diverse range of unique gifts to give, and they often rely on holidays like Christmas, Easter and Halloween to bring in customers and revenue.
Brownies Pet Boutique: ⅘
Brownies Pet Boutique offers a wide array of gifts for your furry friends, such as collars, treats and chew toys. The shop is located behind Perry’s in downtown Larkspur and has a positive vibe with plenty of small knick-knacks for your pet. They have adorable customizable collars and the center table is completely covered with treats and food. However, being on the higher end, it’s rated a ⅘ for having mostly expensive niche items.
Pavilion: ⅗
Pavilion is a clothing and accessories store that consists of shoes, nice jewelry and numerous articles of tops and bottoms. It’s on the more expensive side, featuring Golden Goose shoes in the store’s front window and store-made jewelry. It doesn’t quite offer affordable options, and the style is limited to mostly women. But, the store has a welcoming outside window, displaying the shoes and clothes the store offers.
St Patrick’s Thrift Shop: ⅘
St Patrick’s Thrift Shop has an intense holiday feel, with home decor including dish ware, ornaments and other items that would make your home cozier. It makes for a great, affordable gift shop with the addition of friendly staff. It also offers affordable options, but it doesn’t have many varieties for gifts, thus rating it a ⅘.
Folio: 5/5
Folio, located on Magnolia is a cute store with small gifts such as ornaments, body care, perfume and candles. The workers create a pleasant environment filled with friendly service and great gift suggestions. The prices are on the higher end but not as expensive as other shops; Folio makes a great “nice gift” shop for the holidays. They offer dainty ornaments, wrapping paper, body care and many more items that make the perfect stocking stuffer or gift. Just about anyone can find a gift here, and the price ranges from affordable to high-end, therefore making it a perfect 5/5 shop.
Coquelico: ⅗
Right next to Folio, Coquelico, one of the oldest shops in town, has thrived in Larkspur for 27 years. It has small ornaments, jewelry, lights and soap that are great for small gifts, ranging in price from 5 to 10 dollars. They also have decorations like reindeer, mini Christmas trees and snowflakes. However, they lack a young appeal and don’t have as many unique gifts, just your typical items, giving them a ⅗.
Meadowlark Fine Jewelry: ⅘
Meadowlark, located in Town Center, is the perfect place to get jewelry, clothing and accessories for women and those who love comfy clothes. It offers a wide range of jewelry: rings, necklaces and bracelets, some having initial pendants which make the perfect customized gift. The clothing line at the store has numerous brands and plenty of loungewear. Meadowlark also has great high-end candles and mini crystals for those who like to collect. The store has a light, feminine theme, so most gifts would be subjected to someone who enjoys “girly” gifts, therefore it is not for everyone.
Local shops in Larkspur and Corte Madera are amazing spots for holiday gifts. A variety of pet shops, boutiques and clothing stores give many options when shopping for a loved one. Small businesses offer unique gifts like handmade jewelry, their own clothing lines and holiday decor like ornaments, perfect for making gift-receivers feel special.
