The holidays are near, which means it’s time to go shopping. Here’s an assortment of local spots we visited with something uniquely RI to offer.
Taking Stock
As a fellow coffee and tea drinker, my eyes were glued to the shelf of tea kettles and coffee pots. The shop sells kitchen supplies and ingredients, including spices, flours, and flavoring extracts. The bookworm in me was also drawn to the shelf of cookbooks. I had the chance to meet Jan Dane, shop owner, in the store who was cheerfully assisting an employee at the register. She took a minute to deliver a brief summary about some of the special gift boxes Stock offers:
Sabrina Ruiz (Motif): I understand that one of the aspects of your business is creating gifts for customers. Do you offer November/December themed presents, and how long does the gift process usually take?
Jan Dane: In addition to the pre-made gift boxes we keep stocked and ready to go, which feature Rhode Island-made treats and condiments, we also will build a beautiful box on demand, with whatever budget or themes are desired by the customer.While we can do this in 10 – 15 minutes most of the year, it’s a little harder to do at the holidays without some notice. We strongly recommend that customers email us at info@stockpvd.com or call ahead at 401-521-0101.
756 Hope St, PVD. stockpvd.com
Hopping To Frog & Toad
The second shop I visited was Frog & Toad, a souvenir shop with a dazzling variety of items. What I noticed immediately were the Studio Ghibli merchandise by the register. This area contains mugs and journals focused on iconic anime films, including some of my favorites like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. I spoke with General Manager Jen Chicoine about any upcoming sales – not on Black Friday, it turns out, but absolutely on Small Business Saturday.
The store has so much in such a small space – I found myself admiring the crow bookends and crochet kits. It wasn’t surprising to see a funky assortment of RI merchandise on clothes and accessories.
795 Hope St, PVD. frogandtoadstore.com
– Sabrina Ruiz
Journey to The Map Center
Owner Andrew Middleton gave me a tour of The Map Center and explained what is available for the holidays. The shop sells puzzles, books, postcards, and other souvenirs based on maps around the world. Andrew gave a tour of his shop and shared a few words:
Andrew Middleton: One item is Maps on Vinyl by Damien Saunders. This book was written by an Australian, but it still has a bit of New England in it. This is an exclusive offer I’ve been pitching heavily for Christmas. There are more music fans than map fans. I also have this 1500 piece puzzle. This map is by cartographer Anton Thomas, and the map itself is pricey. But a cheaper, interactive option to experience this map is a jigsaw puzzle, a fun offering for all ages.
SR:Do you have any maps that match the winter holiday theme?
AM: I do. I have a great atlas of Antartica, if you’re looking for something more North Pole. It’s hard to sell themed maps to a particular holiday because the map isn’t going away on January 1st. A lot of what I sell is intentionally chosen to be timeless rather than specifically seasonal.
The Map Center is also offering discarded maps as possible wrapping paper! Drop by: The place is easy to find using GPS.
545 Pawtucket Ave, Pawtucket. mapcenter.com
–Sabrina Ruiz
Craftland in downtown PVD makes a point of stocking locally made craft items. These tend to be cute, whimsical items, often incorporating an only-in-RI reference – to bridge construction, for example, Dell’s on a magnet, or quahogs on a baby onesie. 212 Westminster St, PVD. craftlandshop.com
Lovecraft Arts & Sciences in the Arcade in downtown PVD presents alt-gift opportunities for more gothic or horror-oriented mindsets. There’s plenty of horror association with this most wonderful/depressing time of year, just ask Krampus . Your giftee might also enjoy knowing you got their present at the oldest indoor mall in the country.
65 Weybosset St, #105, PVD. weirdprovidence.org
Hope & Main, the culinary incubator in Warren, champions locally made food products all year long at both their Warren and PVD locations. That includes some flavor profiles you or your giftee may have never tried before. Several Hope & Main-incubated products have won food awards in the past, including Kristi’s Rainbow Nuts and, this year, Ligia’s popsicles. Note, if you buy the gift of popsicles, make sure you have your freezer logistics worked out. There are few gift fails as profound as handing someone a sack of melted popsicles. 100 Westminster St, PVD; 691 Main St, Warren; makefoodyourbusiness.com
These gifts not only support local businesses, they come with locally rooted stories that help you prove thought went into your selection – which is what counts!
– Mike Ryan