JC “Make it Local” Small Business Saturday Guide

Local Small Business Saturday
Photo courtesy of Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Tick, tock! The holiday season is upon us. Thanksgiving is here and with that comes the push to start checking off our shopping lists for friends, family, and co-workers. Jersey City is home to some incredible small businesses that can make the gift giving season a cinch! This Saturday is “Small Business Saturday” a chance for local shoppers to give a boost to their neighborhood shopping stops.  I’ve put together a list of some favorite Jersey City stores and boutiques that you must visit! Not only will you find some great gifts, you are supporting our local business owners and entrepreneurs. In addition to this list, you will find a lot of local artisans and gift options at the Grove Street Holiday Market.

Love Locked

If you’re looking for something special and unique for your friends and family, this popular JC boutique has got you covered. While Love Locked is known for their custom, hand-crafted jewelry, this little corner store located at 353 Grove St., is more than meets the eye. Even though they do have a plethora of gorgeous jewelry pieces, they also have a variety of candles, home goods, cards, etc. While I would say this will mostly be a holiday go-to for the women in your lives, they do have some great pieces for men as well. Because this store is home to so many great knick knacks and smaller pieces, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to look around.

My gift pick: A dainty necklace for my best friend. Love Locked has beautifully understated pieces for those friends in your life who love to make a big impact with simpler pieces.

Necklace from Small Business Saturday
Photo courtesy of shoplovelocked.com

Noellery

Speaking of jewelry, there’s another great boutique not far from Love Locked. Noellery is located at 321 Grove St. and is very close to the pedestrian district. This small business, also located in Hoboken and Montclair, has a wide range of jewelry, accessories, home goods, and stationary. The jewelry, however, is definitely the highlight. The store offers a wide range of styles and prices. My favorite selection, and one you’ll want to check out, is their earrings!

My gift pick: A unique cross bracelet for my grandmother who appreciates silver bracelets and will love wearing this out with her friends.

Photo courtesy of noellery.com

AMT Vintage

If you’re looking for a more sustainable or funky gift option, head over to AMT Vintage on Montgomery Street. Another Man’s Treasure, is exactly that… a treasure trove! Plan to spend a bit of time in this popular JC location as you will want to weed through all their great items. If you know people who appreciate a vintage find or a more sustainable lifestyle, you have to head over. You will, without a doubt, be giving them a rare gift that will not be duplicated!

My gift pick: That rare handbag find for my dance friend who lives permanently outside of the box!

Jersey City Local Shopping
Photo courtesy of @amtvintage

Word Bookstore

One of my favorite places to go in Jersey City, even without the holiday shopping season necessitating a trip, is Word Bookstore. Conveniently located in the Newark Pedestrian Shopping mall, this is JC’s go-to for new books and stationary. When you first walk in you’ll find an assortment of greeting cards, office supplies, candles, and more. Then, of course, are all the great books. The selection is well-curated and always includes a range of popular titles, indie choices, local authors, and more. While you’re perusing the shelves for that perfect gift, check out their events calendar as well.

My gift pick: The latest political tell-all for my uncle who loves being smart about both sides of the story.

Jersey City Local Shop
Photo courtesy of wordbookstores.com

Kanibal & Co.

This store is one of those Jersey City gems that I could spend hours in! Kanibal & Co. is a small boutique with something for everyone. There are so many unique gift options in this store (located at 197 Montgomery St.) and you can easily knock off many of the people on your shopping list at this one place. With a selection of jewelry, clothing, candles, skincare products, homegoods, etc., it really can be a one-stop gift giving shop. If you love Jersey City as much as we do, you won’t want to miss their “Made in Jersey City” products as well as cute ornaments for the holidays!

My gift pick: A “Made in Jersey City” coffee mug for my editor who loves “everything” Jersey City.

Jersey City Small Business Saturday
Photo courtesy of Kanibal & Co.

Hazel Baby & Kids

Right next door to Kanibal & Co. is a wonderful little children’s boutique. Whether you’re shopping for your own children, or those of friends and family, Hazel Baby & Kids has a great selection of clothing, accessories, books, games and toys. One of my favorite things about shopping here for all my friends is the amount of gender neutral options they have. Gender neutral clothing is sustainable, great for expecting parents who don’t know the gender yet, AND it is 2019, so who needs gender norms anyway? I also love this store’s fantastic selection of educational products. You can feel good about buying quality things for children from a great, local store.

My gift pick: Alphabet blocks in Italian for my friend’s new baby. Hazel Baby & Kids has a beautiful selection of alphabet blocks in many languages and these make an incredible educational gift!

Photo courtesy of hazelbaby.com

Tia’s Place

There’s no need to head to the mall for clothing chain stores. Tia’s Place, a lovely clothing boutique located on Grove Street across from City Hall (and also in NYC), has a fantastic selection of stylish clothes, trendy jewelry, candles, and more. What I love about this particular store is the clothes are very on trend, but fit a diverse range of body types. Every time I walk into the store, I find about 20 things I wish I could buy. Another bonus: I find the clothes to be quite affordable, considering small clothing boutiques can be quite pricey.

My gift pick: A soft and cozy sweater for my favorite co-worker. She will love the versatility and warmth of this layered piece!

Photo courtesy of tiasplace.com

Roflcopter Toys & Gifts

Adult or child, there’s something magical about stepping inside of a toy store during the holiday season. Children are filled with hopeful wonder and adults delight in the merriment of holidays past. Plus, let’s face it, adults can have just as much fun testing out the latest gadgets and gizmos as well. Located at 298 Newark Ave., Roflcopter Toys & Gifts is a small little toy store straight out of a classic children’s book or movie. This local favorite offers the expected plush toys, arts & crafts, animal figures, building blocks, and more. Also, they always have the cutest onesies in their window display!

My gift pick: The hand puppets for a child that I tutor. Hand puppets are AMAZING for creative play and imagination, and an often forgotten about toy these days.

Photo courtesy of roflcoptershop.com

Hound About Town

Of course we can’t forget our furry little friends during the holidays! Hound About Town, a small boutique focusing on mostly dog (and cat) products, is a Jersey City favorite! There are two locations of this store: 17 McWilliams Place and 218 Montgomery Street. The stores carry high quality products including leashes and harnesses, food, clothes, and toys. Not only are the products nice, the owners and employees are fantastic as well. So don’t forget about little Fido this holiday season. Let’s bring some joy to those who bring it to us year round.

My gift pick: A new vest for my little pup. Their gorgeous clothing items are more of a splurge, but I don’t mind spending more for a great quality and gorgeous item for my fur friend.

Dog outfit from Small Business Saturday
Photo courtesy of houndabouttownjc.com

Fussy Friends Pet Supplies

If you’re looking for a larger selection of pet supplies, head over to Fussy Friends in the Newark Pedestrian Plaza. Quite a bit larger, this supplies store has the traditional cat and dog necessities, but also offers a full range of products for a variety of animals. Fussy Friends also carries natural pet care products, that I am a big fan of. The owners and staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful, an added bonus.

My gift pick: TOYS! Fussy Friends has a full wall of toys with great prices. My dog Felicity will be sure to get a few new additions to her stocking.

Photo courtesy of congerdesign on pixabay.com

This “Small Business Saturday”, make sure to shop local and support our local economy by paying a visit to one or many of our Jersey City small businesses. Many will be running special deals and steals throughout the day and even offer bonus gifts and incentives such as “Shop Local” reusable shopping bags. Find a can’t miss deal? Make sure to share a photo and tag us and use the hashtag #smallbusinesssaturday so we can all appreciate what Jersey City small businesses have to offer.