There’s No Place Like Local Businesses for the Holidays
With the holiday season coming up quicker than it feels humanly possible, the gift shopping frenzy is well underway even if it looks quite a bit different this year. We all know the toll that COVID-19 has taken these past nine months—hundreds of Twin Cities local businesses have been forced to close either temporarily or permanently due to the strain of the virus, leaving many friends, family, and coworkers unemployed. The Twin Cities are home to incredible cuisine, art, clothing, and gifts that are worth being noticed and celebrated despite substantial changes. Here is a short list of some of my favorites to get ideas flowing and encourage us all to shop local whenever possible this season:
For those who are total plant parents
Mother Co. Plants: A cactus, plant, and pottery shop with two locations in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Mother Co. has a wide variety of species sourced directly from collectors and growers and placed in the hands of green thumbed customers.
For fans of comfort food with a twist
Trio Plant Based: The first black-owned, 100% plant-based restaurant in Minneapolis. Located on Lake Street in Minneapolis, Trio Plant Based prides itself in being unique soul food for the whole community.
For lovers of sustainable fashion
Hazel + Rose: A clothing, jewelry, and skincare boutique with a commitment to selling entirely sustainable and ethical independent brands both locally based and around the world. Check them out in Northeast Minneapolis.
For the true bookworms
Subtext Books: Located in downtown St. Paul, Subtext Books is a community-centered bookstore with a wide-ranging selection from classics to new releases.
For the thrifters and bargain finders
Sisterhood Boutique: A thrift store in the Cedar-Riverside Neighborhood of Minneapolis designed and run by East African women ages 14–23. The store is home to gently used clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and scarves at affordable prices.
For those who want to start (or continue) their journey to zero waste
Tare Market: Tare Market is Minnesota’s first zero waste shop for household and bath and body products. A women-owned business that is completely package free with options from refills to zero waste starter kits, there is something for everyone to get their sustainable toes wet.
If you’re just not sure what to get them
Corazon: A catchall of local artists’ gifts, jewelry, stationary, clothing, books, and home goods. A little something for everyone and a whole lot of fun on East Lake Street in Minneapolis.
For those whose bloodstream is 90% dark roast
And because I simply could not decide on ONE of the phenomenal Twin Cities-based coffee shops to showcase, here is a smattering of some of the favorites (if you look closely when you visit, you may even see a Backpacker barista at a few of these locations…):
Misfit Coffee in Uptown, Minneapolis
Penny’s Coffee in downtown Minneapolis
Sister Sludge Coffee Cafe and Wine Bar in South Minneapolis
The Get Down Coffee Co. (online for now but… cafe coming soon!)
This list barely begins to scratch the surface—there are hundreds of small business gems in the Twin Cities with spunk and heart and a whole lot of grit. For more information on how to find the best fit for your shopping needs and how to better support our local businesses, check out:
https://www.minneapolis.org/support-local-businesses/.
Go on and don your mask or surf online, and, most importantly, have a blast shopping for loved ones (or yourself) during this holiday season!