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Shop local with the 2016 Richmond holiday gift guide

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holiday gifts
RICHMOND, Va. – Shoppers who wish to support Richmond artisans and businesses will find plenty of holiday options among local shops.

The guide below is organized by category, with location and contact info listed. CBS 6 contacted shops to inquire about their holiday best sellers.

In addition to the handmade items for your favorite people, consider a gift certificate or membership to a beloved destination spot, like Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Virginia Historical Society, Valentine Museum, or even a Richmond City Food Tour.

And let’s not forget that most of your favorite people would probably enjoy a gift card to one the hundreds of local restaurants, doughnut shops or bakeries.

Is there an item you would like to see listed? Drop the web team an email. Also, make sure to share your holiday favorites in the comments below.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Art and Goods
Beer
Books
Booze
Chocolate and Confections
Clothing
Coffee
Food
Music
Soap
Toys
Wine

ART AND GOODS

From jewelry to candles to Richmond-themed prints and pillows, buyers will discover a healthy abundance of shops selling wares made by the locals. Items listed as popular this holiday are not the only items sold at the shops.

Art 180 gift shop feature fine art, crafts, and other handmade items by local artists ranging in price from $3-$300, and proceeds benefit the Art180 programs.

New this gift guide is Roaring Pines, who only sell only products made domestically.  Their popular Richmond-made items include Square Trade Goods, candles and reed diffusers, Montrose Shine polish leather conditioner, and cloth covered extension cords and pendants made by Marion Hill. Look for plenty of other sundries and even craft soda.

Gather, in Midlothian, said Sydney Hale candles (clementine and clove is popular) and the great hostess gift Razzle Dazzle, delicious food mix, are best sellers.

Roaring Pines opened in Church Hill and sells only items made domestically.

Roaring Pines opened in Church Hill and sells only items made domestically.

The Shops at 5807, in the Near West End, features over 20 artists under one roof.  Go here for funky, whimsical ornaments, handmade wreaths by Verve and beautiful ceramic Modern Artifacts Virginia ornaments by Tasha McKelvey. They also have locally made candles.

Twig in Northside says that “Naked” brand soy candles — especially the Frasier fir scent — are popular,  along with ornaments, jewelry,  his and her gifts and pottery. Locally made jewelry, including stuff by Scatttered Brains, sells well.

Orange, in Carytown, said everything is moving fast, especially Richmond-themed prints, especially those by Peyton Millikan.  Also popular is the handmade art of Brian Kirby, who creates frames of reclaimed wood with vintage Richmond maps inside.

South of the river, Nest Antiques Art and Gifts sells items from over 60 local artists and makers. Nest  said that candles and soaps are hot sellers, along with other items like jewelry and paintings.

The Winter Print Fair at Studio Two Three will provide the opportunity to purchase printed works made by a bevy of local printmakers. The shop is located at 3300 W. Clay Street in Richmond, and the print fair will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 11.

SHOPS CARRYING LOCAL MADE WARES *Make sure to contact shops for specific holiday hours*

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In addition to gift cards and beer, many breweries sell glassware and clothing items for the beer lover in your life. (Photo: Ardent Ales)

In addition to gift cards and beer, many breweries sell glassware and clothing items for the beer lover in your life. (Photo: Ardent Ales)

BEER

Richmond doesn’t lack for craft beer and this section has certainly grown from previous years.  There are some popular brews which release during the holiday season and will make fantastic gifts for the beer lover in your life.

Sidenote: A growler is good for a week unopened in the refrigerator, and you have 24 hours to drink it before carbonation begins to disappear. Some beers listed below aren’t available by bottle, but by growler.

You can use the web-based site or cellphone app Trinkin to find out if the beer you seek as a gift is available at a store or the brewery’s tasting room. Or call them.

Don’t overlook a gift certificate to a brewery, or to a locally operated beer shop like Growlers to Go, Corks & Kegs,  De Fles Winkel and Once Upon A Vine.

Many breweries carry stickers, glasses, shirts and hats that would allow your favorite person to show off their flavor style!

Also popular are the Richmond Brewery Tours, where your favorite person gets driven  around to try multiple Richmond-made beers.

BREWERY CONTACT INFO

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There are several great bookstores in Richmond, and there are plenty of great local authors!

There are several great bookstores in Richmond, and there are plenty of great local authors!

BOOKS

There are a number of authors from the Richmond area, whose masterpieces range from cookbooks to nonfiction and mysteries to botanical books, as well as kids and young adult fiction.

Chop Suey bookstore suggests the River City Secrets: Stories from Richmond. It is one of the most Richmond books you can get this holiday season, featuring 24 local authors, historic settings, and local printer and publisher. Stop by for books and visit the Bizarre Market upstairs!

Also popular this year is Artists Coloring Book Vol. 2, featuring some of Richmond’s most admired artists.

Visit one of the places below and ask about more local authors. Not sure what to buy? Try a gift card for your favorite person.

  • bbgb Tales for Kids 3003 West Cary Street Richmond, (804) 353 5675
  • Bell Book & Candle, 106 1/2 S Railroad Ave Ashland, (804) 798-9047
  • Black Swan Books, 2601 West Main Street, Richmond,  (804) 353-9476 *collectibles of Richmond and Virginia writers*
  • Book People, 536 Granite Avenue, Richmond, (804) 288-4346
  • Chop Suey Books,  2913 West Cary Street Richmond,  (804) 422-8066 *Don’t miss the Holiday Brew Ho – Ho on Dec. 11, featuring more than 30 local authors*
  • Fountain Bookstore, 1312 E Cary St. Richmond,  (804) 788-1594

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Have a spirited holiday with some, or all, of Richmond-made booze.

Have a spirited holiday with some, or all, of Richmond-made booze.

BOOZE

Celebrate a spirited holiday with these local offerings, available at the Virginia ABC stores. Check store availability here.

  • Cirrus Vodka is an award-winning vodka made on Ownby Lane. The potato-based vodka is a rarity in the U.S. — most vodkas are made from grains.
  • James River Distillery for the gin lover in your life. Offerings include Commonwealth, Continental and UA Navy Strength gin. Made on Hardy Street.
  • Reservoir Distillery offers wheat and rye whiskey, and corn bourbon. Made in Scott’s Addition.
  • Belle Isle Craft Spiritsproduces a variety of flavorful, premium moonshine for cocktails. Made in Manchester.

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PHOTO: Chocolate Cravings

PHOTO: Chocolate Cravings

CHOCOLATE AND CONFECTIONS

Richmond is sweeter than you may know. Visit websites or call to confirm shop hours. Many products are available at locally owned retailers.

At Chocolate Cravings, popular holiday items include peppermint bark, dark peppermint, hot cocoa cones and white Columbian chocolate.

Chocolates by Kelly is now in Scott’s Addition.  There 24-piece assorted box of chocolates is a best seller, for $36. Also a must have for foodies is the $20 bottle of CHOCOLATE BALSAMIC VINEGAR (why wouldn’t that be in all caps!).

Chocolate balsamic vinegar. Photo: Chocolates by Kelly

Chocolate balsamic vinegar. Photo: Chocolates by Kelly

Gearharts offers gift assortments, a popular hot chocolate mix and malt whiskey truffles to go with the Reservoir whiskey you bought, or any local beer.

Pecan Jack’s are now operating out of the Omni Hotel in Shockoe Slip, so stop by when you go to check out the James Center lights. They offer a variety of delightful confections, with plenty of gift options available.

SWEET SHOPS

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Check out any number of local retailers for fashionable threads. Photo: Ledbury

Check out any number of local retailers for fashionable threads. Photo: Ledbury

CLOTHING

Richmond’s fashion designers offer plenty of clever options to keep your loved ones well-dressed.

RVA Threads said that the most popular selling items are the skyline RVA shirt and the RVA-outlined, pocketed sweatpants.

Need Supply Co. first opened in Carytown, but its online shopping has left its mark internationally. You can peruse their online gift guide for his/her gift ideas.

RVA Threads most popular selling items.

RVA Threads most popular selling items.

Ledbury’s gift guide includes stocking stuffers, ties, scarves, hats, and their internationally renown shirts.

Peter Blair has hundreds of handmade and hand-designed ties and bow-ties. They also offer local-centric key FOBS that could make fun stocking stuffers, as well as Virginia-themed belts with flair such as the state cardinal, tobacco leaf, Capital, and peanut.

And don’t forget to throw in some shades in for stocking stuffers. Nectar has plenty of trendy shades, and Plank Eyeware offers a series of wood frame glasses named after Richmond hills.

CLOTHING SHOPS

  • Ledbury 117 S 14th St Richmond, (804) 285-6768
  • Nectar Sunglasses, online retail.
  • Need Supply Co., 3100 West Cary Street Richmond, (804) 355 – 4383
  • Peter Blair, 5800 Grove Ave, Richmond,
  • Rosewood Clothing 16 West Broad St, Richmond.
  • RVA Creates, an online guide to ALL merchandise with the RVA logo. Includes items like pins, glasses, stickers, shirts, blankets, wine glasses, travel mugs and golf towels — most anything you need.
  • RVA Threads, sold online, and featuring Richmond-themed t-shirts. Free shipping on orders right now.
  • Shockoe Atelier 13A South 15th Street Richmond, (804) 269-0851
  • Plank Eyewear, online retail.

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Some of the best coffee is made in Richmond. This year Iron Clad Coffee roared into the market.

Some of the best coffee is made in Richmond. This year Iron Clad Coffee roared into the market.

COFFEE

There are plenty of places to pick up local beans and delights instead of a generic gift card to Starbucks. Blanchard’s offers a Holiday blend of Ethiopian and Sumatran beans, in addition to their numerous varieties and gift boxes. Rostov’s has a holiday Spice Butter Rum, as well as Richmond Tea Blend; a black tea with cinnamon oil.  They also provide gift baskets for the tea or coffee lover.

Both places offer brewing equipment as well.

The Shockoe Swirl is a popular, Cinnamon Hazelnut blend available at Shockoe Espresso and Bakery.  Black Hand offers a classy Museum District blend.

Iron Clad Coffee Roasters are new to the gift guide this year.  Their specialty-grade coffee, many lighter roasts, can be found at plenty of local retailers, click here. The darker-coffee drinker in your life will appreciate the House of Usher blend.

If you have a coffee lover in your life, one of these places will have what you need, guaranteed.

An extra large coffee and tea giftbox. PHOTO: Rostov's

An extra large coffee and tea giftbox. PHOTO: Rostov’s

SHOPS

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$65 for a local-made gift box at Little House Green Grocery.

$65 for a local-made gift box at Little House Green Grocery.

FOOD

In addition to the hundreds of places where you can probably get some kind of gift certificate, there are multiple stores that sell an array of Richmond/Virginia based products.

Food writer Stephanie Ganz, who works with dozens of food businesses in the Richmond area through her business The Apple Cart, has some recommendations. The Apple Cart also features a holiday-giving gift guide.   She suggested gift boxes from  Little House Green Grocery, which are full of almost 100% Richmond-made items, bundled up very cutely.

Additionally, there are still some copies of 804ork Vol. 2 available — one of last year’s most popular gift item.

For the spice-lover in your life, Stephanie suggests the Berbere spice blend from The Nile in Church Hill, assorted spice blends from The Village Garden (available at the SOTJ farmers market), Crunch Dynasty, award-winning tasso ham from Stock Provisions, Kim Kim sauce, and Dang! That’s Hot Chimichurrious.

For the sweeter palate, she recommends Gearhart’s Chocolates, La Vache Caramels, Upchurch Chocolate, C&C’s Cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning available at Yellow Umbrella, Buche de Noel and/or a holiday treat box from Whisk.

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steady-sounds

PHOTO: Steady Sounds

MUSIC

If Richmond had a soundtrack, it would be quite diverse. Many musicians known around the world  call the River City home. Check with the local record shops to get the latest and best tunes.  Some record shops sell more than vinyl.

SHOPS

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PHOTO: Day Three Soap

PHOTO: Day Three Soap

SOAP

Plenty of talented soap makers will keep the stink away.

Cricket Cove Soap Co. offers plenty of stocking stuffer and gift set ideas. Naokeidoe Creations offers body, hair and home products that are sold at Kroger and Whole Foods.

House of Lukaya has a variety of holistic lotions and potions for body care.

Row House Soaps has been in production for locally for a decade. Hit up their soap factory downtown for all-natural, vegan soap.

Day Three soap has agift guide to help you decide.

SOAP SHOPS

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Photo: World of Mirth

Photo: World of Mirth

TOYS AND HOBBY

Consistently voted “Best for Children’s Gifts and Toys” we would like to add that World of Mirth has plenty of things for the adults in your life as well.

Photo: Black Heath Meadery

Photo: Black Heath Meadery

WINE

The Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office reports that Virginia has at least 230 wineries. While the bulk of those are in Northern and Western Virginia counties, there are several near Richmond. Their products can be found at many retailers.

Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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