Western Mass. Offers a Bounty of Options for Local Gifts
Beyond the Big Box
Paw Street Barkery
The gift-giving season is quickly approaching, and the business of everyday life can make it difficult to find the perfectly thoughtful gift. Fortunately, the 413 is full of good ideas. For our annual Shop Local Gift Guide, BusinessWest offers up 18 such options, whether you’re looking for a physical gift to wrap up, a service, or an always-welcome gift card.
Arts Unlimited Gift Gallery
25 College St., South Hadley
(413) 532-7047
www.facebook.com/artsunlimitedgifts
Arts Unlimited was founded with one goal in mind: to provide customers with a high-quality, smart, and reliable gift shop. Offerings include a wide variety of art, accessories, and decorations, and gifts for birthdays, retirements, weddings, holidays, and more.
The Baker’s Pin
34 Bridge St., Northampton
(413) 586-7978
www.thebakerspin.com
This extensive kitchen store carries a wide range of cookware, cutlery, electric devices, bakeware, kitchen tools, home goods, cookbooks, and food products as well. But it also offers an array of cooking classes, both online and in person, exploring different foods and techniques appropriate for the season.
The Blue Marble
150 Main St., Northampton
(413) 253-0328
www.thebluemarble.biz
The Blue Marble, located in Thornes Marketplace, describes itself as “displayers and purveyors of American-made and fairly traded, handcrafted work,” with gifts including jewelry, scarves, pottery, wall art, and more. Its Little Blue line offers gift and clothing options for babies and preschoolers, also focusing on sustainable, organic, and ethically sourced options.
The Bookstore and Get Lit Wine Bar
11 Housatonic St., Lenox
(413) 637-3390
www.bookstoreinlenox.com
The Bookstore, a fixture in Lenox for more than 40 years, was actually born in the neighboring town of Stockbridge, in the living room of a small rented house behind an alley that housed a then little-known café that later came to be known as Alice’s Restaurant. The bar is open whenever the bookstore is, and the bookstore stays open later some nights when the bar is open as well.
Greenfield Games
238 Main St., Greenfield
(413) 774-5225
www.greenfieldgames.com
Touting itself as the largest game store in the region, Greenfield Games carries a huge selection of collectible card games, board games, family games, classic games, role-playing books, RPG miniatures, party games, gaming supplies, puzzles, and poker supplies. Tables are available for in-store gaming.
Paw Street Barkery
1519 Memorial Dr., Chicopee
(413) 437-8014
www.pawstreetbarkery.com
For more than 10 years, Paw Street Barkery has been making tasty, healthy dog treats, including seven signature and five gourmet treats, with many seasonal flavors throughout the year. The shop also sells a selection of toys, bandanas, and other items for your furry friend.
Pioneer Valley Food Tours
(413) 320-7700
www.pioneervalleyfoodtours.com
This enterprise creates walking food tours that explore local flavors from Northampton and around the region. It also creates gift boxes sourced from the region’s fields and farms, as well as Pioneer Valley picnic baskets of selections ready to bring on an outdoor adventure. Choose a pre-set tour itinerary, or create a custom tour to suit your tastes.
Positively Africana
150 Main St., Northampton
(413) 297-8010
www.positivelyafricana.com
Located in Thornes Marketplace, this authentic gift shop focuses on handmade crafts and accessories made in Africa or inspired by the continent’s strength and beauty. It offers a wide range of handmade products, including jewelry, accessories, home decor, and clothing, as well as group exercise classes, and 25% of all profits support women entrepreneurs and artists in the Congo.
Razzmatazz Kids
803 Williams St., Longmeadow
(413) 754-3654
www.facebook.com/razzmatazzkidsstore
Formerly Zen’s Toyland, Razzmatazz Kids sells a variety of items ranging from baby teethers to adult puzzles, including high-quality, unique items that aren’t available elsewhere. All the toys are handpicked, and the shop also has a playroom for children to ‘test drive’ items.
Richardson’s Candy Kitchen
500 Greenfield Road, Deerfield
(413) 772-0443
www.richardsonscandy.com
In 1954, Henry & Viola Richards opened a roadside candy kitchen in a schoolhouse-red clapboard storefront in the historic town of Deerfield. Seventy years later, current owner Kathie Woodward Williams still uses the original recipes and celebrates the sweet traditions of the seasons, crafting scrumptious confections like hand-twisted candy canes and signature chocolates.
Springfield Museums
21 Edwards St.
(413) 263-6800
www.springfieldmuseums.org
Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, the Springfield Museums offer access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. Gift certificates are available to share the fun, culture, and learning.
Springfield Thunderbirds
45 Bruce Landon Way, Springfield
(413) 739-4625
www.springfieldthunderbirds.com
A great deal for big-time hockey fans and folks who simply enjoy a fun night out with the family, Thunderbirds games are reasonably priced entertainment in Springfield’s vibrant downtown. The AHL franchise plays home games through April at the MassMutual Center, with a constant stream of promotions.
Springfield Wine Exchange
1500 Main St., Springfield
(413) 237-6187
www.swewines.com
Located on the ground floor of downtown Tower Square, the Springfield Wine Exchange offers customers local select craft beers and wines from around the world. The shop has assembled a collection of wines sourced and hand-selected from growers around the world, from everyday, affordable bottles to fine and rare collectibles.
Summit Center for Vibrant Living
25 Franklin Street, Lenox
(518) 441-6336
www.summitcenterforvibrantliving.com
Dolores Mannix, an intuitive body worker, spiritual mentor, and yoga teacher, brings together close to three decades of initiations and study in the Path of Light in Ecuador with her training in bodywork and yoga for somatic, spiritual, and emotional release in a safe, nurturing environment, fostering transformational experiences.
Sweet Lucy’s Bakeshop
7 South St., Bernardston
(413) 648-3160
www.sweetlucysbakeshop.com
Sweet Lucy’s Bakeshop is a new-American bakery in the heart of New England, passionately committed to providing the most craveable, high-quality pastries and cakes. Meanwhile, owner Lucy Damkoehler offers a wide array of cooking classes and sells gift certificates that can be applied to any class.
The Toy Box
201 North Amherst St.
(413) 256-8697
www.thetoyboxamherst.com
The Toy Box was born in late 2003. A few years later, the store expanded to twice its original size, expanding its product selection to include lots of gift and hard-to-find items as well as toys and games for older kids and adults. The website features a robust online sales platform with items in dozens of categories.
World Eye Bookshop
134 Main St., Greenfield
(413) 772-2186
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057448487826
World Eye Bookshop opened more than 50 years ago, and even though it has several locations, it is still Greenfield’s only independent bookshop for new books, as well as greeting cards, toys, games, journals, stuffed animals, art supplies, tarot, and more.
Zanna
187 North Pleasant St., Amherst
(413) 253-2563
www.zanna.com
Zanna describes itself as “a city style store in a little downtown,” and adds, “we toss clothes over dressing room doors, fit shoes, give honest advice, and lots of TLC. We’ve created lasting friendships for over 50 years.”
