Favorite Rochester Businesses for Holiday Gifting
I don’t know where November went, but Thanksgiving is here, which means Christmas is just a few short weeks away! While I really love the Christmas season, gifting gives me intense anxiety. I put a lot of pressure on finding the perfect, practical-yet-memorable-and-uniquely-thoughtful gift for everyone on my list. I also do my best do avoid the Amazons of the world with my shopping. Shopping local feels much better! So in that spirit, below are my favorite Rochester small businesses for unique gifts this holiday season. I hope this list sparks some ideas and makes your shopping a little less stressful!
Note: this is not an ad or paid promotion. Just truly sharing my favorites!
Rochester Brainery
Experience over consumption
When your love language is quality time, purchasing a class for you and a loved one to attend is the perfect gift. From jewelry and candle making to Rochester history and cocktail classes, there’s something specific for anyone on your list. Plus, this is the perfect way to gift something to the person that already has everything! Experiences over things all the way.
Other local ideas for experience gifts? Tickets to a show at Comedy @ The Carlson or a gift card to The Little Theatre!
Elite Detail Package Certificate
The perfect gift for Mom
Again, a really unique and practical idea for the person that has everything! Elite Detail, a car detailing shop located in Greece NY, is locally owned and offers gift certificates for their detailing packages during the holidays. I think this is an especially perfect gift for Mom, who’s too busy and stressed to keep a clean car. These detail packages will leave her car smelling new and fresh for the New Year, plus help protect her car against Rochester winter salt. Stop in the shop to pick one up!
Stem Rochester
The perfect gift for homebodies…and me
After the holidays, the house feels so bare. A beautiful houseplant brightens up the winter blues when the Christmas tree heads to the curb. The person will think of you every time their little plant grows, and no one will turn down another house plant–you can never have enough. Stem’s adorable shop is located on Monroe Avenue.
Peppermint Boutique
The perfect gift for the creatives in your life
Peppermint is my #1 favorite boutique for gifts all year round. It’s the perfect stop for that special card or “little something special” to add to a bottle of wine. Peppermint has the absolute best selection of jewelry (in my humble opinion) and unique Rochester-themed items perfect for the loved one that’s moved away and would love a little reminder of home. Even better, many of Peppermint’s items are wholesaled from local Rochester artists so you’re truly shopping local.
Blue Cedar Candles
Beautiful packaging & scents you won’t find anywhere else
Locally hand poured, Blue Cedar Candles are truly made with love. Rina puts so much passion into creating her own unique scent combinations (like the perfect comforting scent of a library) that make the gift even more personalized. Rina is at many of the holiday markets this season and her candles are available online on her website! The packaging is beautiful, just another reason they make the best gift.
Iron Smoke Distillery
Perfect for Dad (or any whiskey lover, of course)
This is a fantastic go-to for Dad. Iron Smoke Distillery makes great whiskey and offers some awesome merchandise to go with it. They offer great flasks or gift sets, or you can DIY it and create your own basket to make the person’s favorite cocktail. Rattlesnake Rosie's Maple Bacon Whiskey is an especially popular product that’s perfect for Christmas morning!
Leaf & Bean Coffee Co.
The perfect gift for any caffeine addict or out-of-towner in need of something from home
I may be biased from my years as a barista here, but Leaf & Bean Coffee is a westside Rochester staple that truly feels like home. Leaf & Bean offers packaged seasonal coffees, coffee gift sets, and other local sweets and coffee-related items in their shop all season long. They have really good looking merchandise like coffee mugs and to-go stainless cups (I myself have many).
You can shop coffees online to ship anywhere in the US or stop in for a seasonal latte and some shopping! And yes–I designed their holiday gift cards this year and they’re adorable ;) So a gift card there means supporting a local business, a local artist, and giving a phenomenal gift all in one.
Just Browsing
The perfect gift for the newly engaged in need of some wedding prep!
Just Browsing just moved to its new location in Brighton, offering brow sculpting and other services like eyelashes and microblading. A gift certificate for a treatment here makes a great gift for someone who loves this kind of self care! Just be sure that they do–if not, it’s risky to assume ;) This is also a great idea for someone who just got engaged and is in need of some wedding prep pampering!
The other thing I love about Just Browsing is its little boutique in the waiting room. There’s local jewelry, art, and unique thrifted clothes you just won’t find anywhere else.
Carnegie Cellars
The perfect date night gift for wine lovers
Carnegie Cellars is Rochester’s newest wine bar located in the South Wedge, offering a unique selection of new and old world wines from all over. It’s the perfect cozy spot for happy hour, apps, dinner, or Sunday brunch. Grab a gift card, pair it with a bottle of wine and tickets to a show at the Little Theatre, and you’ve got a memorable date night gift to look forward to after the craze of the holidays. Win, win!
This idea of course goes for other Rochester favorites like Rohrbach Brewing Co., Strangebird Beer, Living Roots Wine, and so many more!
I hope this list inspires you to shop local and put some thought behind your gifts this season! Because we all know we can buy our own socks and pajama pants, and Bezos doesn’t need any more money.
Cheers, Rochester!