18 North Brooklyn small businesses to check out for your last-minute shopping

By Nick Youssef

It’s mid-December and you’re holding wrapping paper with nothing to wrap. Fear not, we’ve got another neighborhood guide for shopping local for your holiday needs. Last week, Building Black Bed-Stuy curated this brilliant list of local Black-owned artisans and apothecaries (many of whom you can come check out at our own holiday market this Friday and Saturday in Industry City). Today, we’re going on a shopping tour through some of our favorite Williamsburg and Greenpoint small businesses.

From vintage threads to tasty teas — from goodies for your good pets to crucial bike gear — take our hand as we show you around …

Vintage

Raggedy Threads
IG: @raggedythreads
Don’t have time to dig through bins for a leather jacket with perfect patina or get side-eyed by a twentysomething who can’t believe you just picked out that Duran Duran t-shirt? Head to Raggedy Threads for carefully curated pieces with a bend towards early to mid-century heritage/Americana. Get authentic deck jackets for brutal NY winters, beaten up overalls worn by actual men with actual jobs and a wide selection of white tees you never thought could feel so soft.

10 Ft. Single by Stella Dallas
IG: @10ftsinglebystelladallas
At the cross section 6th Street, Meeker and Metropolitan Avenues meet, Stella Dallas has a moderately curated assortment of, well, everything. And unlike most clothing stores, it feels evenly split between men and women. Make sure to stop by their annex, Stella Dallas Living to find a more curated selection of vintage treasures from the 1930s – 60s. You’ll feel like you entered a Turner Classic Movies wardrobe vault. If you’re in a last-minute panic, you won’t leave empty handed.

Shop 86 NYC
IG: @shop86nyc
Tucked away in the up-and-coming industrial section of Greenpoint, Shop 86 is one of those rare co-op vintage spots that has a throughline from one seller to the next, in that each seller’s section feels as cool as the one before it. It’s not the same stuff, but it’s from the same rad group of friends. Shop 86 feels like they invited you to their afterparty’s afterparty. And keep an eye out for the vintage home decor on the shelves and walls. A lot of it is for sale.

Bike shops

King Kog
IG: @kingkogbrooklyn
Keep a loved one alive with a set of bicycle lights and a bell. Kog is also known for their selection of pre-built bicycles at reasonable prices. Their speciality: getting everyone onto a bike. Plus, their name is cool as hell.

Eighth Hour Studio
IG: @eighthhourstudio
Eighth Hour is a custom build shop and has great equipment for those long-haul touring weekend trips. If the special someone in your life can’t stop complaining about back and neck pain, I highly suggest getting them a proper bike fitting. It can make an old uncomfortable bike and the joints that push it around feel brand new again.

Home Goods

Upstate Stock
IG: @upstatestock
Right on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint, sits the king of the local and regionally made goods and clothes. What’s truly special here are their impeccably crafted beanies and gloves made entirely here in Brooklyn. They’re built to last. For the holidays, Upstate is doing a glove and beanie gift combo. They’re already a deal at full price so don’t miss out on this one.

Burson and Reynolds
IG: @bursonreynolds
Burson & Reynolds has been filling Greenpoint households with all things housewares for years. Highlights include local and regionally made soy and beeswax candles. This month you can find an impressively large assortment of Christmas ornaments and greeting cards made by independent designers. My favorite purchase back in 2018 was an oversized tea towel for bathing on the recommendation of Ashley, Burson’s owner. I’ve since purchased two more. Goodbye forever, scratchy, itchy and always too small terrycloth towels!

Plants

Tula House
IG: @tulahouse
There is no shortage of plant stores in Brooklyn. What makes Tula House different is their Arid Room; an entire section of the shop dedicated to desert plants that look like they were imported from Mars. For the holidays, Tula is giving away a free bag of Tula’s Tropical Mix with every purchase of their artisan-made Opal Planter. This offer is online only. Place an Opal in your cart, and a free Tropical Soil adds automatically.

horti PLAY
IG: @heyhorti
Everything seems to be going the way of the subscription model. And now … plants, too? According to horti PLAY, you too can be a green thumb with the right preparation. For the holidays you can gift a plant subscription to a loved one (or enemy) ranging from three months to a year. The choices are endless; beginners to pet friendly packages and beyond and they’ll ship right to your door.

Pets

Pet Supplied
Our pets can’t run their own errands, and come to think of it, they don’t even have their own jobs. And they don’t do chores! Fortunately, they love us unconditionally and look at us like gods. Occasionally, we gods will get too busy and forget to pick up some freeze dried lamb treats and kibble. Pet Supplied will do same day delivery all over the borough. Lifesavers.

District Dog
IG: @districtdogbk
Most dogs will eat anything that moves. Or a chair I found in an antique store — BAD DOG, RICKY. BAD. Once all is forgiven, I head over to District Dog, conveniently located by the McGolrick Park dog run for a wide selection of homemade cookies that honestly look so good I may or may not have split one with my dog one afternoon. Don’t judge me.

Muddy Paws
Dog grooming can cost a paw and a leg. This East Williamsburg pet supply store not only carries all the food and toys your best bud could want, but they offer do-it-yourself dog bathing. They provide a walk in shower complete with a bench, all the soaps, shampoos, brushes and towels you’ll need. All you have to bring is a nervous dog who hates water. All this can be yours for $25.

Tea

Kettl
IG: @kettltea
Move over astronomically expensive third wave coffees! Kettl is on the scene with some complex, delicious tea sourced directly from Japan. Gift a bag of tea with uniquely crafted ceramics by Taakadi Yoshida for a home run holiday gift for a the serious tea drinker in your life.

Puerh
Artisanal tea from all over the world. My favorite part about this place are the guided tea ceremonies. You can make reservations for two to four people. They’re about an hour or two hours and you leave feeling centered and refreshed. Give the gift of inner peace.

Dashi Okume
One of the newest businesses on the list. Dashi is your one-stop-shop for fish-based broths that pack a dense umami punch (in a good way). Most use them to make miso soups. I’ve been steeping the pre-packaged bags and drinking it right out of a coffee mug. A great gift for the cook in your life who wants to broaden their arsenal of ingredients.

Spa and Salon

Lili & Cata
There are 47,000 nail salons in Brooklyn, according to a statistic I just made up. What makes Lili & Cata so different? For starters, they have a coffee bar and will serve you as you’re getting pampered, but more importantly, the manicures and pedicures are waterless. They instead use essential oil and warm water soaked towels to enhance the experience. Forgoing the traditional tubs and bowls of water means saving 12 to 15 gallons of water per salon visit as well as eliminating the bacterial infections when the vessels aren’t properly disinfected. I’ve tried it and love it. I’m all about a guilt-free manicure. Pop on by and check out the winter deal: free latte or non-alcoholic beverage and $12 off any mani-pedi combo, $5 off any manicure or pedicure (Monday through Friday only).

Bathhouse
IG: @abathhouse
The ultimate gift. I got an all inclusive day pass here for my birthday and have been wanting to go back ever since. Located in a converted factory in Williamsburg, Bathhouse has it all: saunas, massage tables, multiple soaking pools ranging from hellfire hot to arctic cold. Take a break from taking a break with a visit to their private cafe. If you want to knock it out of the park with an experiential holiday gift, look no further.

And in honorable mentions …

Artists & Fleas
This is the Mecca of indie marketplaces. 45+ vendors every Saturday and Sunday showcasing everything from fashion, art, design, jewelry, records and more and more and more.