Mother’s Day is right around the corner. If you waited until the last minute to pick up a thoughtful gift for mom, head to one of these locally-owned shops and boutiques to find a gift she’s sure to love.
Gia & the Blooms What you’ll find: Contemporary and clean seasonal floral arrangements at an affordable price point. The interior of this little OTR urban jungle houses a larger-than-expected selection of items like greeting cards, candles and locally made ceramics along with lots of houseplants. There are air plants of all shapes and sizes, hanging and trailing options, super-tall cacti, $5-a-pop little plant buddies and more. Burlap-wrapped hand-built bouquets begin at $35, and delivery is free within the Cincinnati metro. 114 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine, giablooms.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Continuum What you’ll find: This pink and plant-filled women’s clothing store and bazaar features a curated selection of items from independent artists, designers and makers. It’s a high-end concept shop with a playful sense of humor and an eye for contemporary silhouettes, with brands including No. 6, Cold Picnic and Paloma Wool and plenty of other covetable objects: locally made ceramic jewelry, minimalist fragrances, eco-friendly nail polishes, architectural footwear and indie publications.1407 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/continuumbazaar. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Handzy Shop + Studio What you’ll find: Think bright colors, cute sayings and shopping ops for your BFFs. “Handzy Shop + Studio is a boutique with the cutest collection of clothes, accessories, stationery, gifts and more,” says owner Suzy Stachan. “We are all about offering upbeat products that foster friendships and make people happy. In the studio, we design our signature line of stationery, which you can also find in the shop.”15 W. Pike St., Covington, Ky., hellohandzy.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Native One What you’ll find: Easy and affordable trend-based women’s fashion with cross-generational appeal. The store is stuffed with everything from rompers and oversized outerwear to affordable statement footwear and lacy underpinnings. You’ll also find accessories, apothecary and home décor — and possibly a super cute shop pup… if you’re lucky. (We’ve seen him. He’s a very good boi.). 1421 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, thenativeone.com. Photo: Emerson Swoger
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Elm & Iron and Elm & Iron Loft What you’ll find: This shop leans toward vintage industrial décor and home accessories. “We offer a really unique experience for shopping,” says Hart Neely, the general manager of the Cincinnati locations. “We have a lot of one-of-a-kind pieces you won’t find anywhere else. We have everything from simple house-warming or hostess gifts to furnishing for a whole living room or dining room and everything in between.” 1326 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; Elm & Iron Loft, 1141 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, elmandiron.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Fern What you’ll find: Located in a converted College Hill gas station, Fern offers minimal, modern and nature-inspired items — and lots and lots of plants. Find a carefully edited selection of unique hand-thrown pottery, art, weavings and more, along with a curated assortment of beautiful, thriving greenery. Buy and learn how to care for all sorts of millennial-friendly houseplants, from a “Chinese Money” pilea peperomioides plant to a Christmas cactus kokedama (aka string-wrapped moss ball) and fiddle-leaf figs. Recurring classes cover artful pursuits ranging from floral arranging to calligraphy and watercolors. 6040 Hamilton Ave., North College Hill, fern-shop.com. Photo: Patty Salas
Artichoke OTR What you’ll find: Brad and Karen Hughes opened their Artichoke storefront down the street from Findlay Market in order to offer marketgoers a convenient destination for cookware. From basics to unique pieces not available anywhere else, you’ll find the tools you need to throw down in the kitchen like you’re an Iron Chef; think colorful ceramic tagines, SMEG brand appliances and beautiful bundt pans. And if you’re looking to enhance your skills, take a class in artichoke’s demonstration kitchen — just make sure you don’t step on lazy shop greyhound Gus. 1824 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, artichokeotr.com. Photo: Brittany Thornton
Cincy Shirts What you’ll find: Created by local comedians, this lighthearted shop sells vintage-inspired Cincinnati-themed apparel with a lean toward inside jokes and our classic past. “We sell all sorts of quirky items. we try to make people laugh,” says Sara Sheets, the manager of the OTR location. “Besides shirts, we all sell posters, mugs and, oh, we’re known for our fiona stuff.” 1301 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 2709 Observatory Ave., Hyde Park; 295 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland, cincyshirts.com. Photo: Emerson Swoger
Rose & Remington What you’ll find: Since opening its initial Lebanon location in November 2013, contemporary-casual boho-chic boutique Rose & Remington has opened eight other locations. With more than 400 labels of women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories, mother-and-daughter co-owners Dee Alexander and Kristin Ponchot constantly keep things fresh with new arrivals. 35 E. Main St., Lebanon; 7562 Bales St., Liberty Township; 9261 Governors Way, Fields Ertel; 3764 Paxton Ave., Hyde Park; 454 Ohio Pike, Beechmont; 7725 Mall Road, Florence; 7875 Montgomery Road, Kenwood; 3657 Stone Creek Blvd., Colerain, roseandremington.com. Photo: Emerson Swoger
Lentz and Company What you’ll find: The collection at vintage retailer Lentz & Company wouldn’t be out of place on the set of The Brady Bunch. The assortment of funky and colorful homegoods, furniture, local art and handmade gifts is a groovy treasure hunter’s paradise. In addition to 1960s-’70s flair, find Atomic Age cocktail shakers, fondue sets, Playboy memorabilia and other retro baubles. 339 Ludlow Ave., Clifton, lentzandcompany.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Coda Co. What you’ll find: Coda Co. home décor shop was started by husband-and-wife duo Tanner and Kelti Ziese as a date-night hobby. Kelti is the softer side of the business, hand weaving macramé wall hangings out of cotton rope and sewing patterned pillows, while Tanner works with reclaimed bourbon barrels to create a variety of wood furniture and accessories. Tanner’s regionally sourced barrel lids, staves and ribs make an appearance in bar tables, bottle openers, serving trays and pour-over coffee stands. 400 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, shopcodaco.com. Photo: Kellie Coleman
Deerhaus Decor What you’ll find: Located in Findlay Market, Deerhaus provides a brick-and-mortar location for local craftsmen and artisans to display their work, which ranges from soaps and ceramics to jewelry and woodwork. There are also unique maker-made items from across the United States that all share similar characteristics of being accessible and sustainable with a woodsy vintage vibe. Find locally made waxed canvas aprons next to naturally died raw silk scarves, salvaged breweriana and hand-sewn stuffed animals. 135 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine, deerhausdecor.com. Photo: Kellie Coleman
Lane & Kate What you’ll find: This Vine Street storefront offers a streamlined selection of high-quality, independently made jewelry using sustainably and ethically sourced stones. The pieces veer toward delicate, lovely and minimal with a nod toward the natural world as seen in a golden wildflower signet ring or floral-shaped diamond stone setting. Lane & Kate is also an outpost for floral shop Two Little Buds and has a small selection of metal wall hangings and mobiles, organic beauty products and leather handbags. 1405 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, laneandkate.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Queen City Alchemy What you’ll find: Emily Little first launched her line of soaps and body products as “Little Organics,” with a focus on herbal medicine, informed and filtered through her Appalachian heritage. Now, a decade old, Little Organics is Queen City Alchemy, a high-end locally made holistic skincare line featuring soaps, serums, balms, deodorants and other botanicals crafted using non-toxic, compassionate and therapeutic ingredients. There are no dyes, no fillers, no parabens and no sulfates. The line is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny and part of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics from the Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. Find 40-some-odd products in the community-focused storefront near Findlay Market, which also carries a curated collection of pieces from other local makers. 1808 Race St., Over-the-Rhine, queencityalchemy.com. Photo: Queen City Alchemy Facebook
Rivertown Inkery What you’ll find: This former online-only retailer has a new storefront right in the heart of Oakley carrying super-soft nostalgia-inducing apparel with a Cincinnati lean. Get a 1970s-styled retro “Queen City” ringer T-shirt, a straight-from-Saved-By-The-Bell neon “Cincinnati” sweatshirt or even a flying Fiona onesie with everyone’s favorite hippo on the front instead of our city’s usual flying pig. 3096 Madison Road, Oakley, therivertowninkery.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Idlewild Woman What you’ll find: This hip and cozy family-run business is a clothing and lifestyle destination that embraces the beauty and creativity of the modern woman. The ladies behind the shop include owners Julie Clark, a ceramicist; Jessica Murray, a graphic and handbag designer; and Tessa Clark, a DAAP graduate and fashion designer. And with a pedigree like that, they deliver on well-made and well-curated apparel, accessories, alpaca throws and coveted high-end denim. 1230 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, idlewildwoman.com. Photo: Idlewild Woman Facebook
TMBTITWI What you’ll find: Helmed by a world-traveling art specialist, the clothing, homegoods and accessories at The Most Beautiful Thing in the World Is are fully eclectic. As the name suggests, the shop features German knitwear, Italian leather boots, French apothecary items and a gallerist’s nirvana of other modern and sculptural women’s wear. 6 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, facebook.com/TMBTITWI. Photo:m Brittany Thornton
HighStreet What you’ll find: Local design/lifestyle store and studio HighStreet set up shop at the intersection of Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton and Mount Auburn in 2006. In the past 10-plus years, the design hub has doubled in size, incorporating a furniture store and studio for commercial and residential design projects. While the shop boasts an impressive selection of eclectic interiors, hard-to-find magazines, men’s and women’s apparel and bath and body goods, its charm also comes from the owners’ ability to collect and curate exceptional curiosities. Spending time exploring the nooks and crannies of the shop is extremely rewarding. You may discover a bowl of antique prosthetic teeth, a stuffed jackalope head, vintage locks, 18th-century French mouthwash, an existential coloring book, beetle paperweights and other magical and macabre magnificence. 1401 Reading Road, Pendleton, behighstreet.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sloane Boutique What you’ll find: Founded in 2011 as one of Vine Street’s original revamped OTR anchors, this women’s clothing store offers items for the style-blogger set and more. In their own words, they “mix edgy styles with touches of modern-femininity, always with a foundation of quality and the idea that unique pieces can make getting dressed fun and personal.” 1216 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, sloaneboutique.com. Photo: Sloane Boutique Facebook
Black Owned What you’ll find: This contemporary clothing shop does a ton of their own branded and original streetwear and apparel. “It’s the cool spot. It’s a meeting ground for our customers,” says owner Merk Ervin. “We sell men, women and kids, anything from onesies to leather biker jackets. We sell socks, hats, dresses — a little bit of everything.” 822 Elm St., Downtown, blackowned19xx.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Rookwood Pottery What you’ll find: “Pioneering artist Maria Longworth-Nichols founded the studio in the Queen City over 130 years ago, building the business and laying the foundation for what Rookwood is today: a world-renowned artisanal ceramics company, operating in the heart of the Ohio River Valley,” says Sarah Ditlinger, Rookwood’s marketing director. “From its 88,000-square-foot production facility, Rookwood builds upon its rich heritage, creating American-made, artisan-quality ceramic pottery and tile.” Factory and studio, 1920 Race St., Over-the-Rhine; Store, 1209 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine, rookwood.com. Photo: Rookwood Facebook
Maneki Neko (‘Lucky Cat’) Museum What you’ll find: The Lucky Cat Museum is located on a first-floor space inside the Essex Studios — glass displays stretch across the walls, containing various styles, colors and sizes of the cats. Some are golden, others white with red ears and a green bib. Some don black fur or are chipped. Some are stuffed, others ceramic and plastic. There are some wacky ones, too. All of them, however, carry a certain charm. 2511 Essex Place No. 150, Walnut Hills. 3-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Donations encouraged Photo: Kellie Coleman
The Chocolate Bee What you’ll find: As the collective home of Chocolats Latour and Bee Haven, this shared Northside storefront features artisan edibles. Chocolats Latour, from pastry chef and chocolatier Shalini Latour, sells fair-trade, gourmet chocolates made with local ingredients ÑÊeverything from herb-infused chocolate bars to hand-painted truffles and holiday-themed creations, like liquor-filled “Sloshed Snowmen.” Bee Haven is a honey-lovers’ dream, offering products like beeswax candles, lip balms and raw, unpasteurized honey made with the help of the owners’ own beehives. 4037 Hamilton Ave., Northside, chocolatebeecincy.com. Photo: The Chocolate Bee
Eden Floral Boutique What you’ll find: Step inside to purchase a curated line of houseplants, succulents, containers and grab-and-go bouquets or just peruse the fresh flower bar for inspiration. 1129 Walnut St., Downtown, edenfloralboutique.com. Photo: Eden Floral Boutique Facebook
Ohio Book Store What you’ll find: In operation since 1940, the store offers five floors of books and magazines, as well as book repair and binding. 726 Main St., Downtown, ohiobookstore.net. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pretty Pony Boutique What you’ll find: This shop started in 2013 as an online operation out of owner Cassie Kathman’s home. Now located in Crestview Hills Town Center, Kathman’s vision has expanded from hand-picked apparel to include shoes, gifts, accessories, home décor and other items from both large and small vendors across the United States. You’ll find Kentucky-leaning country comfort pieces mixed with items for a night out, all in a nod to the “pretty” and “pony” in the store’s name. 2837 Town Center Blvd., Crestview Hills, prettyponyboutique.com. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Casablanca Vintage What you’ll find: Classic apparel and accessories from the 1920s-1980s. Also offers theater costuming, shoe repair and leather repair. 3944 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, casablancavintage.com. Photo: Jesse Fox
Lucca Laser Workshop What you’ll find: Owner, designer and machinist Lindsey Estes specializes in creating laser-cut wood, natural gifts, supplies and décor. If you can etch it or laser-cut it into wood, paper or leather, she’s probably made it. Find wooden bowties, alder wood greeting cards, Art Deco wood-framed mirrors and hanging ornaments to appease everyone from Fiona fans to people who want to put the Roebling Bridge on the tree. 126 W. Elder St., Findlay Market, luccaworkshop.com. Photo: Lucca Laser Workshop Facebook
Little Gray House What you’ll find: Located in a little gray shotgun-style shingled house right off Pleasant Ridge’s main drag, the aptly named Little Gray House plays into the current farmhouse/general store trend with vintage-inspired crafty signs, scented candles, birch, burlap and shabby chic women’s apparel. 6030 Ridge Ave., Pleasant Ridge, facebook.com/thelittlegrayhouse18. Photo: Little Gray House Facebook