With all businesses suffering from the economic fall-out of COVID-19, this year is perhaps one of the most important to shop local during the holidays. Greater Cincinnati stores and independent shops need your support as they continue to navigate various health and safety guidelines while jugging their own livelihoods (and those of their employees). Shopping local this year will have a direct impact on their ability to stay open and navigate this storm — you can make a difference just by wielding your purchasing power.

So here is a list of Greater Cincinnati shops. It is not comprehensive. There are many, many more local boutiques than are listed here. Please view this as a starting point — a bit of inspiration — to explore and acknowledge the breadth of what our friends, neighbors and local shopkeepers have to offer before you hit the “buy now” button  on Amazon.

Fleurish Grounds 5907 Bramble Ave., Madisonville The Fleurish Grounds brick and mortar plant shop in Madisonville might be one of the best things to have grown out of COVID-19 for owner Christine Funke. What started as a pop-up in her garage is now a storefront, where she sells plants, pots and home goods. She has based her design and aesthetic around her West Coast roots, dubbing the look “modern coastal Midcentury.” Her plants range anywhere from $7 to $160, with the average customer spending around $20. Plants can be bought in pots made by local artists as well as artists from Funke’s hometown in California. “I really try to keep inventory that fits everyone’s style: a timeless style that can fit any home without breaking the bank,” she says. Photo: Provided by Fleurish Grounds
Wolfpack 1813 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Walk into Over-the-Rhine’s Wolfpack or take a scroll on their Instagram (@shopthewolfpack) and you’ll be hit with a distinct flavor of warm, earthy tones. And if you’ve done the former, maybe you’ve met the owner’s lovable dog Timberwolf. Owned by Katherine Dalton, the cozy store’s mission is grounded in selling clothing, homegoods and gifts that are sustainability minded. As stated on their website, that means items that are ethically sourced and made by people who are being paid a living wage in a safe environment. Those are ideals worth getting behind. Wolfpack, 1342 Main St., Over-the Rhine, shopthewolfpack.com. Photo: @shopthewolfpack
Originalitees 2809 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills Cincinnati-based Originalitees opened its flagship storefront this summer in East Walnut Hills. Originalitees is a locally owned and operated clothing line that specializes in state, city and neighborhood pride apparel. With quality, comfort, affordability and style at front of mind, owner Khisha Asubuhi sells only products that she would wear herself, including funky Ohio socks and Cincinnati streets tanks. Photo: facebook.com/originalitees
Handzy Shop + Studio 17 W. Pike St., Covington 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 Strachan. “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.” Photo: facebook/handzyshopstudio
Deerhaus Decor 135 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine 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 dyed raw silk scarves, salvaged breweriana and hand-sewn stuffed animals. Photo: Adam Doty
BlaCk OWned Outerwear 822 Elm St., Downtown Owned by Means Cameron, BlaCk OWned Outerwear offers tracksuits, jackets, shirts and hats for men, women and children at its downtown retail shop. Its mission statement is “to promote black ownership while challenging societal inequities through fashion and storytelling.” Photo: facebook.com/imblackowned
Queen City Alchemy 1808 Race St., Over-the-Rhine 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, more than 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. Photo: facebook/queencityalchemy
High St. 1401 Reading Road, Pendleton Local design/lifestyle store and studio High St. set up shop at the intersection of Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton and Mount Auburn in 2006. The design hub and storefront has gotten a bit of a makeover and some new branding recently, but still boasts an impressive selection 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, plush and eclectic pillows, 18th-century French mouthwash, an existential coloring book, plants and other magical and macabre magnificence. If you are struggling for a new look or how to arrange your new purchases, High St. also offers interior design services for both residential and commercial spaces. Photo: facebook.com/shophighst
Hail Dark Aesthetics 720 Main St., Covington At this oddities and record shop in MainStrasse, the storefront is stuffed with taxidermy, tarot cards, religious ephemera, Black Metal-style jewelry, branded Ouija boards and a bunch of dead snakes. For good or bad, there aren’t too many other stores where you can buy a pig fetus, tarot cards and the Twin Peaks soundtrack on vinyl in the same transaction. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Native One 1400 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 326 Scott Blvd., Covington Anna Steffen founded The Native One as a pop-up in 2017 when she was just 20 years old. The brick and mortar (and online) shops offer easy and affordable trend-based women’s fashion with cross-generational appeal. The stores are stuffed with everything from rompers and oversized outerwear to affordable statement footwear and lacy underpinnings. You’ll also find accessories, apothecary and home décor. Earlier this year, the brand moved OTR locations and expanded into the space that formerly held Japanese gastropub Kaze. Steffen says the new location features stylistic ties to the West Coast. Photo: facebook.com/shopthenativeone
Continuum 1407 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine This pink and plant-filled women’s clothing store and bazaar features a curated selection of items from independent artists, designers and makers. Owned by Ericka Leighton-Spradlin, the high-end concept shop has 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. You can now shop their emerging designers (and all other products) online. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Lucca 126 W. Elder St., Findlay Market 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 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. Photo: facebook/luccaworkshop
Indigenous Craft Gallery 1609 Madison Road, East Walnut Hills This handmade craft gallery is a showroom for goods from more than 150 artists across the United States, with a focus on local and regional makers. Though the name suggests a sort of folksy lean, the work is well-made, sophisticated and contemporary arts-and-crafts, not kitsch. The 2,000-square-foot gallery features a selection of rustic and whimsical pottery, blown art glass, functional wood kitchen items, creative fiber art, handmade jewelry and garden décor. Photo: facebook/indigenousgallery
Artichoke OTR 1824 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine 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. Pop in to browse or order over the phone for pick-up — just make sure you don’t step on lazy shop greyhound Gus. Photo: Brittany Thornton
UNheard Of 15 W. Fourth St., Downtown A “street pusher of rare goods” offering T-shirts, hats, hoodies, skate decks and more. If you know a sneaker freak, then you need to know the name and location of this store. Brands include Vans, Nike, Thrasher, Birkenstock, Adidas and more. UNheard Of says: “The high demand, low quantity items that we carry is what draws our crowd out from every corner of the United States. You can surely find something unique to match your own personal style every time you step in to our store!” Photo: facebook/unheardofbrand
Coda Co. 400 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue This hip and crafty shop features maker-made products from upcycled and natural materials, like macrame wall hangings, coffee-bag pillows and bourbon barrel pub tables. Owned by husband-and-wife duo Kelti and Tanner Ziese, she is the softer side of the business, hand weaving macramé wall hangings out of cotton rope — organically attached to driftwood collected from the banks of the Ohio River — while he works with reclaimed bourbon barrels to create a variety of wood furniture and accessories. Kelti also curates a comfy selection of boho-chic clothing items for going out, or staying in. Online shopping available. Photo: facebook.com/codacompany
Downbound Books 4139 Apple St., Northside Downbound Books is perhaps the newest addition to Cincinnati’s community of independently owned bookstores. A Cincinnati native, owner Gregory Kornbluh returned to the city after a 13-year stint on the East Coast where he worked as a bookseller at a shop outside Boston and later in sales and marketing for Harvard University Press. With just over 500 square feet, Downbound aims “to present books, ideas, and authors that aren’t always so easy to discover elsewhere.” Browse and buy online, or make an appointment to book a COVID-friendly, private shopping experience. Contactless pick-up for orders is available. Photo: Kaitlyn Handel
Rivertown Inkery 3096 Madison Road, Oakley This storefront in the heart of Oakley carries 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 cozy pair of joggers. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sloane Boutique 1216 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine 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 in a range of prices. As they say on their site, “We aim to 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!” Photo: facebook/sloaneboutiqueotr
The Little Mahatma 1205 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Colorful global goodies line the shelves of this OTR storefront, which offers exotic jewelry, folk art and artifacts from the world’s traditional cultures. A perfect place to shop for avid travelers, art teachers and budding Buddhists, you’ll find Turkish textiles, Japanese maneki neko cats, large and jingly jewelry, evil eyes, hamsas and neon religious figurines. Photo: facebook/thelittlemahatma
The Budding Florist 1817 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Ellie Wilke offers fresh, locally sourced flowers and tropical plants in a Findlay Market-adjacent storefront. In her “about me” on the Budding Florist website, she says, “After graduating from UC’s School of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning, I applied my degree toward more organic design elements — flowers and plants. I have a true passion for creating floral arrangements that are inspired by the inherent beauty of nature.” Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Plaid Room Records 122 W. Loveland Ave., Loveland This Loveland-based vinyl shop and record label offers a wide variety of records in-store and online — and even some of their own branded merch. Plaid Room is a visually appealing shop, clean and bright, with rows of new and used vinyl from every conceivable genre and era. It has the kind of aesthetic that could only be concocted by people who’ve spent a lot of time in record stores. And people who spend a lot of time in record stores obviously have a deeply ingrained passion for music. That’s an understated description of Terry Cole, who opened Plaid Room in its smaller space across the street in 2015 with his younger brother, Bob. Cole has been surrounded by vinyl his entire life. And he’s not only selling records now — he’s also making them via his Colemine Records label. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Rookwood Pottery 1920 Race St., Over-the-Rhine; 7875 Montgomery Road, Kenwood; 7135 Foundry Row, Liberty Township Founded by artist Maria Longworth Storer in 1880, Rookwood Pottery was the first female-owned large manufacturing company in the United States. Each piece of tile and pottery is molded, hand-glazed and fired by a team of in-house artists. Celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2020, iconic — and timeless — Rookwood pieces include the 1930s Grove Bunny figurine (designed by artist Louise Abel), the 1920 Kataro Shirayamadani candlesticks and, in a nod to Cincinnati’s rich German history, a ceramic beer stein. You also can’t pass up any of their annual Fiona the hippo ornaments, which benefit the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Photo: Provided by Rookwood Pottery
Fill More Waste Less Brick and mortar forthcoming at the corner of Bramble and Whetsel avenues Madisonville’s Fill More Waste Less offers eco-friendly, refillable products for conscious consumers. At fillmorewasteless.com — and soon the brick-and-mortar storefront (opening Nov. 28) — shoppers can find household essentials from laundry powder and deodorant to biodegradable kitchen sponges and reusable coffee filters. Fill More Waste Less also offers sleek and refillable jars that you can fill and refill with shampoo and conditioner, lotion, hairspray, toothpaste and more. Photo: @fillmore.wasteless
Lentz & Company 339 Ludlow Ave., Clifton The collection at vintage retailer Lentz & Company wouldn’t be out of place on the set of The Brady Bunch. Their 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. Photo: facebook.com/lentzandcompany
Goods on Main 1317 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Per their Facebook “about” description, this OTR shop “offers themed products to our customers. Everything we have is picked with meaning, reason, and a story. Come and discover.” Find gear for kids, pets and the outdoors plus Black Lives Matter support wear, housemade soy candles and a couple of good shop dogs. Photo: facebook.com/goodsonmain
Gumdrop 15 W. Pike St., Covington This bright and colorful kids shop from the minds behind Handzy has all sorts of goodies. From school supplies and sleepwear to the best new toys and most adorable clothes and accessories for toddlers and newborns, there is cuteness tucked in every corner. Handzy and Gumdrop are opening sister stores across the river in Cincinnati in the up-and-coming Historic West Fourth. Photo: facebook.com/gumdroptots
Hutch Baby 1209 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Hutch Baby opened its doors in Over-the-Rhine in the fall of 2019. The upscale boutique offers sustainable clothes for baby, toddler and big kids and offers them a space to play while parents shop. Photo: facebook.com/hutchbaby
Shake It Records 4156 Hamilton Ave., Northside Named one of the 30 best record stores in America by Rolling Stone, Shake It has two floors of CDs and vinyl. They also have a great selection of used CDs and LPs, books, fanzines and Japanese-style trinkets. Photo: facebook.com/shakeitrecords
Nest 3439 Michigan Ave., Hyde Park Open since 1999, Nest is a self-described “eclectic and inspirational giftshop” with items for the home, hostesses and yourself, like shiny picture frames, novelty kitchen and bar accessories, monogrammed selections, stone coasters and pretty bath and body sets. Photo: facebook/nestgiftscincinnati
Bee Haven 1815 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine After reading The Secret Life of Bees, Scott and Samantha Gordon became deeply fascinated by the pollinators. So in 2005, Samantha and her daughter bought two beehives. After a lot of trial, error and bee stings they began making and selling products straight from the hive. With a wide array of honeys, candles and other bee products you’ll be buzzing with excitement when you visit. They also recently added a line of CBD-infused honey. Photo: Bee Haven Facebook
Idlewild 1230 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine 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 who competed on Project Runway. And with a pedigree like that, they deliver on well-made and well-curated apparel, accessories, alpaca throws and coveted high-end denim. Photo: facebook/idlewildwoman
Fabulous Frames & Art 8002 Hosbrook Road, Kenwood; 1741 E. Kemper Road, Tri-County; 10817 Montgomery Road, Montgomery; 17 W. Fourth St., Downtown Open since 1969, this custom framer does, yes, custom framing but they are also the spot to find Cincinnati wildlife Modernist Charley Harper’s art, accessories, apparel, dishes, mugs, calendars, books and even skateboard decks. It’s a super stop for any and all Harper super fans. Photo: facebook/fabframes
Casablanca Vintage 3944 Spring Grove Ave., Northside This popular Northside vintage boutique features classic apparel and accessories from the 1800s to the 1990s. They also offer theater costuming, shoe repair and leather repair. The shop has been in business since the 1980s, but co-owners Ashley M. Beaufille Cook and Tim Willig bought the store in 2013 and have revived it to its former glory. Photo: Kaitlyn Handel
King Arthur’s Court Toys 3040 Madison Road, Oakley This Oakley shop has been a purveyor of beloved classic toys for more than 25 years. Rediscover old favorites like LEGO, Playmobil, Calico Critters and Breyer horses and ride back home on a purple micro scooter. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Ampersand Home & Gallery 305 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue This curated and cozy shop is located off Bellevue’s bustling Fairfield Avenue, nestled alongside a variety of other small boutiques, eateries and bars. The store boasts handcrafted goods created by makers from across the Tristate, as well as up-cycled pieces, and plenty of fun and interesting books to spark some creativity or accent your coffee table. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Little Gray House 6030 Ridge Ave., Pleasant Ridge 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. Photo: facebook/littlegrayhouse1
Woodburn Games 2803 Woodburn Ave., East Walnut Hills East Walnut Hills’ Woodburn Games is a treasure trove for strategic board and card game lovers. The shop offers popular role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons as well as cards and accessories for trading card games like Magic the Gathering — in addition to plenty of board games and puzzles to choose from. Photo: facebook.com/woodburngames