San Francisco is a world-class shopping city, and everyone from high-end international designers to small independent DIY artisans has a seat at the merch table. So after you gawk at Union Square’s impressive array of luxury brands, you’ll definitely want to explore the equally fantastic charm of SF’s smaller scale.
If you’re looking for gifts that your loved ones will really remember and cherish, quirky and unique are always good bets. And nobody, we mean nobody, does quirky and unique quite like San Francisco.
Here are 5 only-in-SF spots to hit up on your quest for flawless holiday gifts–perfect given that this Saturday is “Small Business Saturday” in the city.
1. Kumquat Art – 147 Clement St.
Who to shop for: home cooks, lesbian mothers, hipster babies
What you’ll find: funky home goods and accessories (stirsby, anyone?), sensible off-beat bags, Newsies-inspired infant clothing
Featured item: Kumquat has an adorably kitschy selection of recycled trophy top wine stoppers, like this always-in-vogue beauty queen edition ($21)
2. Creativity Explored – 3245 16th St.
Who to shop for: employees of nonprofits, eclectic collectors, college professors
What you’ll find: a one-of-a-kind space that provides artists with developmental disabilities the opportunity to create, exhibit and sell their work
Featured item: “Groucho Marx” by Daniel Green ($300)
3. SF MOMA Museum Store – 151 3rd. St.
Who to shop for: sophisticated queens, hair stylists, humanities majors
What you’ll find: clean lines, clean lines, and clean lines
Featured item: limited edition Bay Area model aluminum Sutro Tower ($180)
4. Glass Key Photo – 442 Haight Street
Who to shop for: hipsters, budding auteurs, Instagram addicts
What you’ll find: vintage cameras, lenses, dark room supplies
Featured item: out-of-production Arista Premium 35mm/36 expousure film, duh (pricing n/a)
5. Loved to Death – 1681 Haight St.
Who to shop for: tortured artists, off-the-grid hippies, yoga teachers
What you’ll find: a cornucopia of macabre treasures from metallic skulls cast from infants to creepy three-legged frog corpses suspended in liquid
Featured item: real gator foot keychain ($10)
