Our 2016 Guide to Shopping Local in Upstate New York
No matter where you are reading this from, now, more than ever, is the time to band together and strengthen our communities. There are plenty of ways to support community and one very simple way is to shop local. We consider it the perfect opportunity to connect with neighbors, meet talented makers, and learn the stories behind independent business owners who take great pride in their shop’s curation. For us, visiting with them is one of the things that make our trips upstate so special. This is why, in support of Small Business Saturday, we are sharing 6 of our favorite local shops in Upstate New York, from a tiny boutique in Delhi brimming with hand-picked treasures from around the world, to a renovated historic storefront in Leeds where you can browse stationery and curated gifts with a cup of coffee. We recommend using your shopping list as an excuse to discover new places, so we included another favorite shop in each location as well as a recommendation on where to eat and explore in the nearby area. Happy travels!
Featured image by Christian Harder of Clove and Creek
Words by Sylvie Morgan Brown
BURKELMAN
Take the scenic ride along the Hudson River to Cold Spring, a bustling village located in the Hudson Highlands, long characterized by its assemblage of quaint shops and restaurants. One of our favorite shops along Main Street is BURKELMAN, a highly curated home goods shop just up the street from the Metro-North train station. Set in a former soda shop, this airy, light-filled brick-and-mortar is filled with items rigorously vetted by owners Kevin Burke and David Kimelman, from local makers like Ash and Anchor, Andrew Molleur, and Hudson Beach Glass, to vibrant goods that hail from farther corners of the globe.
Make a day of it:
Shop: Cold Spring General Store
Eat: The Pantry
Explore: Breakneck Ridge
Cold Spring, NY
63 miles from New York City
Photo by Ethan Harrison
Clove & Creek
Situated on one of our favorite streets in all of Upstate New York, Clove & Creek stands out as one of the finest stores in Kingston’s Rondout district. Best friends and business partners Scott Neild and Michael Cook run this locally-focused mercantile that celebrates talented makers and fosters community with a thoughtful collection of objects for the home, body, and spirit. Featuring an original tin ceiling, giant windows, and grey painted floors, Clove & Creek is a one-stop shop for gift items that are inspired by the natural beauty of the area and made with love by the people who live there.
Make a day of it:
Shop: Hops Petunia
Eat: Brunette
Explore: The Kingston Greenline
Kingston, NY
98 miles from New York City
Photo by Christian Harder
Pacama Handmade
Less than two hours from the city is one of our favorite small shops: the showroom and retail space of founder and designer Cedric Martin’s Pacama Handmade. Shoppers will fall in love with Cedric’s collection of impeccably crafted furniture, one-of-a-kind objects for the home such as hand-carved bowls and utensils, as well as the work of other like-minded artisans who create their work regionally, including the exclusively-carried textile art of Rebecca Steele. Make no mistake, a gift from Pacama is a gift to last a lifetime.
Make a day of it:
Shop: D-Day
Eat: Woodstock Shindig
Explore: Overlook Mountain
Woodstock, NY
106 miles from New York City
Photo by Emma Tuccillo
Hartland on Hudson
Pay a visit to Hartland Brooklyn’s flagship retail space in Leeds, a tiny hamlet in Greene County close to the Town of Catskill. Named for the small Western New York town she grew up in, Hartland owner Emily Johnson just last year transformed an old 19th century general store into an espresso bar, stationery and home goods shop that perfectly suits the unique color palette of her popular hand drawn cards. Grab a cup of coffee and browse her light-filled shop complete with cards for every occasion, wrapping sheets, art prints, calendars, notepads and notebooks.
Make a day of it:
Shop: Hodgepodge Shop
Explore: Thomas Cole House
Leeds, NY
120 miles from New York City
Photo by Emily Johnson
Boxwood Linen
Located in the quaint village of Chatham is Boxwood Linen, a sun-drenched storefront on Main Street displaying high quality linen items for the home, as well as a curated selection of tableware, serveware, and fragrances. Wander the shop while leafing through some of the most gorgeous table linens, towels, shower curtains, pillows and quilts we have laid eyes on, each piece hand cut and sewn by designer and founder Franca Fusco in her nearby studio.
Make a day of it:
Shop: Victoria DiNardo Millinery
Eat: Ben Gable Savories
Explore: Little Ghent Farm
Chatham, NY
131 miles from New York City
Photo by Franca Fusco
The Stonehouse
In the town of Delhi you will find The Stonehouse, a tiny boutique filled with beautiful worldly treasures. Brimming with found objects and handcrafted goods, this former barber shop is stocked with nearly everything a world traveler could want, much of which was collected by owner Andrea Menke during her trips abroad. From antique knives and cutting boards, to leather and hand dyed aprons, to plush piles of linens, a step inside this eclectic shop is like stumbling upon a miniature Moroccan bazaar in Delaware County.
Make a day of it:
Shop: Stone and Sawyer
Eat: Table on Ten in Bloomville
Explore: The nearby towns of Bovina, Bloomville, and Andes
Delhi, NY
153 miles from New York City
Photo by Rachel Watson