The holiday season is rapidly approaching which means a lot of shopping is about to happen. But before you start searching for the perfect gift online, consider some of the local shops in your area. For the month of November, I will be promoting local businesses in the 417 area. I decided to start with a few local shops downtown. I haven’t visited all of the shops in downtown Springfield, but here are the ones I checked out.
Queen City Collectors
If you’re looking for unique gifts or stocking stuffers, you should head over to this shop located at 412 E Walnut St. I have purchased so many different gift items here. I love the collection of local jewelry and vintage clothes. You can find a huge variety of both antique and modern gift items as well as some very cool retro furniture pieces.
https://www.instagram.com/queencitycollectors/
Arrow Creative Reuse
I love businesses that do good things for the planet and the community. If there’s an artist in your life, come shop at Arrow Creative Reuse. This is an art supply thrift store that sells art supplies and gifts at an affordable cost. This non-profit business has everything from yarn to collage materials to paint supplies and more. They accept donations of local art supplies and you can also sign up to volunteer! It’s located at 1506 E St. Louis St.
https://www.arrowcreativereuse.org/
https://www.instagram.com/arrow.creative.reuse/
Bookmarx
I love bookstores and this one has a local celebrity – Captain Springfield, AKA Googey the cat. There’s a great selection of books in every genre, and if you’re looking for some bargains, you must check out the $1.00 shelf! I’ve gotten plenty of home reference, study materials, and just general reading at this bookstore, and it’s always a pleasure to say hello to the cats. You can find the shop on the corner of Walnut and Jefferson!
https://www.bookmarxbookshop.com/
https://www.instagram.com/bookmarxbooks/?hl=en
Formed: An Artist Collective
I can’t believe how long it’s taken me to check out this art gallery. It is so cool. There is a thriving art community in Springfield, MO, and this particular gallery features a ton of local work. Formed Gallery has more than just gifts, they also feature art studio classes. If you’re gift shopping, you’re bound to find something very cool for the art lovers in your life. The gallery is located downtown at 210 E Walnut St. Suite #100.
https://www.formedgallery.com/about
https://www.instagram.com/formedgallery/?hl=en
5 Pound Apparel
Every year I shop at Five Pound Apparel because I feel good knowing my money is going to local charities and people in need. This shop features a lot of wonderful gifts and swag for the 417 area. For each of their branded items sold, they donate 5 pounds of food to the Ozarks Food Harvest. If you want some cool gifts and to feel good about helping the community, this is a must on your list of places to shop. You can find it at 412 South Ave.
https://www.5poundapparel.com/
https://www.instagram.com/5poundapparel/
Funky Town Collectibles
The next store I visited is Funky Town Collectibles. It’s the perfect shop for anyone who likes trading cards, Funko Pops, new and vintage video games, old-school consoles, and other collectible toy items. Their first store was opened in Long Island, and they recently opened this new location in Springfield at 212 S Campbell. If you’re a video game lover, you’ve got to check it out!
https://www.funkytownli.com/springfield-store
https://www.instagram.com/funkytownli/?hl=en
Soap Refill Station
I wrapped up my first week of shopping at the Soap Refill Station at 210 S Campbell Ave. This store is great for anyone wanting to live a greener life. You can buy soap products in bulk and bring in your own containers. It smells so good in the shop because of all the handmade soap products. I love businesses that strive for eco-friendly practices. I’m definitely going back to stock up on laundry detergent. You can also find a ton of great gifts here.
https://www.instagram.com/getmosoap/
This concludes my first week of shopping local in the 417 area, but there are a ton of other businesses downtown that I forgot to mention. Here are some more cool places to shop in the downtown Springfield area:
What other cool stores should I check out in the 417? Got a recommendation for a local business? I’d love to hear it. And don’t forget: shop small, shop local!