Where to Shop Small in DC on Small Business Saturday

As the holiday shopping season kicks off, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is helping District shoppers support their local small businesses. Ahead of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25, we've compiled some favorite local spots for unique gifts in the DMV area.

Check out our Small Business Saturday Shopping Guide below for a list of small shops by neighborhood. Happy Holidays, and let the shopping commence!

Dupont Circle

Urban Dwell. (Photo by Kelly Rosenblatt)

Urban Dwell: Owned and run by Veteran Tom McMahon, Urban Dwell is the neighborhood gift shop with something for everyone. Stocked with an array of artisan products ranging from kitchen and homewares to children’s toys and trinkets – Urban Dwell is the sort of place you’ll look forward to hitting while you knock out your holiday shopping. 

Read Wall: Read Wall offers custom suits and tailoring for men from quality materials that are comfortable and practical. With a dedication to customer service, Read Wall makes shopping for menswear easy and enjoyable. 

Secondi: Secondi is a women’s consignment store that has been in business since 1986, making them the longest running. They offer a wide range of clothing and accessories, including designer and luxury items, as well as more casual pieces. Secondi caters to a diverse clientele, from designer collectors to fashionable professionals and trendsetters. They have a reputation for providing the latest styles and timeless classics, all in one boutique.  

Georgetown

Shop Made in DC (Photo by Kelly Rosenblatt)

Shop Made in DC: Local artists and creators line the walls and cover the tables of this D.C. gift shop. From cooking utensils and local homewares to handmade jewelry and watercolor maps of your favorite D.C. neighborhoods, Shop Made in DC has something for everyone on your holiday shopping list. Nestled between some of Georgetown’s popular chain stores, Shop Made in DC is a break from the ordinary, featuring unique items created and curated by locals – for locals.

Ella Rue: Ella Rue is a full-service consignment destination that strives to conserve and pair past designer pieces with current fashion to curate the perfect wardrobe. The perfect place to find your own signature look to stand out this holiday season. 

Take Care: Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday shopping season and grab a gift for the wellness junkies in your life at Georgetown wellness boutique and spa: Take Care. From essential oils and candles to soothing skincare products, Take Care has your wellness needs covered from head to toe.

MANSE: MANSE is a housewares and lifestyle store focused on carrying unique and artisan-made products. They recently opened in Georgetown, but also have a location in Alexandria, Virginia.

Capitol Hill/Navy Yard/Eastern Market

Capitol Hill Books in Eastern Market. (Photo by Kelly Rosenblatt)

Capitol Hill Books: A D.C. institution, Capitol Hill Books has served readers for nearly 30 years. The trilevel used bookstore is lined – literally floor to ceiling – with novels from every genre and features rare and even first edition books from esteemed authors. Whether you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift for the book worms in your life, or you're looking for a place to spend the afternoon out of the cold, Capitol Hill Books should be on your hit list.

Hill’s Kitchen: For all of the foodies in your life, Hill’s Kitchen is the place to go. The Capitol Hill shop not only features an extensive inventory of kitchen gadgets and supplies, but hosts cooking classes to help home-chefs hone their craft.

Mahogany Books: Founded in 2007 by husband-and-wife duo Derrick and Ramunda Young, Mahogany Books is a locally owned independent bookstore advocating for social entrepreneurship. With the mission to promote reading, writing and cultural awareness in the African American community, Mahogany Books meets the needs of readers nationwide in search of books written for, by, or about people of African descent. 

H Street

Salt & Sundry, Union Market. (Photo by Mary Sarah Ivers for Salt & Sundry)

Salt and Sundry: This contemporary boutique has multiple locations throughout the D.C. area including this spot in Union Market. Salt & Sundry carries a variety of paper and stationary as well as home decor and artisan goods. From art prints and throw pillows to speckled glass candles and eye-catching coffee table books, Salt & Sundry features a fusion of modern and bohemian-inspired products that bring those millennial lifestyle blogs to life.

Daily Rider: This isn’t your average bike shop. Daily Rider offers elegant, sturdy bicycle models and dependable repair services to everyday D.C. cyclists. Founded by Beltway locals, Daily Rider is the perfect place to shop for the bike you’ll actually look forward to using on your commute every day.

Solid State Books: Black-owned, full-service bookstore Solid State Books is where community comes together. With a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles, literary gifts, stationary, greeting cards and puzzles, this bookstore is a locally owned intellectual and social hub. 

The Wharf

Diament Jewelry: This fun gift shopped is the perfect one stop shop for everyone on your holiday list. They sell candles, birthday cards, baby gifts, jewelry, home decor, handmade gifts, art, accessories, clothing and so much more! 

Cordial at the Wharf: Cordial specializes in providing local, artisanal wines, beer and spirits to its customers. They offer a wide range of options to suit all tastes and budgets. Whether you’re looking for a high-end wine or a budget-friendly beer, Cordial has got you covered. They are committed to providing quality products that are sure to satisfy your palate. 

Politics & Prose: Politics and Prose is a unique-to-DC, independent bookstore and community gathering place. The store features a wide assortment of books, stationary, and gift items, and well as an inviting space with regular author events, book signings, and classes. 

U St / 14th St

Miss Pixies: Miss Pixie’s is a vintage retail store filled with colorful knick-knacks hand-picked by owner Pixie Windsor and her staff. You can find anything you would need here from household wares and one-of-a-kind artworks to antique toys and vintage postcards.  They also have something at every price point. 

Flowers on 14^th: Flowers on Fourteenth is a full-service florist providing personalized floral gifts, corporate accounts, event planning, and wedding and sympathy arrangements. Their team includes professionals with over 75 years of combined floral design experience and are committed to providing artistically and aesthetically superior arrangements with the freshest, highest-quality flowers, and 100% satisfaction guarantee. 

Joint Custody: Joint Custody is a record and vintage store they have established themselves as one of the premier in-person and online vintage retailers. 

Lee’s Flower and Card Shop: As a third-generation family-owned business, Lee’s Flower Shop has been the premier florist in Washington, D.C. since 1945. As the longest standing Black-owned flower shop in the United States, their floral designers curate beautiful, handcrafted floral arrangements that capture and express their sentiments of love, appreciation, sympathy and joy. Honoring the legacy of their paternal grandparents, sisters Stacie and Kristie Lee Banks are fostering relationships with their customers to help anticipate their floral needs.  

Arlington

Trade Roots in Arlington. (Photo by Kelly Rosenblatt)

Trade Roots: Trade roots is an Arlington gem. Whether you’re stopping in to grab a coffee, a glass of wine, or peruse the inventory of globally-inspired fair trade products, you won’t leave disappointed –or empty-handed. Through the thoughtful curation of her shop and cafe, Trade Roots owner and founder Lisa Ostroff shares her passion for celebrating different cultures with each visitor.

The Urban Farmhouse: This Arlington homewares shop features a variety of vintage and refurbished furniture and handmade home decor and accessories. The Urban Farmhouse boasts an inventory of unique, shabby-chic designs ranging from farm-style end tables and benches to intricately embroidered throw pillows and hand-crafted wreaths. As we approach the holiday season, The Urban Farmhouse is a one-stop-shop when it comes to knocking out that holiday gift list, and picking up a few seasonal decor items for your home along the way.

Bethesda

Urban Country Designs showroom in Bethesda. (Photo by Kaitlyn Ridel)

Urban Country Designs: A family-owned and operated business since 1991, Urban Country offers clients a one-stop-shop with which to design their dream space. With furniture and decor that fuses luxurious and modern with classic, traditional, and rustic styles, visitors are bound to find the statement pieces that bring their dwelling from house to home. Luxurious and chic, yet comfortable, Urban Country offers everything from sofas and coffee tables to interior design services and window treatments. The shop also hosts a coffee bar on Thursdays for the community and brings in top designers for fireside chats and book signings.

Bethesda Chocolates: A cafe featuring artisan chocolates in all shapes and flavors, Bethesda Chocolates is the place to take all the chocolate lovers in your life. Stop in for a gift box of chocolates, or make a visit with friends for coffee and a chocolate-dipped pretzel!

With reporting by Kelly Rosenblatt.

About the authors

Mekala Seme

Elizabeth Aston