downtown Minneapolis’s North Loop
Downtown St. Paul and West Side
Summit-University and Mac-Groveland
It’s hard to talk about shopping in the Twin Cities without mentioning the Mall of America.
downtown Minneapolis’s North Loop
It’s true; many locals have a love-hate relationship with the mall. But it sure is convenient to have all those national chains in one climate-controlled place. And all that parking! Right at the intersection of two major highways! Right next to IKEA! You’ll find locals who sniff at the Mall of America, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one who doesn’t visit on occasion.
But, while the Twin Cities have their fair share of big-box shopping (this is the home of our much-beloved Target Corporation, after all) and a ring of suburban malls known colloquially as the Dales (Southdale, Rosedale, Ridgedale), the “shop locally” ethos is alive and well. Local fashionistas would rather boast about a one-of-a-kind piece by a young, up-and-coming designer than a recognizable label.
There are a couple of other good reasons to keep your credit card close at hand in the Twin Cities: There’s no sales tax on clothing here, shaving a few bucks off the expense, and this place is crawling with bookstores—new bookstores, used bookstores, specialty bookstores, and some of the country’s best children’s bookstores. In fact, Minneapolis sat at the top of the Most Literate Cities in the United States list in 2014, and St. Paul is always in the top 10.
S INDIE BOOK-LOVERS’ HEAVEN: A local publisher of some renown, Milkweed Books also stocks carefully chosen titles from a wide range of other indies (click here).
S BEST SHOP TO READ TO THE KIDS: The worn armchairs at Wild Rumpus are so inviting you won’t be able to resist spending a few minutes, or longer, test-reading a children’s book (click here).
S BEST PLACE TO BUY AN AUTHENTIC MINNESOTAN SOUVENIR: Minnesota’s Scandinavian roots are represented at Ingebretsen’s, with hand-knit sweaters, painted Swedish Dala horses, and intricate rosemaling (click here).
S BEST PLACE TO BE A KID AGAIN: Remember the joys of imaginative play at Creative Kidstuff, one of the Twin Cities’ best toy stores for nearly three decades (click here).
S BEST PLACE TO FIND ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING FOR THE KITCHEN: Serious cooks can find whatever they can dream up at Cooks of Crocus Hill’s three locations (click here).
S HOME OF YOUR NEW FAVORITE JEANS: Find the denim of your dreams at BlackBlue in St. Paul (click here).
S ULTIMATE TRAIN FREAK HANGOUT: Your Thomas-loving kiddo will play for hours at Choo Choo Bob’s, while you pick up a few holiday gifts (click here).
Choo Choo Bob’s
Nicollet Mall between 4th St. and 13th St., North Loop between the Mississippi River and N. 7th St.
A bronze Mary Tyler Moore flings her tam in the air in front of Macy’s (which die-hard Minnesotans may still refer to as Dayton’s), and downtown office workers hurry down Nicollet Mall, squeezing in a little shopping during their lunch hour. With a little extra time to walk, they’ll head to the corner of downtown known as the North Loop, where new loftlike construction cozies up to converted warehouses and factories and the ground floors are occupied by carefully curated hip clothing and housewares boutiques. While the residential population downtown is growing, the pace is still slow on Saturdays and barely alive on Sundays.
intersection of Upton Ave. and 43rd St.
The neighborhood of Linden Hills has been called a small town in the middle of the city—the kind of place where everybody really might know your name. The shopping district is packed onto a single intersection (where Upton Avenue meets 43rd Street), but the variety could keep diehard shoppers busy all day. On weekdays you’ll have plenty of parents pushing strollers to keep you company, and on weekends the whole neighborhood turns out.
Hennepin Ave. between Franklin Ave. and 31st St., Lake St. between Hennepin Ave. and Lyndale Ave.
While chain stores have moved in on the onetime center of Twin Cities counterculture at the corner of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue, the whole of the Uptown neighborhood is still a lively retail area with an independent bent. The two main north-south axes are Hennepin and Lyndale Avenues, with Lake Street connecting them east-west. Minneapolis’s post-college crowd comes to Uptown to browse books and fashions.
Grand Ave. between Dunlap St. and Dale St.
Grand Avenue stretches from the Mississippi River to downtown St. Paul, with pockets of retail and restaurants scattered along its length, but most of the action is at the intersection of Grand and Victoria Avenues. Here tasteful new construction mingles with converted stucco homes. Although the occasional chain pops up, mostly you’ll find well-established, creative local shops, like the delicious Cooks of Crocus Hill, the irresistible Red Balloon Bookshop for kids, and the absolutely inimitable Golden Fig for handmade gourmet goods. Wear good walking shoes and head west to Grand and Lexington Avenues for even more unique boutiques.
France Ave. between 49th St. and 50th St.
The shady crossroads of 50th and France, a roughly four-block shopping district on the border between South Minneapolis and the tony suburb of Edina, is the closest thing Minnesota has to Rodeo Drive, the sort of place where you’ll find toned, fashionable women swinging shopping bags as they saunter from one boutique to another, and then sit down, exhausted, to a light and expensive lunch. National chains like Anthropologie and Athleta sit alongside local shops like Evereve. Those who know their way around a kitchen as well as a charity luncheon might spend hours shopping and then have a glass of wine at Beaujo’s Wine Bar.
Mainstreet between 7th Ave. and 12th Ave.
Mainstreet in the family-oriented, first-ring suburb of Hopkins is the sort of thing newer suburbs try, unsuccessfully, to re-create with out-of-the-box storefronts and chains. But Hopkins is the real deal: a shady three- or four-block stretch of quaint buildings, some dating to the late 1800s. Antiques are the big draw, with 10 antiques stores within an easy stroll and sometimes right next to each other. Some dealers specialize in jewelry or trains, while others, like the Hopkins Antique Mall, represent multiple dealers. Just a few minutes from downtown Minneapolis, Hopkins feels like a whole different world.
E. Main St. between 1st Ave. and 5th Ave.
The northwestern suburb has a lively main street that stands as a reminder that it hasn’t always been a suburb. Along five blocks you’ll find more than a dozen independent stores, including a couple of antiques stores, bead and jewelry stores, and plenty of knickknacks. The Mad Hatter Tea Room is a good place to take a break for a little snack. The atmosphere isn’t upscale like 50th and France, and it isn’t overtly hip; instead it is small-town friendly and relaxed.
Lake St. between Circle Dr. and Manitoba
Curled around a bay in Lake Minnetonka, Wayzata is a tony town with tony shops to match—a town that can support half a dozen jewelers. There are clothing boutiques with looks for those all along the age and hipness spectrums, along with antiques shops and toy stores. Combine this with lunch on the lake, whether it’s a picnic in the park by the Wayzata Depot or at the upscale Sunsets. (And if you want to sound like a local, say it “why-ZETT-uh.”)
| Downtown Minneapolis |
1011 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/215-2540, www.milkweed.org; Mon.-Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 11am-3pm
Peek in the windows of Open Book, a building shared by Milkweed Editions, The Loft Literary Center, and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and we dare you not to be drawn inside. Milkweed Editions, one of the tenants, is an independent publisher and runs a bookstore in this building. It celebrates and sells books from its own authors and other indies and also hosts frequent author events and signings. Peruse the shelves, have a cup of coffee and a snack, then explore the gallery of book-related art in the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.
250 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612/338-1114, www.lauriebooks.com; Mon.-Sat. 11am-6pm and by appointment
Sure, your intention might be just to browse, to see what a collection of more than 120,000 carefully chosen rare books looks like, to appreciate a collection of 30,000 vinyl records, to stare upward at floor-to-ceiling shelves and sniff that old-book smell. But we dare you not to fall in love with at least one volume, record, or botanical print. The Lauries have been in the business of books for nearly 50 years. While their inventory might seem inexhaustible, their knowledge actually is.
219 2nd St. N., Minneapolis, 612/353-4149, www.russellandhazel.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-4pm
If you believe your personal organizing system is inseparable from your personal brand, you’re in the right place. At the flagship store of Minnesota’s own Russell+Hazel, makers of high-end notebooks and binders, you can build your own journal and accessorize it, then get a blowout and a makeup consultation.
204 1st St. N., Minneapolis, 612/206-3925, www.askovfinlayson.com; Mon.-Fri. 11am-7pm, Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 10am-5pm
The lifestyle Askov Finlayson is selling is a little bit old money and a lot Minnesota. Owned and curated by heirs to the Dayton’s department store fortune, the store sells the sorts of higher-end, “Oh, this old thing?” stuff you might wear or bring to the family cabin or a South Minneapolis garden party, including Faribault Woolen Mills blankets and fir-scented candles (Where does the shop’s ultra-Scandinavian name come from? Askov and Finlayson are towns north of the Twin Cities on the same exit off I-35 as you head to Duluth. As anyone with a family cabin up north would know.)
219 2nd St. N., Minneapolis, 612/584-3244, www.dnolo.com; Mon.-Sat. 11am-6pm, Sun. noon-4pm
D.NOLO is a collective of retailers with a seamlessly integrated take on fashion: It should be comfortable, contemporary, and cosmopolitan. While you’ll mostly find womenswear from up-and-coming and indie designers, the shop also displays a few pieces of appropriately hip furniture and smaller gift-y household items.
D.NOLO
212 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612/339-5702, www.grethenhouse.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 11am-3pm
If it’s walked the runways in New York, this is the place to look for it in the Twin Cities—from Comme des Garçons to Yigal Azrouel. Although Grethen House been around for more than six decades, the fashion here is au courant. Expect a truly personalized boutique shopping experience, with individual attention and plenty of honest advice. (Another location is at 4930 France Ave. S., Edina, 952/926-8725, www.grethenhouse.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 11am-5pm.)
212 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612/746-5329, www.martinpatrick3.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 10am-6pm
Don’t be fooled by the storefront. As you open the door, you may feel like you’re the first to discover this up-and-coming boutique. But MartinPatrick3 is a 15,000-square-foot powerhouse, a veritable department store gradually taking over this old warehouse. Regulars make appointments to try on $3,000 blazers and have them tailored in-house (along with complimentary whisky shots, we’ve heard). The rest of us make do with $100 sweatpants.
211 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis, 612/315-2280, www.wilsonandwillys.com; Tues.-Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun.-Mon. 11am-4pm
This is what your loft would look like if you lived in the North Loop—or what you’d like it to look like. Your soap dispenser, accent candles, and favorite loungewear would all have that same careless, timeless, this-old-thing look. Wilson &Willy’s carries spare collections of men’s and women’s clothing, along with household goods.
219 2nd S. N., 612/623-8123, www.pacifier.me; Mon. 10am-6pm, Tues.-Fri. 10am-7pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
If your baby’s taste runs to contemporary styles with modern colors and clean lines, this is the store for you. You’ll find everything you might ever need for baby (and plenty of stuff that never occurred to you), including strollers, bags, and other gear. A small selection of baby clothes includes favorites like Zutano and Tea Collection. Pacifier is also in City Center (skyway level, 40 7th St. S., Minneapolis, 612/767-6330; Mon. 10am-5pm, Tues.-Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. 10am-3pm), St. Paul (714 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul, 651/330-8747; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-6pm, Fri. 10am-7pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm), and Edina (4942 France Ave. S., Edina, 952/767-6565; Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm).
| South Minneapolis |
2720 43rd St. W., Minneapolis, 612/920-5005, www.wildrumpusbooks.com; Mon. 10am-5pm, Tues.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Yes, that is a chicken wandering around. And a cat. The Wild Rumpus’s menagerie includes birds, rodents, and the occasional lizard and arachnid. Go ahead, sit on one of the worn, comfy armchairs and read something from the well-chosen selection—one of the best in the country. From classic board books to popular tween series and carefully selected adult titles for mature young adult readers, the staffers know books.
2115 21st St. W., Minneapolis, 612/374-4023, www.birchbarkbooks.com; daily 10am-6pm
Novelist Louise Erdrich has created a haven for book lovers in just 800 square feet of space on a quiet, tree-lined, mostly residential street. While there is a special focus on Native American books (including a few published by Birchbark), the other quirks of the staff’s interest show through as well, including a fine selection of books on language. The store also features the work of Native American artisans, including baskets, silver, and dolls.
2002 23rd Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/871-7110, www.boneshakerbooks.com; daily 11am-8pm
Boneshaker is not just a bookstore that builds community, but a bookstore that is built by the community. Not-for-profit and volunteer-run, Boneshaker stocks its shelves with progressive, social justice-focused books for kids and adults, with cozy reading nooks and friendly staff.
3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/822-4611, www.magersandquinn.com; Sun.-Thurs. 10am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 10am-11pm
It might say something about the people of Minneapolis that Magers and Quinn is a popular date destination. Or it might say something about Magers and Quinn. Books of all kinds (new and used, rare collectibles and discounted bestsellers, children’s books and foreign philosophers) fill three floors, floor to ceiling. High ceilings, antique prints, glass-fronted display cases, and a general feeling of reverence make this, one of the Midwest’s largest bookstores, feel as much like a museum as a shop.
3032 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, 612/454-0455, www.moonpalacebooks.com; daily 9am-9pm
Empowerment is the operative word here at Moon Palace: Shelves are filled with new and used titles for grown-ups and kids that say, “You go, girl! Or however you identify,” from classics to current fiction and nonfiction to books for baby feminists. Stop for pizza and salads at the little Geek Love Café, inside the bookstore.
2864 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis, Uncle Hugo’s 612/824-6347, Uncle Edgar’s 612/824-9984, www.unclehugo.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Genre fiction fans will know they’re in the right place when they nearly trip over the large cardboard box labeled “Nick Carter, box 3”—and it’s stacked on top of boxes 4 and 5 of the popular detective series. Uncle Hugo’s, founded in 1974, claims to be the oldest science fiction bookstore in America; Uncle Edgar, Hugo’s Siamese twin, joined him six years later. Both are straight out of geeky bookstore central casting: musty, silent, with walls packed tight with bright paperback spines and the floor covered knee-high in boxes of new and used books.
2000 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/870-9300, www.electricfetus.com; Mon.-Fri. 9am-9pm, Sat. 9am-8pm, Sun. 11am-6pm
Five decades of Minneapolis music history have accreted on the creaky racks at the Electric Fetus (or maybe that’s the accumulated grime from nearly 50 years of burning incense). In this time of niche marketing and specialization, the Fetus has survived by making musicheads of all stripes deliriously happy. Spend hours browsing rock, jazz, metal, hip-hop, and every permutation thereof. Then sidle over to the used, vinyl, and local sections. New locations have opened in Duluth and St. Cloud, but this, in its unlikely spot on a frontage road off I-35W, is the original.
3820 Lake St. E., Minneapolis, 612/729-8890, http://hymiesrecords.com; Mon.-Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun. 1pm-6pm
Hymie’s is like a museum tracing the evolution of popular sound from 45s to 78s to 8-tracks to cassette tapes to CDs, even relevant books and videos. While Hymie himself, a stalwart in the vinyl collecting world, is gone, his successors are knowledgeable and passionate about music. Building a collection? Start here. Already have a collection and need accessories like sleeves? Here as well.
1601 Lake St. E., Minneapolis, 612/729-9333, www.ingebretsens.com; Mon.-Fri. 9am-5:30pm, Sat. 9am-5pm
When a craving hits for Finnish licorice, Swedish lefse (a bland flatbread), or the universally Scandinavian lingonberry jam, folks in Minneapolis—whether descended from Scandinavian stock or not—head to Ingebretsen’s. Half the store is given over to foodstuffs and the other half to exquisite and authentic handicrafts, including sweaters, rosemaling (Norwegian folk painting), and Swedish Dala horses (traditional hand-carved and hand-painted wooden horses). Knitters will find a treasure trove of high-end natural fibers in the annex next door.
4023 Lake St. E., Minneapolis, 612/886-3603, www.foragemodernworkshop.com; daily 10am-8pm
This is where midcentury modern meets the Northwoods. Forage features furniture and gifts, heavy on the local designers, that combine clean lines with natural beauty. You might drop a couple of thousand dollars on a coffee table, or just a couple of twenties on a hand-printed poster by a local artist.
322 48th St. W., Minneapolis, 612/333-8484, www.thefoundryhomegoods.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 10am-6pm
If you’ve ever thought very hard about the intersection of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics, you almost certainly unknowingly conjured a vision of the interior of the Foundry: shades of white, bone, and ecru on imponderably useful things like reed whisks, natural pot scrubbers, and the perfect linen hand towels. Beauty and utility are inextricable here.
1009 Franklin Ave. W., Minneapolis, 612/872-0880, www.patinastores.com; Mon.-Sat. 9:30am-9pm, Sun. 11am-6pm
A little kitsch, a little humor, a little modern design, a little inspiration: There isn’t a single object in a Patina store that anyone actually needs, but it takes just a few minutes to find something you never knew you wanted, or wanted very badly to give to a friend. A tape dispenser shaped like a frog, a cake server that looks like a high heel, a trout stapler. But not all is fun and games: You’ll also find seriously beautiful bags, jewelry, and modern kitchen goods. Patina has four other locations, including two in St. Paul (2057 Ford Pkwy., 651/695-9955, and 1581 Selby Ave., 651/644-5444) and two more in Minneapolis (2305 18th Ave. NE, 612/788-8933, and 821 50th W., 612/821-9315), all open the same hours.
2813 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, 612/871-8436, www.localmotionmpls.com; Mon.-Thurs. 11am-7pm, Fri. 11am-8pm, Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun. noon-5pm
The look at Local Motion is grown-up, feminine, and a little boho, heavy on dresses, skirts, and feminine blouses in the colors and cuts of the moment. While the boutique started as a showcase for local designers—and you’ll still find many here—the owners now keep a close eye on fashion in New York and LA, bringing the best of what they find to the Twin Cities. Come in serious shopping mode: The racks are packed, the aisles small, and the prices make these clothes indulgences.
4760 Grand Ave S., Minneapolis, 612/209-7364, www.shopmille.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-4pm
Start with small, women-owned brands, show them off in a space that feels like your girlfriend’s chic, spacious walk-in closet, and throw in hyper-personal service: That’s MILLE. The collection is feminine and practical, on trend and timeless, at slightly-higher-than-the-mall prices.
MILLE
2408 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/374-3649, www.viasvintage.com; Mon.-Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun. noon-5pm
If your wardrobe comfortably accommodates ruffled Edwardian blouses, 1950s fur stoles, and mod shift dresses, you can outfit yourself very, very nicely at Via’s—and have fun doing it, too. For a store featuring items that are 30 to 100 years old, Via’s is bright, clean, and free of that musty used-clothes feeling. There’s a smaller collection of men’s clothes and a rack of kids’ stuff, as well as vintage pieces reworked into one-of-a-kind couture artifacts.
4944 Xerxes Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/455-0250, www.huntandgatherantiques.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. noon-6pm
The farther you wander into Hunt & Gather, the farther it seems like there is to go. More than a dozen individual dealers, each with his or her own individual taste, fill the space. And we do mean fill it. In one corner you’ll find vintage camping gear stacked to the ceiling, in another, huge barrels of keys, negatives, or printers’ type, all there for you to explore.
4313 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/927-0653, www.creativekidstuff.com; Mon.-Wed. and Sat. 10am-6pm, Thurs.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-4pm
Creative Kidstuff seems to know what the next hot toys will be before anybody else does. We’re not talking about movie tie-ins or action figures (you won’t find those here), but creative hands-on toys for babies right on up through the early teens. The stores also stock plenty of relative classics, like Playmobil, Brio, Ryan’s Room, Groovy Girls, and Corolle dolls. Most of the friendly sales staff are parents themselves and eager to share their expertise. There are five other locations in the Twin Cities, including in St. Paul (1074 Grand Ave., 651/222-2472; Mon.-Wed. and Sat. 10am-6pm, Thurs.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-4pm) and in the Galleria mall in the western suburb of Edina (3555 69th St., 952/926-4512; Mon.-Fri. 10am-9pm, Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-6pm).
4306 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/877-8090, www.heartfeltonline.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. noon-4pm
The Waldorf influences at Heartfelt are clear as soon as you walk through the door. Just about everything is made from a natural material, like wood or felt, and everything is geared toward sparking kids’ creativity. There are plenty of art and craft materials for sale, and most Saturdays the store hosts a free craft activity.
| Nordeast and Dinkytown |
1323 Tyler St. NE, Minneapolis, 612/354-7964, www.bludot.com; Sat. 10am-4pm, Sun. 11am-3pm
This darling of contemporary design, born in Minnesota but beloved around the country, sells scratch-and-dents, closeouts, floor models, and prototypes at its first and so far only outlet store. Blu Dot is known for a kind of perky, optimistic minimalism, with designs so simple they seem to float off the floor.
501 1st Ave. NE, Minneapolis, 612/208-0249, www.ilikeyouonline.com; Tues.-Fri. 11am-7pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-4pm
Imagine your super-talented sister or cousin, the one who always sends the cleverest homemade cards and baby gifts, got a little corner of retail space. This is where she would sell. I Like You takes handmade items, from buttons to aprons to baby bibs, on consignment from local crafters.
303 Hennepin Ave. E., Minneapolis, 612/379-3232, www.surdyks.com; Mon.-Thurs. 9am-9pm, Fri.-Sat. 9am-10pm
What Surdyk’s lacks in ambience it makes up for in so, so many other ways: history (theirs was reputedly the first liquor license issued in Minneapolis after Prohibition), selection (name a country, it’s probably got a bottle from there), and price. (Under $12? No problem. Under $10? Still no problem.) Even better is that you can pick up your fabulous $9 bottle of wine, then head next door to Surdyk’s unmissable gourmet shop and blow all your savings on imported cheeses and chocolates.
3338 University Ave. SE, Minneapolis, 612/904-1776, www.artandarc.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Poking around the dim, crowded corners of Art and Architecture is like finding an enchanted attic, where the best architectural remnants of another time have come to rest from the very large (church pews, stained-glass windows, and solid wood doors) to the rather small (printing press blocks, doorknobs, boxes of brass hinges). Nearly every decade and major design era is represented, and everything is sorted almost compulsively, so you don’t have to go digging in the bathroom fixtures for that perfect chandelier.
983 Hennepin Ave. E., Minneapolis, 612/617-2000, www.intelligentnutrients.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 9am-5pm
When the founder of the internationally known Aveda line of styling products needed a new challenge, he decided to turn himself to the care of the entire body, inside and out. Horst Rechelbacher, Austrian transplant and longtime Twin Citian, created the Intelligent Nutrients line of aromatherapy oils, dietary supplements, hair care, chocolate bars, and teas—all organic. While those products are distributed in salons throughout the country, here at the national headquarters you will find a lush retail showroom, extraordinarily enthusiastic staff, and a small café serving healthful sandwiches, soups, and salads for lunch.
| Downtown St. Paul and West Side |
6 5th St. W., St. Paul, 651/493-2791, www.subtextbooks.com; Mon.-Sat. 9am-9pm, Sun. 9am-6pm
Downtown St. Paul offers many ways to while away the hours, but for 10 years, it had no bookstore. Thank goodness the long-established Subtext Books decided to pull up stakes from Cathedral Hill and make a new home in a beautiful 19th-century building near Rice Park. As much a salon and a community as a store, Subtext is both serious and welcoming, both literary and contemporary. Browse new and used books and be ready to settle in for long chats with the staff.
trendy boutiques in St. Paul
400 St. Peter St., St. Paul, 651/224-2354, www.heimies.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-7pm, Sat. 10am-5pm
Men get the high-end tailoring experience at Heimie’s. Choose just the right off-the-rack suit, or get the full-on bespoke treatment. Shirts, ties, shoes, hats, and luggage, all carefully chosen, are also available. And, while you’re waiting for the tailor to finish up, you can get an old-fashioned straight-razor shave. While this particular store opened in 2004, its roots go back to the Russian Revolution, when owner Anthony Andler’s grandfather Heimie came to St. Paul and opened a tailor shop.
327 7th St. W., St. Paul, 612/272-1682, www.scoutstyleshop.com; Sun. and Tues.-Fri. 11am-7pm, Sat. 10am-8pm
Huggable lumberjack chic? That might best describe the goods at Scout. You’ll find lots of plaid and soft cottons, all gender-neutral and in a wide range of sizes. The owners care about the planet as much as they do about wearable clothes for real people, so they buy as much environmentally friendly stuff as they can.
| Summit-University and Mac-Groveland |
38 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul, 651/225-8989, www.commongoodbooks.com; Mon.-Sat. 9am-9pm, Sun. 10am-7pm
Here you can pick up a book by a local writer, hear a speaker, or buy some Quality Trash—that’s how the shelf is labeled—to read on vacation.
891 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/224-8320, www.redballoonbookshop.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. noon-5pm
For book-loving families, the Red Balloon is a regular pilgrimage. While the shop specializes in children’s books, there’s a small selection of titles just for adults, with a preference for new voices, indie booksellers’ faves, and local nonfiction. There’s plenty of room on the carpeted floor to give your purchases a test run, and a knowledgeable staff will gladly introduce you to the latest releases.
1838 St. Clair Ave., St. Paul, 651/699-3409; Wed.-Sat. 11am-8pm, Sun. noon-5pm
A favorite with kids and seasoned comic book-lovers alike, Uncle Sven’s is about as friendly as it gets. The store itself is tiny, but packed with the kind of character that comes with nearly four decades of enthusiasm for comic books and strategy games.
877 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/228-1333, www.cooksofcrocushill.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-9pm, Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Both expert and aspiring home cooks will find what they’re looking for at Cooks of Crocus Hill, from Le Creuset and All-Clad cookware to shelves of cookbooks and a small collection of pantry wares. The staff all know their way around a kitchen and are more than happy to answer questions. If you’re looking to improve your cooking chops yourself, see if there’s room in an upcoming cooking class, held in professional kitchens at all locations. Cooks of Crocus Hill also has locations in in downtown Minneapolis (208 1st St. N., Minneapolis, 612/223-8167; daily 10am-7pm) and Stillwater (324 S. Main St., Stillwater, 651/351-1144; Mon.-Wed. 10am-7pm, Thurs. 10am-9pm, Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-5pm).
Cooks of Crocus Hill
526 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651/219-4589, www.corazononline.com; Tues.-Fri. 10am-7pm, Sat. 9am-7pm, Sun. 11am-3pm
Corazon is stocked floor to ceiling with the bright, colorful, and unexpected: mostly trinkets and baubles, some books and paper goods, and a small selection of fun-to-wear clothes. Corazon is also in Minneapolis (4646 Lake St. E., Minneapolis, 612/276-0198; Mon.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 9am-8pm, Sun. 9am-5pm).
619 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/312-1122, www.thegrandhand.com; Mon.-Wed. and Fri.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Thurs. 10am-7pm, Sun. noon-5pm
This is where craft meets art meets great shopping. Pottery, jewelry, silk scarves, wrought iron, glasswork, and more—all made by hand and much, but not all, by artists from the Upper Midwest. The atmosphere is somewhere between a gallery and a boutique: Come to look—especially in the River Gallery attached to the shop, where there are regular exhibitions of fine art—but you may find buying irresistible.
614 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651/260-5340, www.blkblu.com; Tues.-Sat. 11am-7pm, Sun. 11am-4pm
When you put function and quality over fashion and still end up looking super-fashionable—that’s BlackBlue, with high-quality denim (including lots of raw denim) and kicks, mostly for men, but with a small selection for women. This is a great place to pick up Minnesota brands like J. W. Hulme and Faribault Woolen Mills.
495 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651/348-6104, www.shopidun.com; Mon.-Fri. 11am-6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm
With minimalist style in a minimalist boutique (lots of white walls and exposed brick), Idun (say it “EE-den”) brings edgier brands you won’t find in too many other Minnesota shops, like Trademark, Jesse Kamm, and Stutterheim. Prices are high, but so is the quality and the level of customer service.
1587 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651/644-4110, www.lulavintagemn.com; Mon.-Thurs. 11am-7pm, Fri.-Sat. 11am-6pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Feminine dresses (many of them handmade by skilled seamstresses) from the 1950s through the 1980s fill two walls, and costume jewelry from all eras fills the display case. Men get more rack space here than they do in most vintage stores: a solid collection of sports coats, weekend button-downs, and ties. Be prepared to enjoy the hunt—most racks aren’t arranged by size—and don’t be afraid to ask the incredibly friendly staff for help.
251 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul, 651/728-1694, www.poppytogsandclogs.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-7pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
Poppy specializes in bright casual basics—the kind of knit dresses and tops that make weekends even more fun and can help pull you through the end of a workweek. While the pieces are bold, the prices are the sort that allow experimentation. You can also find Poppy apparel in Linden Hills (4301 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis, 612/719-7636), open the same hours.
618 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651/414-0091, www.primpyourself.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
“Cheap chic”: Primp puts its motto right on its walls—as well as on every rack. Everything is up-to-the-minute trendy and priced under $100, but so much more fun to shop than mall fast-fashion. (And it’s definitely not just for teens.) Primp now has eight locations, including in Minneapolis (4755 Chicago Ave. S., 612/259-7609; Mon.-Thurs. 11am-8pm, Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. noon-5pm).
850 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/225-9900, www.quincegifts.com; Mon.-Sat. 11am-6pm, Sun. noon-3pm, may vary by season
Bold, bright, fun fashion for big girls and little girls (in fact, the panties and ruffled undies are on the opposite side of the display of baby onesies with sassy sayings and ballerina skirts). College kids and those who can still carry off a college look will find pieces that stand out, including accessories and trinkets. And who doesn’t know a little girl who needs purple cowboy boots? Mixed in with the clothes are artsy gifts of the sort no one actually knows they want until you give it to them, like sock monkeys and joke books.
790 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/602-0144, http://goldenfig.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-6pm
Jars of homemade jams, pickles, and chutneys. Cruets of flavored vinegars. Infused sugars, spice mixes, compound butters. Homemade caramels and marshmallows. All of it made in small batches, by hand, mostly right here in Minnesota. The Golden Fig is like a food lover’s dream pantry. There is no way to walk into this small, friendly shop and not put together a fabulous gourmet snack. This is a great place to find a local favorite, B. T. McElrath chocolates.
517 Selby Ave., St. Paul, 651/602-9515, www.solovinowines.com; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-8pm, Fri.-Sat. 10am-9pm
If you’re the kind of person who likes to duck into a wine shop, grab a familiar label, and check out as quickly as possible, Solo Vino probably isn’t for you. It’s a shop run by and for people who are passionate about wines—particularly, but not solely, Spanish and Portuguese bottles—and everything about it encourages exploration and conversation.
867 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/293-1300, www.gardenofedenstores.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm
Garden of Eden’s own line of natural beauty products, which has been available since 1972, is totally customizable. Pick your product (shower gel, lotion, and more) and pick your scents, and have them mixed up right there. The store, in a small mall at the corner of Victoria and Grand, also offers a huge line of essential oils and products from Thymes and Caldrea (both Minnesota companies), Kiehl’s, and Burt’s Bees.
2050 Marshall Ave., St. Paul, 651/646-5252, www.choochoobobs.com; Mon.-Thurs. 9am-6pm, Fri. 9am-8pm, Sat. 8:30am-8pm, Sun. 9:30am-6pm
Choo Choo Bob’s is more than just a store; it’s a hangout for the Thomas the Tank Engine-obsessed set, where they can play, hear stories, and maybe even meet their hero, Engineer Paul, from the local Choo Choo Bob TV show. The kids can watch the model train sets and play at the wooden train tables as long as they want—or as long as you can take it.
1137 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/224-4414, www.babyongrand.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. noon-5pm
This converted single-family home on St. Paul’s hottest shopping street is like the Mary Poppins bag of baby stores: It holds far more than it ever looks like it could from the outside. From cribs and gliders to onesies and burp cloths, from high-end brands like Stokke and Inglesina to more everyday stuff like Chicco, it’s all packed tightly in here. Baby Grand’s second store opened in the western suburb of Hopkins in 2008 (1010 Mainstreet, 952/912-1010, Mon.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm).
1338 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/698-9690, www.treadleyardgoods.com; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-8pm, Fri. 10am-6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 1pm-5pm
You might walk right by Treadle’s plain-Jane storefront without even noticing. But inside it’s a different story. Are those the latest Japanese import fabrics (very big in the crafting world) on that modest stand? Are those full fabric lines from hot designers Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry? Why, yes, they are. Treadle feels as much like a welcoming community as a shop, with home garment makers (that’s the focus here, rather than quilting or other crafts) stopping by to chat about projects and even help out a newcomer.
840 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651/222-5793, www.yarnery.com; Mon.-Thurs. 10am-8pm, Fri.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Before knitting was hip—before there was the Yarn Harlot or a Stitch and Bitch Nation—there was the Yarnery, a cozy bungalow stuffed to the rafters with yarn. You will invariably find a table of women (and maybe men) knitting—very likely winter clothes for a local organization or squares for a blanket raffle. This is a community-minded place with a particular penchant for supporting local designers. Clinics are free and classes are inexpensive.
| Como and St. Anthony |
2238 Carter Ave., St. Paul, 651/646-5506; Mon.-Fri. 10am-8pm, Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
Anyone who has ever passed through Micawber’s quaint half-timbered door more than once knows it is more a book club than a bookstore. The passionate owners and staff are ready not only to share their recommendations, but also to really listen to what their customers say they love to read. Come with an open mind about what you’re looking for. Bestselling books aren’t automatically disqualified, but being on the bestseller list is not enough to guarantee a spot on the rigorously edited shelves at Micawber’s.
| Greater Twin Cities |
6415 Labeaux Ave. NE, Albertville, 763/497-1911, www.premiumoutlets.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-9pm, Sun. 10am-7pm
With more than 100 stores, Albertville is worth the 45-minute drive from the Twin Cities. You’ll find the usual suspects, from Ann Taylor and the Gap to Van Heusen and Tommy Hilfiger, and some rarer treats in the outlet world: Le Creuset cast-iron cookware and Hanna Andersson clothing from Sweden. Aside from a small Dunn Bros. coffee shop, it’s hard to find much in the way of a decent lunch near the outlets, so plan accordingly or be prepared for fast food. Watch for live music on summer weekend afternoons.
3510 70th St. W., Edina, 952/925-4321, www.galleriaedina.com; Mon.-Fri. 10am-9pm, Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-6pm
The Galleria, in the tony western suburb of Edina, is where you go in the Twin Cities if you want to have breakfast at Tiffany’s. The other upscale stores arrayed along the mall’s long central corridor (an oddly gloomy one, strangely enough) include the perfumery L’Occitane, Coach, the French children’s clothier Oililly, and gardening great Smith and Hawken, to name just a few. When the ladies who shop and lunch get tired of the former, they have a healthy sandwich at the Good Earth Restaurant and Bakery (952/925-1001, Mon.-Sat. 7am-10pm, Sun. 7am-9pm) or a big steak at Pittsburgh Blue (952/567-2700, Mon.-Thurs. 11am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 11am-11pm, Sun. 10am-10pm).
I-94 and I-694 at Hemlock Ln., Maple Grove, 763/424-0504, www.shoppesatarborlakes.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-9pm, Sun. noon-6pm
The sheer size of the Arbor Lakes shopping center is the draw, along with the piazzas and fountains that add a pleasant touch of fantasy to your suburban shopping experience. There are more than 75 stores and restaurants in this complex and well over two dozen in the nearby Fountains shopping area. You’ll find nearly every major national chain and some local gems like Evereve. During the summer, you might run into an outdoor music performance.
350 Water St., Excelsior, 612/598-2098, www.goldenrulecollective.com; Mon.-Wed. and Fri.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Thurs. 10am-7pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Handmade and heartfelt, every print, every painting, every piece of jewelry, and every darling little child’s apron at Golden Rule is an individual piece of art. Local artisans and national indie designers share the space and show off their designs in a charming little white house on Lake Minnetonka. The tiny carriage house in back houses Ace General Store (356 Water St., Excelsior, 952/217-3217, Mon. 11am-4pm, Tues.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. noon-5pm), which offers a collection of wood and leather goods and tools.
366 Water St., Excelsior, 952/474-9150, www.grayhomeandlifestyle.com; Mon. 11am-4pm, Tues.-Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. noon-5pm
With home goods and clothing in soothing palettes and high-end materials, Gray is where you come to imagine yourself living an artfully comfortable lifestyle. Your cropped sweater can match your throw pillow, and it can all smell of the same lovely soap.
4925 Hwy. 7, St. Louis Park, 952/924-9672, www.nordicware.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm
The Bundt pan was invented here in Minneapolis, in the first-ring suburb of St. Louis Park, to be more precise, when a group of ladies from a local synagogue asked for a pan they could use to bake the coffee cakes they remembered from Germany. Nordic Ware obliged and a classic was born. Nordic Ware, however, is so much more than one pan. The factory store stocks the brand’s full line of bakeware, pans, cooking gadgets, and more. Not everything is discounted, but there are some great deals to be had on seconds and discontinued lines.
3914 50th St. W., Edina, 952/746-8255, http://evereve.com; Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
The folks at Evereve are dedicated to making expecting and no-longer-expecting mothers feel at least as hot as they did pre-baby. And they are enthusiastic about it: Don’t be surprised to find your arms draped with $150 pairs of jeans and $35 tanks as you walk in the door. For all the high prices and chic atmosphere, this is a kid-friendly space: Park the kids at the train table and they’ll most likely have plenty of company. This is the original, but there’s a sister store on Grand Avenue in St. Paul (867 Grand Ave., 651/209-0222, Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm, Sun. 11am-6pm).
6518 Walker St., St. Louis Park, www.sotaclothing.com; Wed.-Fri. 11am-8pm, Sat. 10am-pm, Sun. noon-5pm
Minnesotans wear their love for their home state on their sleeves. And their T-shirts. And their hats. And their bags. On the mugs they carry around. And Sota Clothing thinks you should, too. There’s no better souvenir from your time in Minnesota than a pair of MN socks.
1008 Mainstreet, Hopkins, 952/931-9748, www.hopkinsantiquemall.com; Mon.-Sat. 11am-6pm, Sun. 11am-5pm
This is one-stop shopping for antiques aficionados, with more than 60 dealers showing their wares, from furniture to jewelry, Tiffany lamps to collectible lunch boxes, kitchenware to books. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s another level to explore. Many dealers are eager to buy as well. Be sure to stroll up and down Mainstreet, where there are nearly a dozen other antiques dealers, though none as big as this.
1023 Main St., Hopkins, 952/926-7871, www.kiddywampus.com; Tues.-Sat. 10am-6pm, Sun. noon-4pm
You’ve never seen a toy store like this. Spare, open, and modern, Kiddywampus lets the toys—and the kids—take center stage. You probably haven’t seen most of these toys before, either. Owner Amy Saldanha hunts down the kind of high-design, high-concept building blocks, art sets, children’s furniture, and more that a modern parent might not mind seeing scattered all over the living room. (Kids can test-drive many of the toys to be sure that fun hasn’t been sacrificed to design.) Make art with your kids in the art studio (Mon. and Fri. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tues.-Thurs. 12:30-4:30 p.m., $8).