While it’s easy to Google whatever it is that you’re looking for and have it simply delivered straight to your door, there are great rewards — both for you and the business owner — to shop local. There are many, many opportunities to support local businesses in Atlanta. Here’s a list of stores offering a wide range of wares that’ll get you started in supporting small, local businesses.
The Beehive
Unique retail concept, The Beehive (slogan: “handmade. modern. made local”) got its start in 2004. Billed on its website as “a boutique collective comprised of independent designers with a focus on the local entrepreneur,” the location is designer-owned and run, offering apparel, housewares, accessories, baby goods, local food goods and jewelry for all ages. From gold-stamped charm necklaces to Georgia peach-scented candles. From coconut key lime lip balms to decorative, hand-stamped spoons, the collective retail location seems to offer a bit of everything for just about anybody.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. 1250 Caroline St., C120, Atlanta. 404-581-9261. thebeehiveatl.com
Flower Bar
Selecting the right kind of flowers for a loved one can be a difficult choice unless someone knows exactly what they’re after, but a hometown florist can give the process a personal touch with attention to detail. According to its website, Flower Bar – located just off the BeltLine, between Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward – “has been a neighborhood favorite since 2006 … We get new flowers in every day, and every order gets our special, artistic attention.” The florist specializes in daily delivery, events, weddings, weekly accounts and DIY design classes, which are offered once a week.
660 Irwin St., Atlanta. 404-431-0811. atlantaflowerbar.com
Big Peach Running Co.
In 2004, the founders of locally-owned footwear store Big Peach Running Co. noticed what they described as a “noticeable dearth of retailers catering to (runners and walkers) … our residents and visitors were oftentimes left with inconvenient, unattractive and unqualified shopping options …” Since then, the company has expanded, with seven locations currently throughout metro Atlanta. Stores carry a wide range of footwear, apparel and accessories with an aim to “promote and ensure that every aspect of your fitness routine is properly addressed.”
All locations (Suwanee, Midtown, Marietta, Kennesaw, Decatur, Brookhaven and Alpharetta) are open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. bigpeachrunningco.com.
My Parents’ Basement
Few locations in Atlanta can boast an arcade, comic bookstore, restaurant and bar all in the same location, but My Parents’ Basement in Avondale Estates has pulled it off. The locally-owned business – billed with a clever nod to its likely clientele as “Your Friendly Neighborhood Comic Book Bar” – was started by three friends with similar interests in the business’ featured wares and entertainment. What began as a “humble pop-up shop” turned into a full-blown brick-and-mortar location in 2015 and has been evolving in its offerings ever since.
11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday. 22 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estates. 404-292-4607. myparentsbasementcbcb.com
Criminal Records
This Little Five Points destination for all things vinyl – as well as other not-so-gracefully-aging musical mediums such as CD and cassette – also carries DVDs, Blu-rays, comic books, toys, art and apparel. And, it goes without saying since you’ve made it this far in the article and understand how this works, it’s locally owned. According to its site: “We aim to engage music lovers by providing a space to discover and enjoy music in the physical medium while connecting kindred spirits of all ages and backgrounds directly to artists and other members of the creative community.”
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-7 p.m. Sunday. 1154-A Euclid Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-215-9511. criminalatl.com
Mama Bath and Body
The brainchild of Emilie Sennebogen Bryant – self-described on her business’ website as “part borderline hippie, part aspiring entrepreneur” – Mama Bath and Body launched in September 2004 after the culmination of almost three years of “research and development and a life-long love of body products.” The store offers soaps, aromatherapy oils, plant care products, as well as bath salts, deodorants and gift sets for both women and men. (They also carry beard oils.)
Krog Street Market location: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 404-909-9994. 112 N. Avondale Road, Avondale Estates: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. 404-377-7800. loveyourmama.com
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