Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Shop local: A guide to the perfect Christmas gifts, right around the corner

retail

Krystal Ramirez

1950’s thru 1960’s Aprons for purchase at Amberjoys Vintage Closet in downtown Las Vegas. Aprons retail anywhere between $20 and $60.

Food and Treats

Ethel M Chocolate Factory

2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson | 702-435-2655 | ethelm.com

Satisfy the chocolate lover on your list with chocolates, caramels, pecan brittles and peppermint barks.

Ethel M was founded in 1981 by Forrest Mars Sr., one of the founders of the Mars chocolate empire, as a tribute to his mother, Ethel, and her chocolate recipes.

A six-piece box of creamy caramels costs $12; the Holiday Classic Gourmet Chocolate Collection retails for $42; a 6.4-ounce package of peppermint bark costs $22; a 4.5-ounce box of milk chocolate pretzels costs $12.

Popcorn Girl

1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson | 702-568-0557

8550 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 109, Las Vegas |702-258-2676 | popcorngirlvegas.com.

Classic flavors, such as movie theater butter or caramel, or wildly original flavors, including lemon meringue pie, loaded baked potato or blue coconut. Pack it in a holiday box or tin for a perfect gift.

The company, founded by Laurie Sabol and Mark Smith, began in Summerlin in 2009 and expanded to Henderson two years later.

A 3-pack holiday box costs $28.99; a Christmas tin sells for $34.95.



Choffy

702-623-9223 | choffy.com

Brewed chocolate made from roasted and ground cocoa beans. Richer and more robust than hot chocolate, brews just like coffee and comes in multiple flavors. Manufacturers say it provides long-lasting energy without a caffeine crash.

Choffy, manufactured in Henderson, is the brainchild of Jason Vanderhoven. He spent three years researching, tasting and developing his cocoa brew.

A 12-ounce pack of Volta costs $16.49; a fall variety bundle with three flavors and a French press sells for $83.90.



Artisanal Foods

2275 E. Sunset Road, Las Vegas | 702-436-4252 | artisanalfoods.com

Hundreds of specialty items from around the world: sticky rice nuggets from China, coffee from the Indonesian island of Sumatra, fresh wasabi from Oregon, chorizo from Spain. Store specialties include foie gras, truffles and charcuterie with Iberico.

Owned and operated by UNLV grad and international food purveyor Brett Ottolenghi.

A 1.3-pound package of frozen foie gras sells for $64.99; a 14-ounce container of black winter truffle stock retails for $49.99; a 500-milliliter tin of sesame oil sells for $10.99; a 1-ounce jar of vanilla paste sells for $14.99.

Booze and Beer

Tenaya Creek

3101 N. Tenaya Way, Las Vegas | 702-362-7335 | tenayacreek.com

A dozen varieties of beer, including God of Thunder Baltic porter, Hauling Oats oatmeal stout, brown ale, pilsner, hefeweizen and several pale ales.

Tenaya Creek opened as a restaurant and brewery in 1999 but closed its kitchen permanently in 2008. Its bottling line now is available in four states and Canada.

Most 22-ounce bottles sell for $5 to $8; cases of 12 retail for $50 to $80.



Las Vegas Distillery

7330 Eastgate Road, Henderson | 702-629-7534 | lasvegasdistillery.com

Nevada-grown wheat and corn distilled into whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, moonshine and bourbon. Specialty brews such as Summerlin Peach and Apricot Liqueur. The distillery also offers tours and alcohol-making classes.

Founded by George Racz, the business was Nevada’s first craft distillery, and Racz wrote the legislative bill that allowed his business to open.

Pahrump Valley Winery

3810 Winery Road, Pahrump | 775-751-7800 | pahrumpwinery.com

Nevada’s largest producing winery and winner of almost 400 national wine awards since 2004. Current and past varieties include zinfandel, syrah, tempranillo, chardonnay, and merlot.

The Pahrump Valley Winery opened in 1990, with the first vines planted shortly afterward. The winery and on-site restaurant now are owned and operated by Bill and Gretchen Loken.

A bottle of Desert Blush costs $13.95; a bottle of 2012 chardonnay retails for $15.95; a bottle of creme sherry costs $16.95.

Clothing and Accessories

LVCK by Vegas Apparel

Downtown Container Park, 707 Fremont Street, Las Vegas | 702-530-3025 | lvck.lv

A streetwear boutique that specializes in ball caps, graphic tees and casual wear from local, national and international brands.

Owner/designer and Las Vegas local Edward Dorville conceived his brand in early 2011. One of his goals is to promote an “unwavering love for our hometown and a strong desire to sport it (hint: pro leagues.)”

An LV neon faux leather brim strapback cap costs $55; a Bets LV baseball tee sells for $32; a UNLV beanie retails for $24.

Amberjoy’s Vintage Closet

1225 S. Main St., Las Vegas | 702-825-2020 | amberjoyvintagecloset.com

Purses for purchase at Amberjoys Vintage Closet in downtown Las Vegas.

Purses for purchase at Amberjoys Vintage Closet in downtown Las Vegas.

Authentic vintage clothing and accessories from the 1920s through 1960s, as well as period piece replicas.

The shop, owned by Amber Burkhart, celebrated its one-year anniversary in November.

An authentic 1939 raw silk and chiffon wedding gown retails for $1,500; a 1950s-style floral rockabilly dress sells for $155; a pair of 1950s earrings sell for $21.

Alexia Kay

1-844-253-9425 | alexiakay.com

Handmade bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings adorned with Swarovski crystals.

Designer Alexia Kay, who recently moved back to the valley after a previous 10-year stint here, launched her line this summer.

Rings and small pendants retail for $80 to $100; more ornate necklaces sell for $1,000 to $1,200.

Handmade in Vegas

Handmadeinvegas.com

Handmade in Vegas is a group of local artists who came together in May 2010 to create a Vegas-centric online marketplace. Now numbering more than 50, the designers, manufacturers, jewelers and crafters sell their goods on etsy.com and collaborate on projects, marketing, education and more.

Among the items for sale: a pheasant feather headband, handmade wooden trains, a Star of David copper pendant, embroidered caps, mustache pacifiers and straws, artisan soaps, whale baby booties, beaded gemstone necklaces and folded book art.

The Jeweler’s daughter

Sold at Tower of Jewels, 896 E. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas | 702-526-8140 | thejewelersdaughter.com

Handmade, Las Vegas-inspired bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces and cuff links. Pieces feature iconic motifs from the Stardust, Riviera, Golden Nugget and Plaza, in silver, bronze, gold, Swarovski crystal and marcasite. The collection includes card suit stud earrings, bracelets and rings in 14-karat gold or sterling silver.

Owner/designer Polly Weinstein grew up in the jewelry business, the daughter of local jeweler Jack Weinstein, owner of Tower of Jewels. She started the Jeweler’s Daughter in 2011. She manufactures every piece in her collection in her Las Vegas studio.

14-karat heart suit stud earrings sell for $230; spade studs with diamonds retail for $500; a Riviera star ring costs $275; a Stardust necklace sells for $400; a Plaza bracelet retails for $395; a Golden Nugget ring costs $175.

The Market LV at Tivoli Village

440 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas

A mini shopping center within a shopping center, the Market is a sort of incubator for startup boutiques and small mom-and-pop shops. Vendors include Ai Bijoux, a lingerie shop; B Sweet Candy Boutique; Mina Olive, a custom bridal shop; Pas de Deux, a children’s vintage clothing store; River North, which sells home décor; Good Luck Accessories, a jewelry store; and Annie Creamcheese, a vintage clothing and accessories boutique.

The goal is for the businesses to move into the mall’s main outdoor space as they flourish and grow.

Coterie

515 Fremont St., Las Vegas | 702-685-7741 | co-te-rie.com

Funky fashions and accessories for men and women — screen-printed T-shirts, faux leopard fur beanies, hoodies, jeans, wallets, jewelry and more. Staff offers free styling sessions in the store and will send personalized “consignment boxes” to your home. Rummage through, keep what you like, send back the rest.

The boutique, founded by Sarah Nisperos, opened in August 2012 in the heart of downtown with funding from the Downtown Project.

A “Will Work for Coffee” T-shirt sells for $75; a pair of men’s distressed denim jeans retails for $327.50; a pair of fingerless gloves costs $14; a red lips compact mirror costs $16.25.

Toys and sports equipment

Basic Sports

55 S. Gibson Road, Henderson | 702-564-9929 | facebook.com/BasicSportsShop

Supplies team uniforms and equipment for all sports. Offers custom screen printing and embroidery for letterman jackets, sweaters, uniforms and more. Brother-and-sister team Leo Hernandez and Irma Hooks opened the shop seven years ago. Both are Basic High School graduates.

Letterman jackets start at $195; cheer packages, which include a school-branded skirt, shell and briefs, start at $60.

Kappa Toys

In Downtown Container Park, 707 Fremont St., Las Vegas | 702-302-9363 | kappatoys.com

Great finds for children of any age: retro metal lunch boxes, classic Etch-A-Sketches, dinosaur figurines, Elsa dolls, trolls, Sesame Street characters, superheroes and hundreds of other options. Owners Lizzy Newsome and Trevor Yopp debuted their shop in August after running a successful toy store in Austin.

Furniture and Accessories

Gamblers General Store

800 S. Main St., Las Vegas | 702-382-9903 | gamblersgeneralstore.americommerce.com

More than 15,000 gambling products including gaming tables, equipment and supplies, chips, books, novelties, clothing and art. The shop also manufactures personalized custom poker chips with logos, photos and images.

Established in 1984, the General Store is one of the world’s largest and most famous gambling warehouses.

A 10-foot craps layout cloth costs $275; wall tins sell for $9.99 each; a framed poster of the Beatles in Vegas costs $250; a box of 50 Bicycle 8-gram clay poker chips sells for $4.99.

Hotflash Designs

Sold at the Christmas Goose Quilt Shop, 2988 S. Durango Drive, Las Vegas | 702-877-1158 | hotflashdesigns.com

Vintage linens, buttons and gifts. Also, do-it-yourself kits to make button bracelets.

Local friends Christina Chandler and Deborah Young started selling their goods in 2010 and now are regular vendors on the craft circuit.

Four vintage barkcloth cushion covers sell for $25; a vintage metallic thread tablecloth sells for $15; a kit to make your own button bracelet, including 45 vintage and contemporary buttons and beads and a band, sells for $25.

Artifact Las Vegas

At Town Square, 6551 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas | 702-269-4620 | artifactlv.com

Recycled and repurposed furniture, kitchenware, art, decor, clothing, crafts and jewelry made by artists from Las Vegas and other parts of the United States. A best seller is antique silver rings made from vintage silverware.

Molly Gaddy-Walters, a self-described “glue gun expert, geek-of-anything crafty and freak of anything vintage,” opened the shop in April 2010.

A 6-by-4-inch bike chain picture frame sells for $30; a leather belt chair retails for $600; Grey Goose tumblers retail for $17.50 each; Mr. and Mrs. throw pillow covers sell for $40 a set; a reclaimed cedar console table sells for $1,250.

Books

Amber Unicorn Books

2101 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite 14, Las Vegas | 702-648-9303 | amberunicornbooks.com

First-edition, antiquarian and rare books, autographed novels, used best sellers, metaphysical and self-help books, theater and film titles, cookbooks and an extensive science fiction and fantasy collection.

Amber Unicorn opened in 2008 with more than 200,000 books, including 20,000 cookbooks. The store, owned by Myrna and Lou Donato, stretches more than 2,400 square feet.

Books Or Books

3460 E. Sunset Road, Suite R, Las Vegas | 702-301-4275 | booksorbooks.com

Kim Henry opened BooksOrBooks this year. She placed a cart in the front of the store where young readers can take a book free of charge.

Kim Henry opened BooksOrBooks this year. She placed a cart in the front of the store where young readers can take a book free of charge.

Used books, including first editions, out-of-print books and children’s vintage literature. New books for children, inexpensive books for senior citizens and a free rack for students. The shop regularly hosts reading groups and local author events.

Kim Henry opened Books Or Books in February to share her love of reading with the community and encourage children’s literacy.

Miscellaneous

At Your Service Pet Supply and Salon

55 S. Valle Verde Drive, Suite 300, Henderson | 702-982-4324 | atyourservicepetsupplies.com

Presents for pets. A wide variety of natural foods, treats, remedies and toys for dogs, cats, fish, birds, reptiles and small critters. A grooming center can get your furry friend looking his or her best for the holidays.

Henderson Restaurant and Kitchen Supply

1201A American Pacific Drive, Henderson | 702-568-7528 | hrksupply.com

Kitchen wares for professional chefs or home cooks. Flatware, chafers and buffet ware, professional cookware and more. Both new and used goods.

The store, which opened in 1998, is family owned and operated and has grown to become one of Nevada’s largest food service equipment suppliers.

Discount Firearms and Ammo

3084 S. Highland Drive, Las Vegas | 702-567-1158 | discountfirearmsusa.com

A firearms clearinghouse that carries more than 40 brands of handguns, rifles and shotguns and promises to stock at least 1 million rounds of ammunition at all times. The store, which boasts a shooting range, also sells holsters, accessories, cleaning supplies, range equipment and gun cases.

A Blackhawk 3 Slot Pancake Holster sells for $25; Remington Universal Gun Care System with Squeeg-E bag retails for $50; A Remington 1911 R1 45 ACP seven-round pistol sells for $569; Lawman Pistol 45 ACP ammunition costs $29.99.

The Knuttel Gallery

Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian/Palazzo | 3327 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas | 702-228-8808 | knuttel.com

Known as the “Irish Picasso,” artist Graham Knuttel will do a commissioned painting of a pet. Private sittings begin at $25,000, and packages can be customized with wardrobe styling, grooming, a pet playroom and on-site catering ­— for the animal.

The Knuttel Gallery opened on the Strip in November 2013.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy