If standing in long big-box store lines isn’t your thing, FreshWater has you covered this holiday season. Skip those lines and shop local with some of our favorite Cleveland spots and unique gift ideas to make your holiday shopping easy, meaningful, and impactful.

• For the artist: Stop by the Glass Bubble Project in Ohio City and check out the unique selection of handmade glass art, sign up for a glassblowing class, or buy a gift card in any denomination. Don’t be intimidated—the Glass Bubble artists have been in business for 25 years and are more than happy to show visitors their processes!

• For the bookworm: Sign someone up for one of the three Curated Reads Clubs from Loganberry Books and get personalized books, delivered right to their doorstep each month in 2025. Simply tell Loganberry’s curator their age and interests, and she’ll do the rest.

• For the foodie: Feed that foodie in your life with a Cleveland Independents gift card, either an e-gift card or design your own; The Deck coupon book with $10 off $30 food purchases; or, new this year, the 2025 Cleveland Independents Calendar, featuring posters of recipes from your favorite CI restaurants.

• For the nature enthusiast: Whether you have a birder in your life, an avid hiker, or someone who believes in preserving Cleveland’s natural gems, Cuyahoga Valley National Park has you covered. Buy the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Trail guide or Sponsor an Acre from CVNP—proceeds support the work of the Cuyahoga Valley Trails Council and the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

• For the dog lover: If fostering, volunteering, or adopting isn’t an option for the animal lover in your life, consider the gift of a sponsored cage at City Dogs, which includes name recognition in City Dog’s newsletter, on the website, and in its annual report—higher tiers even include custom signage on a kennel cage for the year.

• For the environmentalist: As the Rust Belt Riders saying goes, feed people, not landfills. Rust Belt Riders, 2701 St. Clair Ave NE, has a variety of composting memberships and gift certificates for the environmentally conscious friend or family member.

• For the Cinephile: Pop in to Cinematheque, 11610 Euclid Ave, and pick up a membership to get ticket discounts, members-only event access, and the regular schedule each month. Or, buy a gift card that is good at any of the three Cleveland Cinemas locations. Additionally, the Cleveland International Film Festival 49 (CIFF) is happening March 27 through April 5 in 2025, so why not buy a gift certificate, a membership, or get a CIFF49 Pass.

• 78th Street StudiosFor the art lover: Do some last-minute shopping from a host of Cleveland creatives and artisans at 78^th Street Studios’ final Third Friday event of the year this Friday, Dec. 20 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., 1200 W. 78^th St., Cleveland 44102.

• For the Cleveland fan: Send gift boxes full of Cleveland originals like Bertman Original Ball Park Mustard, Pope’s Bloody Mary Mix, or Cleveland Bagel Everything Mix via Cleveland In a Box. Now, if you’re buying for the Cleveland sports fan, go to GV Art + Design, where you’ll find original artwork and clothing promoting all the CLE sports teams (well, some other sports towns and interests are represented as well).

• For the ‘shop local’ advocate: Stop by City Goods, 1442 W. 28th St. in Ohio City, and choose that extra-special gift from makers like Cleveland photographer Jason Toth of jtoth art, an assortment of honey products and gifts from Linda’s Bee Farm; or Brittany’s Record Shop—"The Little Shop That Won't Stop” for vinyl favorites in hip-hop, soul, and reggae. Be sure to check out the local food entrepreneurs at the newly-opened Grocery at City Goods, too!

• For the fine art enthusiast: Buy one of three membership levels to the Cleveland Museum of Art and give your loved one free access to special exhibits, like Picasso on Paper, discounts to events like the monthly MIX series (Mix: España is up in February) discounts on parking, classes, concerts like when world-renowned drummer Nate Smith makes his Cleveland debut with his performance on Feb. 19, and plenty of Members Only Events.

• For those retro people: Searching for that extra-special, unique gift? Steve Presser’s Big Fun has returned to 1814 Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights through Jan. 12. Who doesn’t want vintage Flintstones collectibles, vintage rock ‘n roll backstage passes, posters, and bumper stickers, or handmade art from the artists at from Planet Joy Studio?

  Meanwhile, in the Waterloo Arts District, you’ll find STAR POP vintage + modern, 15813 Waterloo Road, which buys and sells new and old toys, vintage clothing, classic video games, and other pop culture collectibles. The store's mission is to promote sustainability, while keeping cool vintage and secondhand goods in the hands of the people who want them.

• Cleveland Museum of ArtFor the writer: Buy a membership to Literary Cleveland, 13002 Larchmere Blvd., and support the organization focused on improving the literary lives of Northeast Ohio writers and readers through classes and workshops. Your recipient can attend any of Literary Cleveland’s classes at a discounted rate for the year.

• For local, unique art: As a multi-disciplinary nonprofit arts organization, Heights Arts, 2175 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, showcases and sells artworks by regional artists. The 23rd annual Heights Arts Holiday Store features the works of more than 100 local artists and craftspeople with everything from ceramics, drawings, and textiles to jewelry, glass, and housewares. The holiday store is open every day through Monday, Dec. 30, except for Christmas Day.

• For something special: In business since 1953 and in the same location at 14125 Detroit Ave. since 1959, Hixon’s Inc. in Lakewood has been a year-round destination for all things Christmas—from decorations, handcrafted ornaments imported from around the world, and custom pieces made by late owner Bill Hixson, who died at age 93 in December 2022. The store also has antiques, Tiffany-style lamps, stained glass, candles and cards. This is the place to go for a one-of-a-kind special gift.

• For the wine connoisseur: The late Mansfield Frazier, the journalist and activist who started Chateau Hough in 2010 with three goals: reuse land and buildings in the neighborhood, create green space, and generate jobs. “Our job is to solve poverty with paychecks,” he told FreshWater in 2017. Ten years in business, Chateau Hough offers a variety of bold, crisp, and contemporary wines made with the red Frontenac and white Traminette grapes grown at the vineyard. Proceeds benefit nonprofit Neighborhood Solutions, Inc., which has a mission to “offer education and community engagement opportunities that promote village building and economic independence, leading to viable second chances for marginalized residents in Northeast Ohio." Haven’t tried the wine yet? Stop in a get a few bottles or a case—wine can be ordered online for shipping to limited areas or pickup—or get a gift certificate and share Frazier’s vision.

• For the chocolate lover: You can’t go wrong with giving chocolate, most people will argue. Two locally-owned chocolatiers make shopping easy. With 18 Malley’s Chocolates locations and plenty of seasonal specials to buy for every age, shoppers can’t go wrong. Be sure to stop at Mitchell’s Fine Chocolates, 2285 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, for plenty of seasonal selections and gift sets that are perfect for host gifts or just the chocolate lovers in your life.

• For everything vintage: Take a trip back in time in the Lorain Avenue Antiques District where antiques and vintage goods are the hot commodity at Sweet Lorain, 7105 Lorain Road—you can get everything needed for that vintage look at home or out on the town. Paradise Galleria, 3910 Lorain Avenue, opened in October, mixes old and new with a fun, pop culture vibe. The lower level gives space for vintage vendors selling everything from retro clothes to books, vinyl records, and other unique throwback items.