Bloomington, Illinois, is a beautiful college town with a vibrant community. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, you’re sure to enjoy visiting the impressive array of specialty and gift shops in the downtown Bloomington area. Check out these 18 local gems the next time you’re in town.
Asahel Gridley Antiques
Image via Flickr by davidwilson1949
In operation since 1993, Asahel Gridley Antiques offers classic antique furniture, lighting, glassware, ceramics, and other housewares for purchase from notable designers throughout history. The shop stretches across three storefronts, offering patrons plenty of space to explore and look at gorgeous period pieces of furniture and art.
Alley Kats Art & Antiques
Alley Kats Art & Antiques‘s downtown shop is a great place for shoppers looking for hidden treasures. Multiple vendors rent space within the store, so there’s a wide range of items for sale and an ever-changing product selection of unique decor, housewares, and collectibles.
Beck’s Family Florist
With a community presence for over 30 years, Beck’s Family Florist is a beloved local flower shop. Shoppers can visit the store in person to pick out a pre-made bouquet or order a custom design for delivery. In addition to flowers, Beck’s Family Florist also sells decorative throws and garden plaques.
Bloomington Spice Works
Whether or not you need any spices for cooking, a stop in Bloomington Spice Works is always worth your time. Beautifully arranged whole and ground spices fill the shop with the intoxicating smell of garlic, onion, nutmeg, thyme, and other delicious scents.
Bobzbay
Open since 2009, Bobzbay sells used media like books, movies, video games, and music. Be prepared to lose track of time as you peruse their vast selection of collectibles. Bobzbay also buys media, so if you have some old books or CDs you’d like to part with, stop by and see what they offer.
Crossroads Fair Trade Shop
If you’re looking to purchase fair trade goods that support international artisans, visit Crossroads Fair Trade Shop in downtown Bloomington. The non-profit store has been selling handcrafts from around the world since 1988 and prides itself on its dedication to sustainable practices.
gigi BOTTEGA
gigi BOTTEGA is a women’s clothing boutique with locations in Bloomington and Evanston. The adorable store sells women’s tops, sweaters, bottoms, dresses, and accessories at affordable prices. gigi BOTTEGA’s lovely design and helpful staff make browsing and trying on clothes a fun adventure.
The Little Art School
If you’re taking little ones with you on your downtown Bloomington shopping excursion, consider a stop at The Little Art School. This kid-focused art studio offers art classes to kids in a variety of mediums. In addition to in person classes, The Little Art School also sells take-home art kits that families can complete together.
Merlot and a Masterpiece
After a long day of shopping, express your artistic side with friends or family at Merlot and a Masterpiece. In these casual, adult art classes, painting instructors guide you through a painting project while you sip wine or soft drinks and enjoy time with friends. You get to take your painting home at the end of the class as a souvenir.
Pars Rug Gallery
Pars Rug Gallery is a purveyor of traditional Persian hand-knotted rugs. Owner Hossein Nateghpour works hard to provide an outstanding selection of fine rugs. They also offer an in-depth, online guide on how they appropriately value Persian and Oriental rugs during their professional appraisal process, which is a service they offer to individual patrons and insurers. Pars Rug Gallery has been serving Bloomington since 1987.
Red Raccoon Games
Red Raccoon Games is a unique establishment in downtown Bloomington. The store sells over 1,500 different board games. They also have a community space for board game aficionados to gather and play classics like Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Pokemon. Red Raccoon Games works with educators in the area to provide clubs for middle and high school students in addition to their drop-in game events.
Refine 309
If you’re looking for fashion-forward women’s clothing and accessories, pay Refine 309 in downtown Bloomington a visit. The adorable boutique sells women’s clothes, jewelry, accessories, bags, home decor, and more. They also put on trunk show events to share fresh looks with interested shoppers.
Rock Soul Love
Rock Soul Love is a local franchise with four shops in Illinois, including Bloomington. The founder, Amy, describes Rock Soul Love as a place for spiritual exploration of the mind, body, and soul. Rock Soul Love sells goods like incense, candles, oils, and jewelry, all designed to help you find your spiritual center.
The Yarn Garden
Calling all knitters and crocheters — The Yarn Garden is your place to purchase yarn, learn about the craft, and meet with fellow artisans. In addition to selling a multitude of yarn and knitting, crocheting, and weaving supplies, the shop holds open community events for fiber enthusiasts to work on projects together.
Vera & Buck Floral Studio
Wedding bouquets, special floral arrangements, and everyday flowers — whatever you need when it comes to flowers, Vera & Buck Floral Studio can deliver. Besides custom and pre-made bouquets, Vera & Buck Floral Studio offers flower arranging classes and monthly subscription-based flower deliveries.
Vintage and Handmade Market
If you’re the sort of crafter who spends hours searching the internet for fun DIY projects, pay a visit to Vintage and Handmade Market. They create superb DIY kits so you can make the chair, table, bench, or other decorative piece of your dreams. Each kit includes all of the materials you need to complete the project, along with detailed instructions.
Von Champs Boutique
Von Champs Boutique sells a variety of apparel, home goods, and gifts, all carefully chosen by owner Carmen. The store is lovingly arranged and great fun to peruse. Stop by if you need a specialty greeting card, baby shower present, unique accessory, or bath and body product.
Wilson’s Cycle
Family-owned and -run Wilson’s Cycle is a fixture in Bloomington. In operation since the 1960s, the shop sells bicycles, fit kits, and a variety of cycling accessories for kids and adults. They also host community events and help connect dedicated cyclers with one another.
Bloomington has a robust local economy with a number of unique businesses, bars, and restaurants. Pay a visit to one of the many wonderful specialty and gift shops in the area the next time you’re in town. And visit our Bloomington store while you shop for a look at the designers, styles, and unique jewelry pieces we have. We here at Hustedt Jewelers would love to hear about your favorite places to shop in Bloomington. Drop us a line and let us know!