A Guide to the Best Gift Shops in New York CIty
The word “regift” was popularized by the classic New York sitcom Seinfeld. To regift means to take something you’ve received as a present and give it as a present to somebody else. And so, unwanted gifts wander the earth, going from one person who has no use for them to another.
But with a little thought and consideration, you can make sure your friends and relatives never regift the presents you gave them. Give your loved ones original, lovingly selected gifts – without breaking your wallet.
B&G Gifts
624 Brighton Beach Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 332-3800
With its retro ’70s feel (waist-high porcelain tigers and velvet armchairs shaped like a hand), and its location in the heart of Brighton Beach Avenue, a retail mecca in Brooklyn, New York, B&G Gifts is the perfect store if you are looking for a snazzy present for that special someone with far out tastes. While being flashy and funny, useful but unique items line its shelves: abstract vases, gold-painted china, and strange floor lamps that would look at home on the set of Star Trek. Priced in the mid-range, this store offers amazing treasures for that kooky friend who will appreciate a gift that stands out.
Trash & Vaudeville
4 St. Marks Place
New York, NY 10003
(212) 982-3590
Located smack dab in the middle of New York City’s punk-glam neighborhood – the East Village – Trash and Vaudeville is your store if you’re looking for a gift for your disaffected nephew who’s just discovered The Sex Pistols, his sister whose room is adorned with Marilyn Manson pinups, or their nostalgic father who still hasn’t cut that receding, flowing long hair. All leather and ripped band shirts, army boots painted in the colors of the British flag, and coffin-shaped purses, Trash and Vaudeville provides an unforgettable shopping experience as a giftstore that carries beautifully troubling stuff in every price range.
Kalinka Gifts
402 Brighton Beach Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 743-4546
This small store is overfilled with beautiful treasures, from hand-crafted Russian malachite to exquisite Italian Murano glass. This place is perfect if your friend or relative loves to decorate her house with crafts from around the world. Priced in the mid- to high range, Kalinka carries gorgeous gifts for people with an eye for beauty, from tastefully understated to opulently colorful.
Vicky Garin Gift Shop
3100 Ocean Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 714-6830
If you’re looking for an upscale wedding present or a gift for your boss, the Vicky Garin Gift Shop in Brooklyn’s famous Ocean Ave area is the store for you. This place isn’t cheap – but it will give you a bang for your buck. Filled with original paintings, one-of-a-kind Murano sculptures, hand-carved chess sets and Versaci accessories, the Vicky Garin Gift Shop gives you a chance to impress.
Aqueduct Flea Market
Rockaway Boulevard and 88th Street
Ozone Park, NY 11416
(718) 738-9571
Open only in the summer, this makeshift, open-air flea market located on a huge lot in New York City’s suburb is a treasure trove for the money-conscious shopper. Here, you can find gifts for all occasions, from stainless steel kitchenware for the cook in the family to a set of power tools for the resident mechanic. Toys for kids of every age are displayed next to top-line electronics; jewelry is up for sale next to clothes. You’ll find few unusual gifts here: this is the place for all things useful and common. Sure you’ve seen all these items before – but the vendors of the Aqueduct Flea Market will bet that you’ve never seen them quite so cheap.
