Want to shop local this year? How about shopping so local you don’t even leave your neighborhood? We’re compiling guides to shopping in each Seattle neighborhood throughout the month. We already shared the best Ballard shops for gifts and the best Wallingford shops for gifts. Today we’ll be talking about the quirky Seattle neighborhood of Fremont: the self-proclaimed center of the universe.
Note that we didn’t include bookstores or record stores in this list because we already have dedicated guides to those. See our guides to the best indie bookstores in Seattle and the best record stores in Seattle.
Now read on for our guide to the best Fremont shops!
1. Fremont Vintage Mall
Fremont Vintage Mall is a sprawling underground treasure trove full of vintage clothing, records, handmade art, and quirky memorabilia from numerous vendors. You can easily go in there and emerge a couple hours later with a wide assortment of items for yourself and others.
2. Indoor Sun Shoppe
Indoor Sun Shoppe is a great place to check out if you want to gift yourself or someone else a new plant baby. They also sell gardening supplies, locally-made pottery, and more in addition to houseplants.
3. Theo Chocolate
Fremont’s Theo Chocolate Factory is always fun to visit for a factory tour, but their chocolate also makes a great gift. You can even gift someone a class or tour if you think they’d enjoy an experience gift along with a few bars of chocolate.
4. Pipe and Row
Pipe and Row is a chic boutique that carefully curates high-quality, minimalist goods. Their most recent gift guide includes delicate, affordable jewelry, modern (and sometimes funky) women’s clothing, and scented candles made in the USA.
5. Portage Bay Goods
Portage Bay Goods is quirky, colorful, and eclectic. Dubbing itself “the gift shop for the thoughtful procrastinator,” it is ready to help you out when you realize you forgot your aunt’s birthday or a White Elephant gift the week before Christmas. You’ll find everything from cards and books to locally-made art and Seattle-themed knick-knacks.
6. The Uncommon Cottage
The Uncommon Cottage promises “weird and whimsy gifts” and that’s exactly what they deliver. If you have a witchy friend, a goth friend, or a loved one with an offbeat sense of humor, they’ll enjoy a gift from this shop.
Bonus: Fremont Sunday Street Market
The Fremont Sunday Street Market has a wide range of local vendors every week! They are open rain or shine every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. under the Fremont Bridge.