24 Small Businesses in Los Angeles for Unique Shopping
By Franki Hanke
Southern California’s Los Angeles is known for iconic shopping destinations on Rodeo Drive or at the Grove, but sometimes you want to find something a bit more unique! Because while I love Nordstrom too, it’s not really destination-unique! Instead, shop these small businesses in Los Angeles.
Rather than browsing through Chanel or Prada handbags on Rodeo Drive in Downtown LA, browse through carefully curated boutiques of locally-made or owned products at these 24 small businesses. Especially if you need a unique gift to bring home, you’ll find one within this list!
Save space in your bag for that souvenir by packing a small selection of jewelry, perfect for carry-on-only travel or saving space in a checked bag.
Fill out your itinerary by killing time at these unique spots near whatever neighborhood you’re visiting.
Shop Small Businesses in Los Angeles by Neighborhood
- Highland Park
- Chinatown (in Downtown Los Angeles)
- Hollywood
- Los Feliz
- Fairfax
- Silverlake
- Venice & Santa Monica
- Further Away (Burbank, Pasadena, and Studio City)
Highland Park – Small Businesses in Highland Park, Los Angeles
Crush & Touch Art Supply
ART SUPPLIES + HOMEGOODS – 5030 YORK BLVD
A mix of art supplies and artistic inspiration, Crush & Touch is a collaboration between Scott Grover and Katie Wilson combining an art supply shop and gift shop into one colorful, inspiring shop.
Big Bud Press
FASHION – 5028 YORK BLVD
A rarity in the realm of fashion, Big Bud Press combines color, size and gender inclusivity, and sustainability. Their colorful collection blends staple silhouettes with pattern prints for a range of options. Their garments are largely made in the USA with an Eyes-On production policy, meaning they personally check-in on manufacturing at least once a week to ensure quality and ethics are maintained.
Prelude and Dawn
HOMEGOODS + ACCESSORIES – 5727 FIGUEROA ST
Mixing indie designers with vintage clothing, Prelude and Dawn is truly a boutique experience with a variety of different item categories to consider with a hand-picked feel to the pieces inside.
Shortland
STATIONERY – 5030 YORK BLVD
Truly a desk-dweller’s dream, Shorthand offers office supplies for snail mail lovers and hand writers. Their products bring a little extra cuteness and fun to your desk no matter what you’re working on.
Chinatown (DTLA) – Small Businesses in Chinatown, Los Angeles
Now Serving
COOKBOOKS + ACCESSORIES – 727 N BROADWAY AVE
Uniquely curated to be a haven for the home chef, Now Serving is a bookstore with some extra. Owner, Ken has built a collection of enticing cookbooks with thoughtful kitchen tools and accessories in the same space. If you love to cook, it’s a must-visit.
Hollywood
Lost and Found
FASHION + HOME – 6320 YUCCA ST
With five separate storefronts under one title, Lost and Found offer children’s men’s, and women’s clothing alongside homewares and gifts. It’s a small business upgrade of the strip mall concept.
They have a second location in Santa Monica too.
Broome General Store
SUSTAINABLE – 2912 ROWENA AVE
Focused on the idea of supporting a sustainability mission through thoughtful consumerism, Broome General Store brings a variety of high-quality, sustainable products together for easy discovery. Their products range across all categories with a unifying simplicity. There is a little something for everyone.
Los Feliz– Small Businesses in Los Feliz, Los Angeles
Spitfire Girl
FASHION + HOME – 1939 HILLHURST AVE
With a number of products made in their own Los Angeles workshop, Spitfire Girl is an opportunity for a unique find. They focus on witchy, spiritual items, but there are still goodies from their less initiated to explore.
Fairfax – Small Businesses in Fairfax, Los Angeles
The Way We Wore | La Brea
VINTAGE – 334 S LA BREA AVE
Every piece in the store is curated by Doris Raymond for a collection of high-end and luxury vintage pieces ranging from haute couture to avant-garde. The main floor is organized by decade while the upper floor is reserved for rare and red carpet pieces. Searching through their collection is an opportunity to find a true gem.
Garde
HOME – 7410 BEVERLY BLVD
Created by Scotti Sitz and John Davidson, Garde is a curated space hosting artists and designers from around the world. Customers love their tasteful curation which makes it easy to find something lovely.
Melrose Trading Post | West Hollywood
OUTDOOR MARKET – 7850 MELROSE AVENUE
Held in the parking lot of Fairfax High School, Melrose Trading Post is an outdoor market with over 200 vendors every Sunday. While it’s not a singular boutique, the market poses an opportunity to shop a wide range of vintage curators and artisans from throughout Los Angeles in a single spot. Be sure to bring cash for the vendors, and be prepared to pay for entry.
Silverlake – Small Businesses in Silverlake, Los Angeles
Otherwild
HOME + FASHION – 1768 VERMONT AVE
Leaning into a Boho aesthetic, Otherwild aims to include a variety of multidisciplinary artists and designers alongside their own line of apparel and home goods. Their products are all unique and thoughtfully created.
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Mohawk General Store
FASHION + HOME – 4011 SUNSET BLVD
Offering a wide variety in a limited space, Mohawk has men’s, women’s, and homeware in one spot. Their curation offers a mix of neutral staples and unique highlights.
Bar Keeper
BARWARE – 614 N HOOVER ST
With staff who have personally sampled all the products in their store, Bar Keeper is a one-stop shop for outfitting your own home bar (or finding a gift for the amateur tender in your life. The store offers bar tools, glassware, and small-batch spirits.
KAMP
WINE – 3333 SUNSET BLVD
KAMP says “Wine is a right.” It’s on that decree that they curate an affordable collection of wines all under $30 a bottle from winemakers around the world alongside accompaniments and alternatives alike. While there’s other small businesses in Los Angeles focused on wine, KAMP is the most approachable for even the less affiliated.
Venice & Santa Monica – Small Businesses Near the Water
Tortoise General Store
JAPANESE HOME GOODS – 12705 VENICE BLVD
Opened on the concept of a slow and purposeful life, this calming shop curates a selection of Japanese home goods put together to offer products that enhance your everyday life.
Whimsy + Row
LOW WASTE FASHION – 12801 VENICE BLVD
Aiming to reduce their environmental impact, Whimsy + Row created limited-run batches of clothing with locally sourced, upcycled fabrics that still have a modern design. Their space is light, airy, and inviting for peaceful browsing.
Huset
Named with the Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian word for “The House,” Huset is home to modern, Scandinavian design. They sell a range of products; 70% of which they import themselves from Scandinavia so the selection is fresh and curated.
Strange Invisible Perfumes
PERFUME – 1138 ABBOT KINNEY BLVD
Founded by “botanical perfumer” Alexandra Balahoutis, Strange Invisible Perfumes aims to create perfumes that don’t exist in other fragrance boutiques. They are uniquely hand-blended in small batches with a minimum aging period of six months for a final product that’s entirely made of plants and unfiltered. Visiting in person is the only way to find a perfume that’s perfect for you.
Poketo
HOME GOODS – 1233 MONTANA AVE
A colorful brand lovingly created since its origination at a pop-up in 2003. Named for founder Angie’s grandmother’s mispronunciation of “pocket,” Poketo sells vibrant stationery and home products.
Further Away – Small Businesses in Outside Los Angeles
Hide & Seek | Studio City, California
HOME + VINTAGE – 12047 VENTURE PL
Sourcing a mixture of new and vintage pieces, Breeze and Kim of Hide + Seek offer a curated offering that’s traditional without feeling outdated. For those initiated with the concept, it feels cottagecore.
Maum General Store | Pasadena, California
HOMEGOODS + ACCESSORIES – 13 DOUGLAS ALY
Curating a variety of brands, Maum General Store is home to a range of over 50 Korean-founded brands from within Los Angeles and worldwide. The selections include several exclusive collaborations for unique discoveries on your visit.
Burbank, California
It’s a Wrap
AUTHENTIC PROPS – 3315 W. MAGNOLIA BLVD
Ever wanted to own a little piece of your favorite show or movie? Well, this unique shop has made a business out of offering that opportunity. They see props and costume garments from all varieties of Hollywood series and movies.
Valerie Confections
FOOD – 1936 GLENOAKS BLVD
Valerie Confections started in Valerie Gordon’s Los Angeles apartment in 2004 with six flavors of hand-dipped toffee. Now, she serves luxury chocolates from a gorgeous, inviting storefront that offers truffles, chocolates, petit fours, and baked goods. Whether it’s an edible gift to bring home or a treat for now, it’s worth a visit.
What do you think? Are you glad you skipped Westfield Century City’s long list of familiar store names for something unique in this small businesses of Los Angeles? I hope so!
The best shopping for a vacation is the small shops. It’s in these locally-owned, highly curated spaces that you discover some of the coolest treasure. This vacation, swap the t-shirt souvenir for something you find shopping at these spots.
The photos used above belong to the respective small businesses in Los Angeles. Images are linked to their source. Click to navigate to each shop’s Instagram.
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