Asheville, that gorgeous mountain city, is home to many artisans and unique entrepreneurs. This is a place full of creatives and those with business drive and desire to share their works with the world. Add to this Asheville’s award-winning beverage and restaurant scene and what you have is a fantastic place to go find and buy Christmas gifts — for your loved ones and maybe even something for yourself. Just take a look at the following short guide of some of our favorite shopping spots in the city:
Asheville Christmas Gift Guide
Roberto Coin in the Grove Arcade
Looking for something really special for a loved one? Look no further than the famed jewelry shop of Roberto Coin located in the historic mall of Grove Arcade. Roberto Coin is a globally renowned jewelry designer originally based in Vicenza, Italy. His gorgeously designed pieces, including gold wristbands and pendant necklaces, quickly earned him high esteem and praise. Today, nearly a dozen jewelry boutiques sell his pieces throughout the United States, including the very first one founded in Asheville, NC within the historic Grove Arcade.
Serenity + Scott Apothecary in Grove Arcade
Self-care is always important and one way a person can take care of themselves is by using high-end skincare and haircare products. Such products are the bread and butter of Serenity + Scott Apothecary located also in the historic Grove Arcade shopping center. Within this cozy retail shop, you will find all manner of makeup, skincare, grooming, fragrance, and other similar self-care and maintenance products. Need help with finding the right look for you? Ask about their in-house makeup services.
Lexington Park Antiques
If someone on your Christmas shopping list loves all things rare and unique, then make sure to put Lexington Park Antiques on your itinerary. Lexington Park Antiques is a massive antique shop located in the heart of Asheville, boasting over 90 unique vendors. You will want to block out at least an hour to browse the many shelves and dealer nooks at this location.
Asheville Emporium
The Asheville Emporium boasts quite possibly the largest selection of locally-made crafts and products. This is a bright and open business located in the city’s downtown area on Wall Street. Within this charming shop, you can find just about anything artsy and whimsical, from keychains to lampshades and so much more. Asheville Emporium also sells used or resale items and does so with a good cause as 20% of their resale profits sold within the ReNew Resale Boutique, one of the dealers within Asheville Emporium, goes to local charities.
Ten Thousand Villages
If you are passionate about supporting artists and artisans, then you probably have already heard of the name Ten Thousand Villages — and if you hadn’t, the time to know is here. The original Ten Thousand Villages was established by Edna Ruth Byler who, after a visit to Puerto Rico in 1946, became impassioned about bringing handcrafted products made by the disadvantaged outside of the United States to the United States; her goal is to lift up those creators and provide sustainable economic opportunities. Today, this nonprofit fair trade organization markets handcrafted products from over 120 groups across nearly 40 countries, with the Ten Thousand Villages in Asheville being one of the spaces guests can purchase those goods.
Appalachian Craft Center
Most of the shops we have listed above are great places to go to buy handmade or expertly crafted goods, but they aren’t places in which you can actually see those goods become crafted. Rather, they are mostly second-hand, middle-man markets. The Appalachian Craft Center is partially like this, but it is also so much more. Here, you won’t just be able to purchase local pottery, glasswork, and woodcrafts, you can watch such gorgeous handmade products being made. Currently, every Friday, a glass bower is busy at work at the Appalachian Crafts Store, demoing and creating products that can be bought directly from them. You can check their website to learn more about this and other artisans they have on-site, as well as browse their inventory before you visit their Asheville shop.
Honeypot Vintage
Honeypot is the vintage shop to go if you love all things the 60s, 70s, and iconic 80s. They even have some fantastically curated items dating back to the 1920s for those looking for a really unique look. In doubt that Honeypot will have what you want? Consider this: An Asheville native who grew up shopping at Honeypot landed a gig within the costuming department for the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things. There, she encouraged the department to buy over 300 authentic 80s pieces of clothing, helping to shape the world and atmosphere that was shown on screen. In other words, if you’re on the hunt for an authentic vintage piece, there are few places better to try your luck than at Asheville’s Honeypot. Whether you are picking that piece for yourself or for someone on your Christmas list.
Asheville Outlets
If you still find yourself with names on your Christmas gift list after checking out the above fantastic local stores and emporiums, then head down to the Asheville Outlets. The Asheville Outlets is an open-air outlet center nestled just outside the city and beneath the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Here, you will find over 70 independent stores and dining establishments. This great mix of shops and eateries includes locally-founded, owned, and operated spots as well as franchised locations from nationally-renown brands like Vera Bradley and J. Crew. Plus, if you are Christmas shopping with the kids, this is the place to go for a magical Santa sighting. Check their website for more details.
Check Our Website for Other Premier Asheville Destinations
We hope this list of top Asheville Christmas gift shops and places for buying those perfect Christmas gifts helps you during your visit to the city, but know it isn’t all the city has to offer. Asheville is a rich and varied community with so much to see and experience. Make sure to visit our other pages to learn more about those opportunities before you book your Asheville vacation.
