i friggin love this place. so many different awesome goodies. last time i went i got some sheep's…read moremilk soap that cured this mysterious rash i had on my chest. i also love the nonna's cookies, the ice cream, and the hair clips.

It was a very Electric City Christmas for many on my shopping list this year, and I have…read moreSchenectady Trading Co. to thank. A welcome addition to the Schenectady small business retail scene, it's very on-brand, and I'm here for it. I was able to get quite a few Schenectady-centric Christmas gifts here, and since I always try to support local makers and businesses first, this shop made it super easy - lots of one-stop-shopping potential. My haul included: - two ornaments for the Christmas trees of my Schenectady born-and-raised sisters who no longer live in the 518 - a cute little crocheted elf for my 5-month old niece made my a local granny - a rather stunning wooden bowl, handmade by a local engineer/former colleague of the owner who parkates in woodworking as a hobby - Electric City themed gifts for my boss, who's a Schenectady guy at heart, including a wooden/metal hybrid bottle opener with "ELECTRIC CITY" boldy branded on the front, a pint glass with a cool 70s-esque, retro font ("ELECTRIC CITY"), matching sticker (for the laptop!), and a coaster, but not just any old boring coaster. This one had an illustrated scene printed on glossy enamel depicting a Schenectady police officer playing basketball with a child. Not only did this fit my theme, but the I knew the coaster I chose (there were several different ones) would be significant because his father is a retired Schenectady cop. I guess the pictures on the coasters were part of a public art project, where Schenectady-themed scenes were drawn and then selected to appear on merchandise for the Greenmarket and other items, like these coasters sold here. This is a rough Cliffs Notes version of the project, but it was cool learning about it, knowing it was part of something bigger and community focused. It's the little touches like that which make gift giving feel so special, and I know I wouldn't have found any of those beautiful, thoughtful, local gifts without a shop like Schenectady Trading Co. It would have been even better if there was a small card with a write up about the art project, so I could have gifted the coaster with a bit more "purpose." I like it when I can include a write up about the artist or project or whatever interesting element might need further explaining to make the gift even more interesting. Aside from my local finds, there's plenty of other merchandise, and items that stuck out were a selection of Tough Traveler bags (hometown favorite!), "Electric City" and "Schenectady, Light Up the World!" apparel, a cool assortment of Schenectady inspired vinyl stickers, chocolates from Schenectady-based chocolate shop, Uncle Sam's, and quite a few other odds and ends. I'm thankful that shops like this exist, backed by business owners who have an appreciation for the city and realize there's a need for some Electric City gift giving magic. Wishing them lots of luck, and excited to see what type of programming the owner has in mind down the road (she hinted on wanting this to be more than a retail shop, with poetry nights and books clubs and other outlets for mental stimulation - bring it on!)

Cutest apothecary shop I've ever been to. This was so similar to Schitt's Creeks Rose apothecary…read more You'll find local merchant items, candles, fragrances, artworks, sage, stones, skincare products, rugs, household items, there are so much to look at. As you walk into the shop, you'll also find a cute little cafe that serves pastries, coffees, lattes, teas. There's a small seating area with a couple of chairs and tables for people to work, study, or even catch up with friends. It's a great place to be around people if you're sick of wfh.

b. Inspired Home is a shop/boutique on a small strip on Nott St in Niskayuna; it's delightful,…read morecharming, and reminiscent of Provence, France. I purchased gorgeous hand towels & liquid soaps, gifts for a friend, The store owner, Anne, is friendly, and I told her of my excitement about my flight to see and gift my friend. She made sure to alert me that unless I was checking the bag, my gift of liquid soap would be rejected at airport security. If I was only using carry-on, she recommended the 4oz hand cream which my friend adored. I was so thankful because I would have had to throw out the beautiful French hand soap that I'd just purchased! Thank you for such a personable and kind experience. This shop takes me back to kinder, gentler days of healthy main streets filled with little boutiques curated individually to reflect the human sensibility of an individual, NOT a soulless corporation. b.inspired home is a truly beautiful gallery offering vintage and new treasures. In addition to such a nice selection, I was delighted to see original paintings by a local artist. I really liked the art and was surprised at the selection of magnificent pieces like one depicting Florence and another of Aix en Provence. Wandering between beautifully curated display tables, I could not help but sing along with French Icon, Edith Piaf playing in the background. How befitting in this boutique in Niskayuna which looks like a shop that I could have stumbled upon along the French Riviera. Merci Beaucoup, Anne. Thank you for bringing this gem to our community.

Stopped in after we left the General store. This was a cute little gift store with a good…read moreselection on locally sourced artisan sourced gifts. We were there late in the day so really did not find much I was interested in but would love to come back in over the Holidays. They had a good variety of items which was nice but prices tended to be on the high end.

Such a super cute gift shop with a large variety of unique gifts. You can find gifts for babies,…read moreyour bestie, your mom, your favorite griller, your gardener, or even your pet. The woman running the store was so sweet and helpful without being pushy. Even the basic wrapping with a purchase, makes it feel like something special. The store is broken up into sections with different vibes/themes of gifts. Would definitely recommend stopping by if you are in the area and looking for a unique gift.

I went in to browse and found some lovely books for my grandsons and a birthday card for my sister…read more What a large assortment of stunning items for almost everyone I know. Free membership that doesn't expire. Discounted items (including book shelves of them as well) from holidays and their book selection offers. Helpful, kind present people working there. It's downtown Schenectady so street parking. (Best to go on Sunday)

The Open Door is Schenectady's locally-owned independent bookstore and gift gallery, serving the…read morecapital region for 50 years. We carry a wide selection of literature for adults and children, including those of local and regional interest, as well as an expansive variety of toys, gifts, jewelry, stationery, personal accessories and home goods. Located in the heart of downtown Schenectady on the Jay Street Pedestrian Mall, they are around the corner from Proctors Theatre and many restaurants. There is lots of parking. The knowledgeable staff is wonderful to deal with in person or by telephone. The store even offer a frequent shopper rewards card. I had to pick up a book I ordered. Like many people, I prefer to support small businesses rather than Amazon and large mall bookstores whenever I can. The store was packed with great displays of books and gifts artfully arranged. I am always impressed with the space and attention devoted to books etc. for children. Before I checked out with the book I ordered, I selected a children's board book, three greetings cards, a stained glass frame for a 5 X 7 photo, and an adorable pair of llama socks for my young granddaughter. Great retail therapy!

Amazing shop! Quirky antiques, especially for ladies. Great local handmade gifts. Not to mention…read morethe 2 sweets cats who reside in the store during business hours.

This store had an awesome variety of lines to choose from. I checked off everyone on my list in one…read morestop. I recommend to everyone!

This wonderful novelty toy store is brimming with popular and unique offerings for all ages. My…read morenine year old granddaughter and I had a wonderful time browsing. We only had 45 minutes to shop which was not enough time to check out everything, but with the guidance of the friendly, knowledgeable owner, we spent our time well. We selected fidgets for her, presents for her cousins as well as several games to bring on our annual family vacation in Narragansett, RI. It was great to be able to ask the store owner about items and get informed responses. It was much better than shopping online and searching for questionable product reviews. Again, we chose to support a small local business!

For a relatively small store, it's amazing how much interesting (to me anyway) stuff there is in…read morehere. When I first walked, in, I thought it was mostly for kids, but as I strolled around, I was amazed in a good way at the inventory here, including an assortment of smaller games (card, dice, social, party, etc), "grumpy old people" themed socks, a variety of interesting books, and more. There's a lot of things here which I don't necessarily need but are still calling out for some of my discretionary income. I have quite a few friends who would also definitely enjoy coming here when they visit me.

Beautiful store with so many unique gift ideas. The employees were all kind and helpful. The…read morechocolate selections nearly endless and all the ones we tried were beautifully made and delicious!! Our go to for gifts and handmade chocolates. We'll be back again and again!

Happy to see this store is still in business when other places have been forced out of Stuyvesant…read more A reliable stop for great gifts and cool home decor items. They also have an excellent selection of greeting cards, a small selection of food items such as those from Stonewall kitchen and a small jewelry selection. If you like vintage, you will enjoy the back rooms!

What a cute spot! Easy to find and a lot of parking made this an easy choice. The options were…read morenumerous and all the pastries looked divine. I chose a cranberry muffin and vanilla latte-both were tasty. The breakfast sandwich was received fresh and piping hot and was also pretty great. I can't wait to return to try more drinks and food.

What a cute store! Perfect for a Sunday outing in late summer/early Fall! We perused the vintage…read moreand boutique items for sale. Then we had lunch, listened to an acoustic guitar player and walked around the an art show. They serve their own food ( I had a pilgrim wrap with turkey, cranberry mayo and stuffing.) and also had a taco truck available. A great afternoon.