Shop Til You Drop: Last Minute Local Shops

With the Holidays fast approaching, and deadlines and finals looming on all of us, it is easy to put shopping for gifts for the important people in our lives on the back burner. However, before making a panicked search on Amazon, there are a number of small local stores which might carry exactly what you need. With that said, here are just a couple of the spots in and around Decatur where you might find just what you’re looking for:

1. Giggles of Decatur

Located on Merchant Street, just down the road from campus, Giggles is an eclectic gift shop with options ranging from kids toys to gag-gifts for all ages. The amount of knick-knacks that are to be found here is astounding, and you are almost certain to find something which could entertain a little sibling, younger cousin, or niece/nephew for days on end. There are also less joke-based options, especially household items, candles, and things of that nature, which might interest students looking for gifts for parents or grandparents. The selection here is massive, and you are likely to find something for any member of the family, including pets! Giggles hosts a great array of unique gift ideas which all have an underlying element of fun. Students should feel motivated to start their shopping here, as the staff is incredibly helpful and whatever you find will inevitably make for a more personal gift than something from a generic retailer. 

2. The Hidden Lair

While this game shop is a little further afield, located in Mt. Zion, it is a great spot to shop for anyone with interests in things like board, card, and tabletop games. In particular, this is a great location for people interested in Dungeons and Dragons, they carry an array of different sourcebooks, miniatures, and dice for the hoarders in your life. Especially with the recent surge in popularity of these types of games, if someone you know is or has recently become interested in these hobbies, this is the ideal place to find something that will make their day.

However, they also carry a wide range of general board and card games which would be perfect as a family or friend group activity. With winter break right around the corner, games like these can be a great way to fill the time and to do something fun with people you might not have seen in a couple months. If you come from a family that loves game-nights, it is worth it to pay this place a visit and possibly come home with your family’s new favorite pastime.

3. Old Book Barn

This new and used bookstore is the perfect place to go for the reader in your life. The vibes here are immaculate, with floor to ceiling shelves filled with books both new and old. It has a massive inventory of books from tons of genres, with knowledgeable staff who are excited to help you find the right book for the giftee. It might not have the amenities of a Barnes and Noble, but this book store has a special charm and just as impressive of a selection. This is another spot which is worth checking out for yourself if you think you’ll need something to hold your attention this break. This is also a spot that you might consider if you are looking for something thoughtful on a tight student-budget.

Holiday shopping can be incredibly difficult, and sometimes the overwhelming advertising and mass-produced options of mainstream outlets like Amazon, Target, and Walmart make the process more stressful rather than less. But with only a few weeks left in the semester, there may not be time to go searching through every shop in Decatur. However, local shops are still great places to go to find unique and personal gifts that make the people you care about feel appreciated. The three shops above are great places to look for both people with very specific interests, and those who might be hoping for something more general this holiday season.