(Micah Fluellen / Los Angeles Times; Getty Images)
20 L.A. places to shop small — and in person — this Valentine’s Day
In the fast-growing digital world of NFTs and blockchain technology, shopping for gifts in person at your neighborhood bricks-and-mortar store may be the most romantic thing you can do for your loved one this Valentine’s Day. Sure, you could send them a Cameo video greeting from their favorite “Office” character, or buy something online and hope it arrives by Monday, but why not go old school this year and support local businesses in the process? Think about it: No one is going to be shopping on Super Bowl Sunday. So get out there and get shopping. (And if even that level of retail interaction seems daunting, many stores are set up so you can order a gift online and pick it up curbside.)
Where to shop small for gifts IRL in L.A.
If you’re serious about supporting small businesses in Los Angeles beyond the immediate holiday, we’ve got you covered there too. You can consult our list of 45 places to shop for gifts during the winter holidays as well as our guides to Black, Latino, AAPI and female-owned businesses , must-see pot shops, plant shops and thrift stores for zero-waste gifts. Many of our Valentine’s Day resources can be found on those lists as well.
Showing Places
Handmade jewelry by Acanthus Jewelry will be available at Acorn in Eagle Rock for Valentine’s Day.
(Acorn )
Acorn Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock Gift Store
In addition to plants, candles, ceramics and casual apparel, Erin and Laura Tanaka’s Eagle Rock store will feature a variety of new gifts for Valentine’s Day including handmade jewelry by Acanthus Jewelry and Margaret Solow Jewelry and ceramic pieces by Ann Cutting.
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A 14K enamel heart pendant with initial by Kathryn Bentley will be available at a fine jewelry trunk show at Clare V. through Feb. 14.
(Kathryn Bentley )
Clare V.
Silver Lake Gift Store
Los Angeles label Clare V. is hosting a fine jewelry trunk show through Feb. 14. Designs by Grace Lee and Maya Brenner will be 20% off; jewelry by Kathryn Bentley will be 15% off. In addition, the store is offering free hand-painted monograms on in-store purchases of more than $150 on Feb. 11 and 12.
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An assortment of Valentine’s Day gifts for men available at Dreams in Atwater Village.
(Dreams Los Angeles )
Dreams
Atwater Village Gift Store
Monica Navarro and Adi Goodrich’s surrealist lifestyle shop will carry a selection of gifts by local makers Debbie Bean, Noto Botanics, Chelsea Mak, Carleen, Rose Greenberg and Brooke Callahan. Florist Yasmine Mei will host her annual floral pop-up with bouquets available for pre-order on her website and pickup from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday. On Feb. 13, Dreams will take part in the Brain Dead Valentine’s Fair from noon to 5 p.m. in the former Army Surplus store in Silver Lake (3828 Sunset Blvd.).
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(Lisa Boone / Los Angeles Times)
Esqueleto
Los Feliz Gift Store
Inside her tiny sun-drenched showrooms in Los Feliz, Oakland-based jewelry designer Lauren Wolf has assembled an eye-catching array of distinctive handcrafted items including custom fine jewelry, art, decorative objects and colorful kilims, hand-painted ceramic bells and dishes by the New York-based MQuan and ceramics by Los Angeles artist Heather Levine.
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Handmade ceramic wall snakes by Carter & Rose, $48 at Greenwood Shop in Studio City.
(Greenwood Shop )
Greenwood Shop
Studio City Gift Store
In addition to houseplants, Jaime Curtis will offer luxurious bathrobes in a variety of colors, ceramic planters by Front Range, candles by Good Medicine and Boy Smells, and ceramic wall snakes by Carter & Rose for Valentine’s Day. “We see a whole Valentine’s Day angle, like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden,” she said of the popular snakes. “We will have a big jar of free apples to go with your Valentine’s snake.”
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The Juicy Leaf is offering tropical plants in heart-shaped pots for Valentine’s Day, $39.95.
(The Juicy Leaf )
The Juicy Leaf
Glassell Park Plant Shop
Felix Navarro’s custom designs include houseplants, succulents, cactuses, tillandsia and terrariums, many of them in heart-themed planters.
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Late Sunday Afternoon snuggle monster scarf, $160.
(Late Sunday Afternoon)
Late Sunday Afternoon
Venice Gift Store
All the scarves in this Venice store, which are handcrafted from locally sourced dead-stock fabrics and are knotted and blessed, are being offered as a two-for-one special in honor of Valentine’s Day.
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The Corita Art Center’s “yes #3” T-shirt available at Lost and Found, $38.
(Corita Art Center / Corita.org.
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Lost & Found
Hollywood Gift Store
Jamie Rosenthal works with the Corita Art Center to create products by Sister Corita Kent, with 100% of the proceeds going to the center. Shop for Corita’s iconic 1979 artwork, “yes #3” T-shirts ($38), shoulder bags ($65) and pillows ($90) or visit the Corita Art Center website for more of Corita’s designs.
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(Jamie Chapman)
Marz
South Pasadena Gift Store
Marcia Ellinger and her daughter Jasa Cocke are stocking their South Pasadena gift shop with Valentine’s Day cards, a table of “hearty” gifts and a special jewelry pop-up on Saturday with gluten-free cupcakes.
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Dame’s Zee Bullett Vibe, a three-speed, rechargeable bullet vibrator, $30.
(Otherwild )
Otherwild
Los Feliz Gift Store
Staff picks include dry flower arrangements, beeswax candles, Madhu chocolates, lubes and vibrators from Dame Products, organic cotton underwear and unique jewelry from Bebe Rouge, Notte, Girls Crew and others.
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Houseplants, modern planters and botanically inspired goods for your Valentine can be found at Pippi + Lola.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Pippi + Lola
Long Beach Plant Shop
Dynelly del Valle’s Long Beach plant design studio is offering pre-orders of bouquets and arranged flowers in vases ($40 to $60), a Valentine’s day market Saturday and a succulent bowl workshop Sunday.
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Poketo’s Yayoi Nail Polish Collection in Matcha, Pumpkin, Sakura and Infinity, $48.
(Poketo )
Poketo
Santa Monica Gift Store
Husband-and-wife team Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung will be offering a special Yayoi nail polish collection in Matcha, Pumpkin, Sakura and Infinity, new oven mitts and pot holders as well as candles, planners and bags.
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A Forever Flower hand-painted on both sides to resemble a ruffly curly peony from Cosmic Peace Studio, $34.
(Prelude & Dawn )
Prelude & Dawn
Highland Park Gift Store
Shop for bouquets, chocolates, cards, jewelry and rose-scented candles and teas at Alison Ables’ Highland Park boutique.
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Hand-painted pink pots paired with plants are on offer at Queen Los Angeles this Valentine’s Day.
(Queen Los Angeles )
Queen
Mid-Wilshire Plant Shop
As an alternative to flowers, Amorette Brooms is selling her hand-painted pink pots paired with plants this year. She is also joining DoorDash as a partner for quick, contactless delivery.
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(Tamara Houghten)
Shout and About
Echo Park Gift Store
The tiny Echo Park store will have Valentine’s Day packs for kids as well as love cards for adults, one-of-a-kind of necklaces, Slow North all-natural neck wraps and migraine masks, Roen candles and delicious chocolates.
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The Sill’s Valentine’s Day edit includes blooming and heart-shaped plants, lush tropical bouquets and houseplant favorites.
(The Sill )
The Sill
West Hollywood Plant Shop
Besides its normal plant inventory, the West Hollywood store is offering hoya hearts in ceramic blush planters, the button fern (and other assorted ferns, a.k.a. love ferns), anthuriums with red bracts, the “I Dig You” message pops, and ric rac cactuses.
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A selection of the mystical and romantic gifts on offer at Spitfire Girl.
(Spitfire Girl )
Spitfire Girl
Los Feliz Gift Store
Kristin Scott’s Hillhurst Avenue store will have specially curated Valentine’s gift bags with SFG products free with $50 purchase (while supplies last), cupcakes, cookies and a Love Lemonade made with hibiscus and rose petals. At press time, Scott was awaiting confirmation from a tarot reader who will be providing love readings.
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(Mariah Tauger / Los Angeles Times)
Tansy
Burbank Plant Shop
Expect 20% off everything Saturday and Sunday at Shawna Christian and Colette Fowler’s bohemian boutique, including colorful fair trade garlands, plants, metal bells, mobiles, pom-poms and suncatchers.
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How long will you and your true love be separated? Let the Kikkerland Magnetic Hourglass ($28) count out the time in one-minute increments.
(Tesoro)
Tesoro
Beverly Hills Gift Store
Tara Riceberg is promoting Mail-A-Hug this year, in which people can choose a card and she’ll write down your dictated note and post it in the mail for you. She is also obsessed with the magnetic minute timer, the pairing of a pedi scrubber with foot balm from Provence with super soft socks from Barefoot Dreams from Malibu, and Love Birds pajamas. “One gift creates a minimum of two smiles: One for the giver, one for the receiver,” she said.
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Valentine’s Day gift options abound at Wildflora.
(Wildflora )
Wildflora
Studio City Plant Shop
Both of Alexandra Scholtz’s full-service florist and gift shops will be offering arrangements and gift boxes. “Both shops are full of Valentine’s Day gifts and treats,” she said. “As usual, customers can come in and build their own gift box in person or online.” You can also shop for WildFlora flowers at the new Erewhon in Studio City.
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