The city of Austin is practically overflowing with boutiques and locally owned markets. Of course, there is nothing wrong with flowers and hugs, but if you are looking for something original, you are in the right city. With Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday, the ATX staff has you covered with adorable shops that are well-deserving of your mom’s love.
East Austin Succulents — Hannah McMorris
Photo courtesy of Tess Cagle
801 Tillery Street, 78702
Tiny, multicolored plants that take little care to maintain have been all the rage in recent months. Whether or not your mom has a green thumb, succulents and cacti are comforting to see and make for a refreshing presence in the house. If you are looking for something a little more care-intensive, East Austin Succulents also carries large plants. Additionally, they create custom arrangements and sell decorative pots.
The Beauty Store — Cierra Smith
Photo courtesy of the Beauty Store
4001 N. Lamar, Ste. 590 78756
This store is a combination hair salon, spa and gift shop thats lets you combine multiple Mother’s Day staples into one trip. Salon employees do a fantastic job at styling hair and giving massages. Plus, the Beauty Store not only sells hair products and cosmetics, but also boasts a large selection of Austin themed gifts. For my mom’s birthday, I bought a cup decorated with popular Austin landmarks, and a mini emergency kit that includes handy items like a bobby pin, hair tie, tampon and more all in a tiny bag to fit in her purse. Other store items range from scented candles, to jewelry and throw pillows. There’s bound to be something that makes for a lovely Mother’s Day gift.
Book People — Sydni Fowler
Photo courtesy of austintexas.gov
603 N. Lamar Blvd. 78703
Book People is the largest independently owned bookstore in Texas, but they don’t just sell books. They also carry funky clothes, cute stationery, gag gifts and lots of delicious-smelling candles and incense. The staff of Book People puts together a list of books for every holiday, and the list they came up with for Mother’s Day is perfect. They have such a wide variety of genres that you are sure to find something your mom will love, even if it’s not on their staff list.
Mother’s Day Bazaar — Jenan Taha
Photo courtesy of Austin360
Hancock Recreation Center; 811 E 41st Street
Homemade gifts are every mom’s favorite, but for those of us who aren’t crafty, the Mother’s Day Bazaar is the perfect place to find unique handmade items your mom will love. This Saturday, from noon to 4:30 p.m., Hancock Recreation Center will host the Bazaar, which will include over 25 artists selling handcrafted jewelry, scarves, pottery, paintings and more. The event has free entry and is open to the public, and there will be food and drinks on sale as well. Find a one-of-a-kind gift for the most important woman in your life while beholding some beautiful works of art by local vendors.
ATown — Tess Cagle
Photo courtesy of Austin Chronicle
5502 Burnet Rd. Austin, Texas 78756
There’s nothing better than using your mom as an excuse to go shopping– except using your mom as an excuse to go shopping at a boutique where they give you complimentary wine and cookies. Everything you’ve ever dreamed of from a store (i.e. free sweets and booze) comes true at ATown. The other great part about the boutique is that all your favorite Austin artists are showcased at the store, including street vendors like Flowers on the Fly succulents. So not only are you drinking while shopping, you’re also supporting local entrepreneurs.
Tesoros Trading Company — Jacqueline Ramos
Photo courtesy of roadtrippers.com
1500 S Congress Ave. Austin, Texas 78704
Tesoros Trading Company is the perfect gift shop if your mom is a lover of cultures. At Tesoros, you can find traditional arts and crafts from every corner of the world. From Bangladesh and Madagascar to El Salvador and Italy– they have you covered. Additionally, Tesoros is a fair trade business, meaning they don’t exploit the artisans that make their crafts and pay them fairly for their work. Some of their most popular items include coin purses from Guatemala and bracelets from Colombia. There are so many unique pieces of art at Tesoros, you’re bound to find something your mom will love.
Renaissance Market — Anna Maria Ward
Photo courtesy of the Travel Channel
23rd Street and Guadalupe
Guadalupe’s Renaissance Market is precisely what its name suggests– A classic outdoor collection of artisan booths, open every day of the week when the sun is out. This compilation of shops located in the plaza on Guadalupe and 23rd St. is the perfect place to frequent when looking for a Mother’s Day gift. There is no true schedule for the endlessly changing selection of vendors. One day, you might stumble across a jewelry tent, dozens of paintings, and an array of handmade bags; the next day, a jack-of-all trades might pitch their tent in the plaza alone. Going to the Renaissance Market is always an adventure – support your local artists and find a lovely trinket for the #1 woman in your life.
Adelante — Rebecca Sostek
Photo courtesy of Adelante
1206 W 38th St, Austin, TX 78705
Adelante is a local clothing boutique in Austin with a large variety of styles, so it is the perfect place to shop with your mom and find something for the both of you. The store sells art pieces, decorative accent pieces, jewelry and handbags in addition to clothing options and shoes. The boutique itself is owned by a woman and her mother, so this mother-daughter business will be sure to have plenty of cute gift options this week.
