Caroline Weaver, author of “The Locavore Guide to Shopping NYC,” available starting Nov. 8.
Photo courtesy Meghan McNeer
A new guidebook coming soon will help New Yorkers shop locally and support small businesses, just in time for the holiday gifting season.
The Locavore Guide to Shopping NYC ($22) by Caroline Weaver, publishing Nov. 8, is inspired by print guidebooks and almanacs of the past. It provides an up-to-date look at the city’s unique shopping landscape through the eyes of a New Yorker who has pounded thousands of blocks’ worth of pavement to see these businesses from the ground level.
“What I’ve always loved most is that living here is like being in one big scavenger hunt: you can find anything, if you’re curious enough to go out and seek it,” said Weaver in the guidebook introduction. From vacuum specialists to ukulele shops to Japanese knives to maternity clothing, the book covers anyone’s gifting and buying needs.
Shop owners in New York City face tough obstacles, including high rents and an explosion in home delivery that has eliminated the need to leave home to buy stuff. Two million packages are delivered daily within the five boroughs, according to Weaver.
“With so many channels of commerce to choose from, brick-and-mortar shops have to compete for our dollars tooth and nail,” she said in the book.
In true New York fashion, Weaver set out on foot to uncover gems among the estimated 17,000 independently-owned retail stores across all five boroughs. From her journey, she created not only the print guidebook but a searchable database of over 14,000 shops — and also opened The Locavore Variety Store in Greenwich Village, featuring goods made within 100 miles of New York City.
While much of the guidebook leans heavily towards Manhattan and Brooklyn, it does contain a number of Bronx businesses that contribute to the diversity of NYC shopping.
The Bronx businesses featured include:
- K&P Games Express Inc. (Longwood), billed as “a top-notch Gamestop alternative”
- Redline Hobbies (Norwood), where grown adults nerd out over radio-controlled toys
- The Lit. Bar (Mott Haven), the borough’s only brick-and-mortar bookshop, which highlights Black and Latinx stories
- Cerini Coffee and Gifts (Belmont), a “one-stop shop for Italian coffee supplies”
- Fordham Fish Market (Fordham Heights), which specializes in its variety of crabs and will even season and steam them for you
- GeshMake Fish (Riverdale), which sells freshly-made gefilte fish for Passover
- Tākout, a streetwear and sneaker shop in both Washington Heights and Fordham Heights
- Classic Sofa (Mott Haven and Midtown), making fully-custom upholstered sofas in the Bronx
- Kidstown (Concourse Village, Longwood and Mt. Eden), an “unbelievably well-stocked” shop for kids’ furniture and clothes
- Casa Amadeo (Longwood), the city’s oldest music store and designated historic landmark, paying tribute to Puerto Rican history alongside new Latin hits
- Frank’s Sports Shop (Tremont), a 100-year-old store offering gear for every sport and outdoor activity
The book also features a section highlighting Arthur Avenue as “The Real Little Italy,” including Borgatti’s Ravioli and Egg Noodles, a third-generation family-owned pasta shop.
“The Locavore Guide” also includes shopping horoscopes, a list of produce markets by borough, coupons and more.
Weaver said she hopes the book will inspire readers to leave home and see more of what the city has to offer.
“Maybe something you find in these pages will be the catalyst for a great day out. … Most importantly of all, you’ll leave your apartment and engage with the immense community that surrounds us,” she said.
The book will be sold starting next week at The Locavore Variety Store, on thelocavore.com and at retail shops throughout the city.
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes