The Ultimate 2023 Akron-Area Gift Guide

100+ Ways to Shop Local in the Greater Akron Area

The Official Ultimate Akron-Area Gift Guide to Support Small and Shop Local by The Everyday Akron Team is here! The 2023 OUAAGGSSSL is jam-packed with handmade goods, artwork, experiences and more for your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and enemies. (What? Tis the season!)

As always, this is not an exhaustive list; but hopefully it’s a good place to start. Supporting local businesses, organizations, non-profits, makers, artists and more is so important to them and our community.

Browse the list or select a category below to jump right to it. (We’ve even included links to a few more gift guides at the end because we just can’t help ourselves.)

Jump to: Art & Theater | Sports & Outdoor | Family Fun | Pets | Music | Home Goods | Beauty & Wellness | Art & Handmade Goods | Books, Games & Toys | Apparel & Accessories | Food & Drink | One-Stop Shopping | Even More Gift Guides

Art & Theater: Workshops, Classes & Memberships 

• Akron ArtWorks – classes and workshops for all ages
• Akron Art Museum classes and workshops
• Akron Civic Theatre gift certificates or membership
• Akron Glass Works — private glass blowing workshop 
• Akron Symphony subscription
• Community Darkroom of Akron — black & white film photography classes and darkroom memberships
• The Nightlight membership — non-profit arthouse movie theater
• Street Craftery workshops and events
• Weathervane Playhouse 2024 season tickets

Sporting Events & Outdoor Recreation

• Akron City FC season tickets (soccer)
• Akron RubberDucks season tickets (baseball)
• Appalachian Outfitters – high-quality camping and outdoor gear 
• Falls Outdoor Company – kayaking, hiking, camping and outdoor gear
• Maple Leaf Gifts – Summit Metro Parks gift shop
• Second Sole Akrun – running shoes, apparel and more
• Sponsor an acre of Cuyahoga Valley National Park to support Conservancy of CVNP
• Trail Mix Peninsula – gifts, apparel, local food, children’s toys and more to support Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• YMCA Camp Y-Noah – overnight and day camps, equestrian lessons

Family Fun 

• Akron Children’s Museum membership
• Akron Zoo membership or tickets
• Deck the Hall at Stan Hywet – tour the estate, enjoy the holiday decorations and 1.2 million lights, and eat one of their infamous gingerbread cookies
• The Great Escape Room featuring escape rooms and scavenger hunt rooms
• Screen Suites — dinner and a movie in a private suite
• Sugar Plum Tour of Holiday Homes – join in person or virtually and support the Gay Community Endowment Fund

Pets 

• Morty’s Munchies Dog Bakery & Boutique

Music 

• Akron Recording Company – albums, merch and more
• The Guitar Department – musical instruments
• Hollow Bone Records – new and used vinyl
• The Loft at Lays – guitar store
• Square Records – new and vintage vinyl
• Time Traveler Records – new and vintage vinyl

Home Goods 

• Black Culture Candles – candles 
• East York Street – candles 
• Hazel Tree Design Studio – showroom and gallery features local artists, home decor artisans and furniture makers
• JBurgess Designs – furniture and home decor 
• leaf – flowers, plants, unique gifts and more
• Sense by the Falls – create your own custom-scented soy candles, hand sanitizers, and aroma diffusers
• Sweetly Created 4U – realistic dessert candles 
• Woodland Acre Flowers 2024 Flower Share

Beauty & Wellness

• Ash House Soap Studio & Refillery – soap, candles, and refill bar for cleaning supplies and personal care items
• Hope Soap – soap, candles, cleaning products and other all-natural goods 
• Skinsations Body Essentials – body butters, bath fizz and more 

Art & Handmade Goods 

• Art x Love LLC – Akron on Deck playing cards, limited edition prints, local photographers’ work and more
• Bizzy Beads – jewelry made from beads and polymer clay
• Dippity and Snark – cards, stationery and more 
• Don Drumm Studios & Gallery – handcrafted work by Don Drumm and 500+ North American artists 
• Flourish Plant Mkt.
• Graf’s Garden Shop
• Grant Ederer Design – hand-crafted ceramics 
• Igor Oliyarnik – calendars and photo prints featuring local landmarks and parks 
• Lepley & Co. – plants and locally made items
• My Turquoise Kitten – quirky handmade earrings 
• The Petite Stegosaurus – cute bags and sassy embroideries 
• Tiny Cloud Ceramics – functional handmade pieces 
• Zeber-Martell Gallery & Clay Studio

Books, Games & Toys

• 1701 Press – books by local authors
• Banned Books Box – monthly subscription featuring banned books and other goodies 
• Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre – shop the independent bookstore online or in person
• Full Grip Games – trading cards and board games
• Kenmore Komics & Games 
• Mythical Bookworm – used books for all ages 
• Poetry by Barbara Marie Minney
• Rubber City Comics
• Shelf Life – affordable used books and books by local authors 
• Sir Troy’s Toy Kingdom – toys, craft kits, puzzles and games, and more  
• Smartickles Toy Store
• The Learned Owl 
• The University of Akron Press – books by local authors 
• Toys and Noize – vintage and modern toys, records, 45s, CDs, cassettes and more 
• Trust Books – used books in True North and Jenks Building

Apparel & Accessories 

• 24 Karat Posse – fashion brand
• 7th Floor Clothing – fashion brand 
• Bella Volpe Designs – jewelry and hair accessories 
• Good Life – body piercing studio with fine jewelry and gift coins
• Little Birdie Design Studio – knitwear and accessories 
• Rubber City Clothing
• saguara by alexandra – handcrafted jewelry and home adornments
• Sam’s Jewelry Emporium – high-quality, customizable jewelry 
• The Social Dept. – shop online or in person for shirts, posters and more
• UNKNWN – apparel lifestyle brand, concept retail store and community venue

Food & Drink

• Akron Coffee Roasters & Asterisk Coffee Bar – specialty coffee, coffee subscriptions, merch, craft cocktails (Asterisk)
• Akron Honey – local honey and merch
• Art of Sucre – cotton candy and glitter bombs
• Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop
• Julia Belle’s – hand-blended seasonings, rubs and mixes
• Metropolis Popcorn
• Mr. Bulky’s Foods – candy and chocolates 
• Nosh Pantry – local pantry foods and eco-conscious kitchen wares 
• The Peanut Shoppe – candies, chocolates, nuts and more

One-Stop Shopping: Markets & More

• All Paths Merge – variety of products made by small businesses 
• East Ave Market and Gallery – products by local makers and artists 
• Gypsy Grace & The Vintage Goat – metaphysical, spiritual and witchy items
• Jean + Lou – clothing, accessories and gifts 
• Jenks Building – local art, home goods, food, beer, and wine
• Northside Cellar –  clothing accessories, beauty, home goods and more
• Northside Marketplace – shop 100+ shops, makers and restaurants year-round
• Reverie – gifts, accessories, clothing, decor and more
• Summit Artspace — visit their residents artists for one-of-a-kind pieces
• The Gardener of Bath – gifts, jewelry, home, and more
• True North – seasonal themed pop-up markets

Even More Gift Guides by Everyday Akron

• Vintage, thrifted and upcycled gifts
• Service-based gifts, such as meal prep, car detailing and dog training
• View all of the Everyday Akron Guides from throughout the years