Buying Minnesota-made for the holidays

Posted: Dec. 3, 1:38 p.m. | Updated: Dec. 8, 2:30 p.m.

A lot of us want to shop local for the holidays, but it can be hard work to find those small brands and out-of-the-way shops. Given the toll of the pandemic on small businesses, customers this holiday season can be the difference between a maker succeeding and a store closing. 

Host Angela Davis talks about the impact of buying local and how to find everything from jewelry made in Minneapolis to charcuterie boards handcrafted in Hutchinson.

Here are the local marketplaces, makers, products and stores recommended by guests and callers:

• The Departments at Dayton’s showcases 35 Minnesota makers in the first floor of the old Dayton’s store on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, including woodworkers, apparel brands, doll makers, potters and more. The project’s vendor webpage has links to all the makers for those who browse or shop online.

• The Black Market organizes a monthly marketplace on the second Saturday of the month called “Black Business is Beautiful” open to all and focused on Black-owned vendors. The next one is from 2 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 in the Case Building, 767 N. Eustis St., St. Paul.

• True North Collaborative is hosting a holiday market 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wed. through Sun. until Dec. 19. at 3001 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis.

• The Market at Malcolm Yards is a new two-day market with 20 local artists and makers featuring custom bags, apparel, ceramics, holiday decorations and more. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 at Malcolm Yards, 501 30th Ave. SW, Minneapolis.

• Wet Paint art supply store in St. Paul

• Solo Vino Bottle Shop wine shop in St. Paul

• American Swedish Institute museum, cultural center and gift shop in Minneapolis

• Juxtaposition Arts streetwear and accessories created by teen artists in North Minneapolis

• Zambezi Kitchen spice mixes inspired by South Africa and the Americas

• Soak it up Cloths reusable Swedish sponge cloths

• Homespun Gifts and Decor independent gift shop in Minneapolis

• The Workshop Mpls clay studio offering classes in Minneapolis

• Owanmi Indigenous restaurant in Minneapolis

• Revival Climbing Coalition climbing equipment

• Content Bookstore bookshop in Northfield

• Makeshift Accessories upcycled jewelry

• Everett & Charlie art gallery in Minneapolis

• Rasta Tease hot sauce

• Jules’ Bistro restaurant in St. Cloud

• Spice of Life Tea Shop in St. Cloud

• Backwards Bread Co. bread shop in St. Cloud

• Green Thumb Etc. custom furniture, gift and floral shop in Sartell

• The Local Blend coffee shop and wine bar in St. Joseph

• Paramount Center for the Arts in St. Cloud

• North Shore Adventure Park ropes course, zip line and more in Silver Bay

• Rochester Farmers Market holiday bazaar

• HiBAR solid shampoo and conditioner

• Cedar Sign Co. custom wood signs

• Shop in the City gift shops in Stillwater and Edina

• Gamut Gallery art gallery and gift shop in Minneapolis

• Northrup King Building artist open studio sales in Minneapolis

• Casket Arts artist open studio sales in Minneapolis

• Great River Gallery art gallery in St. Paul

• Ginger Snaps Back Photography portrait photography in Minneapolis

• Moody Girl Accessories jewelry

• Grass Lake Furniture

And even more recommendations from Angela’s Twitter feed and online listeners.

• The Hazelnut

• Minneschlagen

• Sign Painting and Murals by Seamus Liam O’Brian

• Richfield Farmers Market

• The Buffalo Billfold Company

• Region 2 Arts Council’s guide to local artists

• Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association

• December Gift Market at the Landscape Arboretum

• Holly House Boutique

• The Northern Express

• Steller Handcrafted Goods

• Minneapolis Craft Market

• The Future

• Minnesota Alumni Market

• PM Design

• Scrub Your Butt Soap Company

• Storied Owl Books

• Grand Micro Gallery

• BEKA Wood Products

• Red Balloon Bookshop

• The Yarnery

• Mischief Toy Store

• Good Morgan Foods

• Frost River

• Duluth Pottery

• OMC Smokehouse

• Tokheim Stoneware

• Schmidt’s Meat Market

• Big Stick Studio

• Union Hmong Kitchen

• Hunt & Gather

• Seasoned Specialty Food Market

• Bramblebee Organic Baby Food

• The Funky Dove

• Kinoko Kids

• Digs

• Craftmade Aprons

• Rum River Art Center

• Northfield Arts Guild Shop

• Minnesota Makers

• Owl + Lark

• Orno Gift + Home

• Scrappy Products

• DARE Minneapolis

• Planting People Growing Justice Bookstore

• Silk Road Wellness

• Keg and Case

• Bakken Museum

• Thumbs Up Jamaican Jerk

• The Charming Lily Boutique

• Community Commons

• Bench Pressed

• Modern Roots

• Six for Good

• 14 Hill

• Maple Grove Farmers Market

• Faribault Woolen Mill

• Hope Creamery

• Moxie Malas

• Sir Metalman

• Clay Coyote

• Rosaline’s Place

• Joy & Company

• LARK Toys

• Elephant Rock Writing

• Mara Ackerman Art

• Pew Pew Printing

• Abby’s Off the Hook

• Poiema Art Book

• Doodle Bird Design

• CorAzoN

• Aspire Artisan Studios & Folk School

• Heartfelt

• Pinwheels and Play Toys

• Patch Curio

• Minnesota Bead Studio

• Onyx Candles

• Twiggy Fresh

• MX Apparel Design

• Cake Plus Size

Want to share your favorite? Tell us here and we’ll add it to the list.

Guests: 

• Mich Berthiaume is retail curator of the new local marketplace, The Departments at Dayton’s in downtown Minneapolis. 

• Chris Farrell is MPR News senior economics contributor.  

Editor's note (Dec. 7, 2021): A previous version of the audio above contained a racially offensive phrase used by one of the guests on the show. That phrase has been removed from the audio.

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