Want to get the people on your gift list something unique this year? Why not try something from one of Central New York’s many locally-owned businesses? To get you started, here’s an A-to-Z primer, with descriptions and suggestions. Got your own favorites? Feel free to share on our Facebook page.
All in the Kitchen
Info: Sugarwood Plaza, 7575 Buckley Road, North Syracuse; 218-6218; allinthekitchenonline.com
Gift certificates? Yes
As you might have guessed from the name, All in the Kitchen carries everything you could possibly need for your kitchen — baking pans, linens, small appliances, utensils and more. The shop also carries goods for commercial kitchens, plus items for kids and baby. If that doesn’t convince you to shop here for the cook/baker on your list, owner Christine Cameron, for whom opening the store was a lifelong dream, often runs special promotions where she donates a portion of the store’s proceeds for a given day to a particular charity. The store will also do special orders if it doesn’t stock a particular item you’re looking for.
Basic Baby Education Center and Shop
Info: Shoppingtown Mall, 3649 Erie Boulevard, DeWitt; 632-6110; basicbabyshop.com
Gift certificates? Yes
This “natural baby shop,” which opened two years ago, is dedicated to training parents in the use of cloth diapers. As such, it sells products associated with cloth diapering, including the diapers themselves, covers, swim diapers, ointments and balms and more. The store, owned by Josh and Colleen Fox, also sells carriers, car seats and more for babies, including products from eight local vendors. Recommended by Cicero Parks and Rec employee Julie Raddell, Basic Baby also offers a number of products for mothers.
Café at 407
Info: 407 Tulip St., Liverpool; 451-8555; opheliasplace.org/café
Gift certificates? Yes
The Café at 407 opened in 2009 as a joint venture with Ophelia’s Place, a center for those struggling with eating disorders and their families. The café not only supports the mission of Ophelia’s Place; it also offers fantastic food, including soups, sandwiches and coffee, plus live music on weekends. The yummy meals are made with fresh local produce; the café has a partnership with a church in Camillus to grow veggies in its own community garden, and it uses local food whenever possible. Freshly ground coffee, mugs and Ophelia’s Place merchandise are also for sale.
Dolce Vita World Bistro
Info: 907 E. Genesee St., Syracuse; 475-4700; dvcuse.com
Gift certificates? Yes
Everything on this creative restaurant’s menu is locally grown. The produce comes from all over the Syracuse area; the grass-fed, hormone-free beef is from Hoffman Farm in Fabius; and the pasteurized, hormone-free, grass-fed chickens are from Crossman Family Farm in West Winfield in Madison County. The space also includes a gallery for local artists.
Empire Brewing Company
Info: 120 Walton St., Syracuse; 475-BEE; empirebrew.com
Gift certificates? Yes
This Armory Square favorite offers a diverse selection of eclectic food and hand-crafted beers, from its own award-winning creations to a rotating selection of “guest beers” from around New York state. Everything on the menu uses locally-sourced ingredients. Empire Brewing Company is also an entertainment hotpot, featuring live music on weekends.
Freedom of Espresso (Liverpool and Syracuse)
Info: 144 Walton St., Syracuse, 424-8840; 115 Solar St., Syracuse, 424-7640; 401 First St., Liverpool, 461-8651; 128 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville, 637-1511; Facebook.com/freedomofespresso
Gift certificates? Yes
Freedom of Espresso, formerly Federal Espresso, gives you a cup of coffee the likes of which you can’t get in a big chain. All of Freedom of Espresso’s beans are locally roasted, guaranteeing freshness. The shops, located throughout Central New York, offer a variety of coffee drinks, from fancy espressos — including the new and sinfully good Nutella Latte — to a simple black cup of joe.
Gorham Brothers Music
Info: 118 Seeley Ave., Syracuse; 214-3573; gorhambrothersmusic.com
Gift certificates? No
Owned by brothers Ryan and Brad Gorham, Gorham Brothers Music opened last year as an alternative to big chain stores. Both brothers have spent years on the Syracuse music scene buying and selling musical equipment as well as playing and touring nationally, and they wanted a place that, according to their website, “embodied all the things they love about the stores that they’ve been to locally, as well as across the country: affordable, vintage, and hard-to-find mountainous amounts of gear you can plug in, play, and shred on for as long as you want.”
Chuck Hafner’s Farmers Market and Garden Center
Info: 7625 Buckley Road, North Syracuse; 458-2231; chuckhafner.com
Gift certificates? Yes
There’s no place like Hafner’s for the holidays. In addition to a wide selection of freshly cut Christmas trees, the 65,000-square-foot facility offers hundreds of options in holiday décor, much of which comes from local artisans. Plus, all year round, Hafner’s provides locally-grown and locally-made food products from cheeses to jellies to sauces, and you can learn how to work that locally grown produce into your healthy diet with Linda Hafner’s cookbook, “Simple, Fresh and Healthy,” also available for sale. You can also stop into Jolime, the onsite café.
Innovations Salon and Spa
Info: 3627 Route 31, Liverpool; 622-3005; innovationsdayspa.com
Gift certificates? Yes
There’s not a spa service that Innovations doesn’t offer, from massages to pedicures to makeup application to laser hair removal. The facility has undergone numerous expansions over the years in order to accommodate its clientele, so it’s easy to get even a last-minute appointment. If someone on your gift list is in the market for some pampering, Innovations is the place to go.
Jo’s Li’l Cupcake
Info: 141 First St., Liverpool; 632-8269; jocupcakeco.com
Gift certificates? Yes
This new addition to the village of Liverpool has quickly made its mark with such favorites as “Kids Wanna Rock,” a PB&J-inspired strawberry cupcake with peanut butter frosting and preserve drizzle, “Twisted Sista,” a chocolate-covered pretzel cupcake with caramel, and “She’s So French,” a French toast cupcake topped with bacon and maple syrup. Owners Mike and Shirley Martin, who named the shop after their dog, Jo, use all fresh, homemade ingredients and more than 50 original recipes. The store also makes homemade puppy treats.
Kenn Kushner Designs Inc.
Info: 183 Walton St., Syracuse; 475-7510; kennkushnerdesigns.com
Gift certificates? No
This local jeweler is known for designer pieces, all of which are made in-store or by local designers in the Central New York community. Kushner has been active in various fields of design for a number of years; however, he began focusing on jewelry about 20 years ago. His pieces are mostly 18-karat gold and platinum with high-grade gemstones.
Lune Chocolat
Info: 315 Fayette St., Suite 5, Manlius; 692-4173; lunechocolat.com
Gift certificates? Yes
Known as much for its beauty as its taste, Lune Chocolat is the creation of Mike and Emily Woloszyn, a businessman and an artist, respectively. Their hand-crafted artisan chocolates come in such flavors as honey and lavender, Guinness and pretzels, pink pepper rosemary and green tea, with more traditional flavors like vanilla buttercream and chocolate cherries thrown in. The Woloszyns believe chocolate should feed your soul, and that mentality is part of everything they do.
Microgame Play and Trade
Info: Market Fair North, Route 31, Clay; 622-PLAY; microgameplayandtrade.com
Gift certificates? No
For the gamer in your life, check out MicroGame, which not only offers the latest games, but also retro games that have long been off the market. That’s because MicroGame will accept trade-ins and buy back games and old systems. The store also repairs systems and games of any age. They’re also on eBay.
Nantucket Cat
Info: 49 Oswego St., Baldwinsville; 638-1981; thenantucketcat.com
Gift certificates?
This little shop in the heart of Baldwinsville sells furniture for cats. The products marry the experience of owners Barb Owens, who has 30 years in the pet industry, with husband Bill, a carpenter. The store also sells accessories for cats and cat lovers.
Owera Winery and Vineyards
Info: 5276 E. Lake Road, Cazenovia; 815-5026; oweravineyards.com
Gift certificates? No
This vineyard — the first in Madison County — grows Marquette and Frontenac Gris grapes and will be working to grow Vinifera grapes in a second location. So far Owera wines are on the market throughout Central New York. There is a winery on-site at the vineyard in Cazenovia.
Pet Express of Cicero
Info: Lakeshore Heights Plaza, 6195 Route 31, Cicero; 699-0890; Facebook.com/petexpress
Gift certificates?
While giving pets as a gift isn’t wise, it’s always wise to give gifts to your pets. Pet Express offers everything you could imagine for your pets, from treats to toys to grooming tools. The facility also has groomers on site, so if your furry friend is in need of a trim, look no further. Pet Express also works with local animal rescue groups to find forever homes for dogs and cats, and they help fundraise for animal organizations.
Squadrito Foods
Info: 207 Oswego St., Liverpool; 422-1064; Facebook.com/squadritofoods
Gift certificates? No
Okay, so technically, Squadrito’s doesn’t start with a Q, but when you sample their wares, you won’t mind. Suggested by Salina Town Supervisor Mark Nicotra, this Italian deli has been around for more than 60 years. Pick up a party tray or some meatballs for your holiday get-together.
Ramona’s Dressing
Info: P.O. Box 605, Baldwinsville; 559-9883; ramonaskickinchicken.com
Gift certificates? No
Lifelong entrepreneur Ramona Waldecker’s famous dressings and sauces are a staple in many CNY kitchens. They’re also good for you — all are made with canola or olive oil, and they’re low in sugars, salt and fat. Plus, Waldecker, a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef, donates a portion of her proceeds to local charities. The sauces make a great companion to chicken, pork, beef or fish.
Sweet Jimmy’s
Info: 23 Juneberry Lane, Liverpool; sweet-jimmys-com.webs.com/
Gift certificates? No
If you haven’t ordered your holiday tray from Jimmy Wachter, baker and owner of Sweet Jimmy’s, you’re out of luck for this season. But you can still sample his delicious cookies — from his signature cutouts to coconut-lime macaroons to traditional Italian pignolis — at the CNY Regional Market every Saturday. Wachter bakes everything himself out of his home using family recipes. Pick up a few as teacher gifts!
The Bikery
Info: 7556 Van Buren Road, Baldwinsville; 638-2161; thebikery.com
Gift certificates? Yes
The Bikery is just the place to go for the cycling nut on your list. It was founded by Dick and Susie Crook in 1973; the Crooks wanted to provide the community with high-quality service and affordable merchandise. The Bikery provides top-of-the-line bikes and accessories, and all products are serviced on site by the Crooks as well as Susie’s brothers, Mike and Randy Perrin, and a highly trained staff.
Utopia Hair Salon
Info: 7421 Oswego Road, Liverpool; 451-9060; utopiahairprofessionals.com
Gift certificates? Yes
A barber shop and full-service salon in one, Utopia caters to everyone. In the New Year, many people are looking for a change; why not offer them the opportunity with a gift certificate to this one-stop shop? Utopia offers bridal, birthday and group packages.
Vinomania
Info: 313 E. Willow St., Syracuse; 422-8466; VinoMan.biz
Gift certificates? Yes
Wine makes a great gift for most people, and the staff at Vinomania makes the choosing easy. The shop has a wide selection of wines from all over, all at reasonable prices. Owner Gary Decker and his employees pride themselves on being approachable and knowledgeable.
Witty Wicks (Syracuse)
Info: 415-6064; wittywicks.com
Gift certificates? No
These soy wax candles burn clean, providing an environmentally friendlier alternative to paraffin wax candles, sold at the CNY Regional Market. They’re hand-poured and use only natural ingredients, and owner Aubry Panek works with local ovarian cancer awareness group Hope for Heather to raise awareness for the cause. Scents include Apple Harvest, Cake, Chocolate Fudge and Honeysuckle Jasmine.
Xtreme Wireless
Info: 412 S. Main St., North Syracuse; 452-1111; xtremewirelessnsyracuse.com
Gift certificate? No
There’s nary a teen or tween who doesn’t have or want a cell phone, and Xtreme Wireless is the place to go. The store offers phones, accessories and more, and it’s also a certified New York State Lottery Center.
CNY Yoga Center
Info: 101 First St., Liverpool, 461-YOGA; 719 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, 425-9642; cnyyogacenter.com
Gift certificates? No
Everyone needs a little stress relief during the holiday season, so maybe you should consider this one for yourself. Pick up a class at CNY Yoga in the village, or avail yourself of one of their workshops. The Liverpool center also has a bookstore and a massage therapy facility.
Zoo (Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park)
Info: One Conservation Place, Syracuse; 435-8511; rosamondgiffordzoo.org
Gift certificates? No
For the animal lover in your life, a membership to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo is an excellent gift. It provides free entry into the zoo for a year, no matter how many times you go, as well as other perks. The zoo offers a plethora of other gift ideas: you can adopt an animal, sign a child up for summer camp or overnights or purchase a toy or stuffed animal at the gift shop.
