Flora Good Times 197 Main Street Beacon, NY 12508

Flora Good Times

197 Main Street

Beacon, NY 12508

(845) 219-5434

https://www.floragoodtimes.com/

Open: Sunday-Monday 11:00am-6:00pm/Tuesday-Wednesday Closed/Thursday-Saturday 11:00am-6:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

Flora Good Times at 197 Main Street in Beacon, NY

On a recent tour of Downtown Beacon while I was weaving in and out of stores, I came across this unique and quirky shop with a clever name, “Flora Good Times”. What caught my attention was the outstanding window display with its contemporary signage and selection of potted plants and flowers so nicely organized.

Flora Good Times at Christmas time in 2021

It looked more like a boutique than a traditional flower shop. There are handmade pots and gifts, a wonderful selection of exotic flowers and plants all nicely displayed.

The inside of Flora Good Time with its beautiful displays.

What I discovered when I walked in was the original way they display their potted plants and arrangements. The color scheme is juxoposed and the plants were arranged in a way that gave it a colorful and distinctive look about the way a customer would buy them. The shelves were loaded with all sorts of potted and hanging plants that fit every décor.

Handmade gifts and plants

I came across a shelve of smiling face pots by artist Calfinn and thought it made a novel way to display the plants. Not just were the plants showcased well but the smiling face back gives a positive spin on the merchandise. They were so novel and whimsical and I had never seen anything like it before.

Pots by artist Calfinn-The Collection is called Lil’ Friends

The Handmade “Victory” Pots that have their own personality

What was nice about Flora Good Times is that they will create the most special bouquets and arrangements for the customers. Their approach to flowers gives them a personality all to its own and is the perfect housewarming and host present. I thought the arrangements I saw in both the store and online were colorful and very original in design.

The flower arrangements are very beautiful

They also have a nice assortment of potted and hanging plants that line the walls and a selection of gift items that come from artists all over the country. I thought it was good business not just to support local artists but artisans all over the country.

The service is very friendly and welcoming. The afternoon that I was visiting the store the gentleman working at the counter could not have been nicer and offered to help with anything that I needed. In the Era of COVID, it is a pleasure to to think that proper, personal attention to customers is still alive and well.

Flora Good Times is more than just a retail store. It is an experience.

History of Flora Good Times:

(Store’s website page)

Founder Corinne Bryson inside her shop

(Store Facebook page)

https://www.facebook.com/events/hudco/plant-power-hour-with-flora-good-times/1968667929950643/

Who we are:

A brick and mortar shop and floral studio on Beacon’s beautiful Main Street specializing in unusual houseplants and unconventional flower arrangements. Founded in 2019 by Corinne Bryson, a florist and #1 fan of all things green and growing. Corinne has cared for and loved thousands of houseplants throughout her life and has no plans to stop loving more.

Flora Good Times is proudly woman-owned. We contribute a portion of our sales to fighting for justice in food and farming systems, human rights initiatives and local community building. We believe in science and equity.

The plants and painting in the back of the store

What we do:

Houseplants, flower arrangements and delivery, weekly flower subscriptions for the home and business, full service weddings and celebrations, floral window displays, fresh cut flowers, dried flowers, greening services, plant consultation, plant care advice, pest diagnosis and control, workshops, events and beyond…oh and producing some of the freshest air on Main Street (don’t believe us? just come and visit).

Why we do it:

We believe that plants aren’t décor, they’re a relationship. That’s why we want to always send you off on the right path to nurture your new companion. Education is the most important thing and online advice is endless. We want to help you weed through it all to know what really matters, so that you and your plant friends can take a deep breath and enjoy each other.

The fun loving painting in the back of the store

Flora was built with a focus on supporting local in every way possible. We source flowers locally whenever we can from a smattering of beautiful local farms (check out our “friends” page for more information). The products in our store come from local and national makers for everything from our pottery offerings to our home goods offerings. We believe that a rising tide lifts all ships and by looking to individual small farms and makers, we will rise.

Del’s Dairy Creme 6780 Route 9 Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Don’t miss this historic ice cream stand in Rhinebeck, NY.

The menu here is quite unique.

The Lavender Honey Ice cream here is amazing!

Don’t miss dining here as well. Their burgers and Fried Chicken Sandwiches are all excellent. Their fries are freshly made every day.

The Roadside Burger is excellent.

All their ice creams are homemade on their farm made from fresh milk from their cows. They even have seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Chocolate Chip and Apple Crisp Crunch.

Everything here is excellent!

The delicious Fried Chicken Sandwich with fries and a Black Cherry Soda December 2022

The outside seating area in the summer months.

Dining on a Shoestring in the New York City area and beyond.

Del’s Dairy Creme

6780 Route 9

Rhinebeck, NY 12572

(845) 876-4111

https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Drive-In-Restaurant/Dels-Dairy-Creme-343317432733279/

Open: Sunday 11:00am-8:00pm/Monday-Wednesday 11:00am-7:00pm/Thursday-Saturday 11:00am-10:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48486-d830017-Reviews-Del_s_Dairy_Creme-Rhinebeck_New_York.html?m=19905

I was finally to Del’s Dairy Creme after it had been closed for a few years for renovations and what a nice place to go after touring the area. The stand which had been established in 1960 has gone through a total renovation including new landscaping, new seating and a revamp of the menu due to its new owners. They closed the established ice cream stand and gave it a complete makeover much to the delight of customers from all over the region.

Del’s has that ‘old fashioned’ 1970’s groove to it

I have to say that I have been very impressed by the food and service since I started coming here a few months ago. I did not know that they even had a lunch menu. They…

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Pause A Dog Boutique 6423 Montgomery Street, Suite 3 Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Pause A Dog Boutique 

6423 Montgomery Street, Suite 3

Rhinebeck, NY  12572

(845) 758-4330

(The store has related to Rhinebeck, NY from its location in Red Hook, NY)

https://www.pausedogboutique.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PauseDogBoutique/

Open: Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm/Monday 11:00am-5:00pm/Tuesday 11:00am-6:00pm/Wednesdays Closed/ Thursday 12:00pm-5:00pm/Friday and Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm

*Review was written when the store was located in Downtown Red Hook, NY

I love visiting Red Hook, NY. It has the nicest downtowns filled with great little stores, unique restaurants, a quaint old-fashioned feel about it and at Christmas time has a colorful Christmas tree to light up the downtown stores.

Many stores have made the cut on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com here. Little Pickles at 7505 North Broadway is a great children’s store and the Equis Gallery at 15 West Market Street is great for horse themed art works. Village Pizza III at 7514 North Broadway has some of the most delicious Italian American cooking with a delicious red sauce to top everything.

Another great store I came across in their downtown is Pause at 10 East Main Street, a unique little dog boutique with the nicest merchandise and a friendly staff (the store has now moved to 6423 Montgomery Street Suite 3 in Rhinebeck, NY just south of Red Hook, NY). What I liked about the store is when I walked in was the smiling face of a dog who looked like he was happy to see me. The store has a very welcoming feeling and is airy and filled with unusual merchandise that you won’t find in many pet stores.

Pause is now located at 6420 Montgomery Street

The whimsical merchandise at Pause on Halloween

The display windows at Pause are really engaging on Halloween

They have the nicest lines of American made goods especially in foods for dogs and special treats. I like the packaging for the Bocce’s treats that were all natural and The Honest Kitchen for all-natural dog food.

Bocce’s Bakery Treats

The Honest Kitchen Dog Food

Some other items that I found unique to the pet market was their line of birthday products for dog’s birthdays that included hats and doggie bags.

Who would have thought hats for a dog’s party?

They even have little gift bags and presents for dogs:

Party gifts for dogs

Since they moved to their new location In Rhinebeck, the store now has a whole wall of all natural chew toys and doggie treats for the discriminating pooch. There are lines of leashes of all colors and sizes, doggie toys and a section for large bulk purchases of dog food. The items are held in clear bins so that the patron can see the quality of the item before buying it.

Doggie jackets and blankets

There is a new line of belts, coats and sweaters that the store is now carrying in all sorts of designs and colors. So that your dog can relax at home in comfort, the store now carries all sorts of pillows and puffy throws for you dog to relax on. The walls are lined with all sorts of toys and chew items to keep any dog amused.

Doggie leashes and collars

What I like best about Pause is the friendly service that the store has when you walk into the store. It is a pleasure to walk into a store and people greet you with a smile and a friendly hello. They also are willing to help you pick out the right merchandise for your pet.

Doggie Treats

Doggie grooming

Holiday Promotions in the former Red Hook, NY store:

The store also hosts all sorts of special events at the holidays like Christmas, Easter and Halloween that include both our furry friends and their masters. I liked the pictures of the dogs with Santa and the Easter Bunny.

The owner of Pause has a sense of humor.

Great idea!

Pause creative Christmas windows

Pause Christmas windows in 2022

Pause Christmas window in 2023

Pause Christmas window in 2023.

Colorant 146 Main Street Beacon, NY 12508

Colorant

146 Main Street

Beacon, NY   12508

https://www.facebook.com/colorantofficial/

https://www.thisiscolorant.com/

Open: Thursday-Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

Colorant on Main Street in Beacon, NY

I was visiting downtown Beacon, NY because I had been Upstate to take a tour of Bannerman Island (see VisitingaMuseum.com) and wanted to see if there were any changes in the businesses in the downtown area. It seems like the town is going through a second wave of business ownership.

In the middle of Main Street I came across Colorant, a clothing and gift store that prides itself on being environmentally and sustainably friendly. The clothes here are all made by the in house designer and store owner or are from vendors that manufacture the same way. The clothes are lightweight, all dyed by hand by all natural dyes and are hand-printed or hand-brushed making each piece its own work of art and technically one of a kind.

I saw this beautiful hand-print on one of the racks

The beauty of the clothes is their simplicity and form that is carefully well-made by the designer and by her counterparts. The clothes are displayed like art where a few pieces are put out for people to try on and make sure the correct fit is made.

Dying of the clothing

The construction of the clothes is very well-made and you can see it in the stitching and dying of the clothes.

This simple indigo dyed dress can be dressy casual in 2019

The owner’s new line for the Fall of 2019 is now in the store and carries a series of blouses, shirts and dresses that were made for what looked like a petite woman. There were also handmade shirts for men as well. The prices are reflective of the quality of the clothing from its handwork to the dying. It is not cheap when is quality cheap?

An indigo dyed men’s shirt at Colorant in 2019

This new tie die dress really wowed me along with their jean and sweatshirt collection in 2021

This dress by Po eM I thought was really nice

The store also has an assortment of gifts such as planters, soap dishes, mugs and some jewelry and cosmetics. All of the products are environmentally made and have their own artistic touch to them. Please check the above website as the prices do change.

Specialty lines at Colorant

The service could not be more personal. The young woman working there explained the way the clothes are made and constructed and a little story about the owner as a designer and how she merchandised the store. The store is designed with exposed walls and piping holding the clothes with creative display cases to showcase the gifts.

Colorant offers something for everyone

It is nice to see American made products displayed in a creative environment with wonderful service. This is something that Amazon can’t replicate.

History of the clothes at Colorant:

Colorant (established in 2012) is a modern line of apparel and accessories that celebrates the use of natural dye plants such as Indigo, Madder Root and Walnut in creating our vibrant palette. Like in nature, botanical colors have unpredictability depending on where and how the material was grown. Sassafras grown in northern regions will not yield the same orange as those from the south, which we here at Colorant embrace as the beauty of the natural dye process. Each season our colors are tested with our chosen fabrications to insure our colors will stand the test of time (Colorant History website).

The back of the store is painted beautifully and the clothing is so nicely displayed.

Each color has a story to tell:

Rich History:  Did you know the color purple was the most expensive color in the world? Roman kings were only able to wear it because it took 250,000 Murex Mollusks from the sea to extract enough dye to color a garment.

Earth Benefits: Botanical colors promote the harvesting of dye plants, creating a new agricultural market. Natural dyes are extracted from renewable resources offering a more sustainable option for the textile industry.

Pure Color: Nature provides hundreds of plant which yield vibrant colors. Many have been used for dying since antiquity and Colorant has preserved these tried and true methods.

(Colorant website)

Disclaimer: I credit the Colorant website for the company information and give them full credit for it.

Equis Art Gallery 15 West Market Street Red Hook, NY 12571

Equis Art Gallery

15 West Market Street

Red Hook, NY  12571

(845) 758-9432

info@equisart.com

http://www.equisart.com

Equis Art Gallery

Open: Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm/Closed Monday-Tuesday/Wednesday-Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm

My review on Tripadvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48473-d7180984-Reviews-Equis_Art_Gallery-Red_Hook_New_York.html?m=19905

On a recent trip up to the Hudson River Valley, I stopped in both Rhinebeck and Red Hook to revisit stores I had seen at Christmas time when I was participating in Sinterklaas, the Dutch Christmas festival (See MywalkinManhattan.com-Christmas blogs). One of the stores that I found very unique (along with Little Pickles Toy Store and Village Pizza III both mentioned on this blog), I came across the Equis Art Gallery at 15 West Market Street.

The beautiful Native American jewelry

This gallery is fascinating because the subject matter to all of the art pieces are equestrian themed, with motifs of horses in all positions and done in many materials including photographs, paintings, stone work, sculpture, glass work and print. There is anything from paints that will run from $250 to over $1000 (US) to simple cards to send to friends. There is also an interesting line of jewelry.

The interesting and diverse art at Equis Art Gallery

What I like about the gallery is the diversity of art work. It is like visiting a museum that is dedicated to horses. There are horses of all shapes and colors and in all sorts of positions.  I also like the personal service that gallery owner, Juliet Harrison will give you. She takes the time to get to know what you are looking for and will go through the assortment of artists that she carries in the gallery.

History of the Gallery:

When I talked with the gallery owner, Juliet Harrison, she told me she started the gallery after a bout she had with cancer. She had originally been a equestrian photographer and had her own studio in another part of town. Ms. Harrison started her photography gallery in an art collective and was doing quite well with it. After recovering from her illness, she wanted to create something different and expand her love of art.

New Artists being featured in 2022

She wanted something to support her friends, who were artists whose concentrate was equestrian art. With the help of 28 of her artist friends, she opened The Equis Art Gallery in 2014 featuring their work. She was dedicated to all mediums and has created a gallery that even she admits “is the only one of its kind in the world. Even when I Google it, I am the first business to show up. I now cater to customers all over the world and it is interesting how they find me.”

Gallery owner Juliet R. Harrison

Now she wanted to give back not just to her friends who supported her but to the community as well. “Red Hook has such an old time feel to it where everyone knows one another,” she told me. The day I visited they had a small parade for the town and most of the members waved in her direction.

The gallery is lined wall to wall with interesting paintings in all sorts of mediums and the tables are lined with horse sculptures and jewelry that show the talent of the artisans. She has now branched out to artisans who create other animals art. She wanted a selection for a customer looking for similar art. “I try to find art that I would hang in my own home.”

The inside of the gallery

If you are looking for a special gift for that horse lover, The Equis Art Gallery is a place to explore and admire beautiful artwork.

This video describes the business by gallery owner, Juliet R. Harrison

“Welcome to the Equis Art Gallery

The Assortment that the Gallery carries

The front of the Gallery

Samuel’s Sweet Shop 42 East Market Street Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Samuel’s Sweet Shop

42 East Market Street

Rhinebeck, NY  12572

(845) 876-5312

Home

Open: Sunday-Thursday 7:30am-8:00pm/Saturday-Sunday 7:30am-10:00pm

My Review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48486-d3641613-Reviews-Samuel_s-Rhinebeck_New_York.html?m=19905

I have visited Samuel’s Sweet Shop many times over the years from both living in Hyde Park, NY and visiting for Sinterklaas events.

Samuel’s Sweet Shop at Christmas 2021

Samuel’s Sweet Shop in the Summer of 2023

Samuel’s Sweet Shop is a unique and quirky little store of nostalgic candies, local vendor sweets, bulk candies, delicious baked products and coffees and hot chocolate. There are all sorts of gift items, bagged candies and sweet delights to choose from. The shelves are colorfully displayed with all sorts of candies, chocolate figurines, bags of gourmet mini cookies and boxed items at the holidays.

All the colorful bagged candies at Samuel’s

I have to admit some of prices are a little high with some nostalgic candies like Razzles or certain larger chocolate bars running around $2.35 but for a one time treat it makes a nice snack. There bulk and bagged candies are fairly priced with a selection of gums, jellies and wrapped items.

I think their selection of local products is interesting with honey candies from Upstate New York that run about $5.00 and mini cookies bagged from Vermont which run around $12.00. Again, these are a little on the pricey side but they make nice gifts if you are visiting in the area and you are supporting local small businesses.

The selection at Samuel’s Sweet Shop is extensive

What is really wonderful one night that I was there was a Cookie Dough Cookie (2.50) and a hot chocolate ($3.25) which really hit the spot on a cold night. Their hot chocolate is excellent. Thick and rich and with a dollop of whipped cream it really warmed me up. The cookie was a cross between a cookie and a muffin in that it had a chewy rich consistency. I was not sure who their vendor is on the baked products but they are nicely displayed and seem to sell out fast.

The selection of sauces, jellies and candies at Samuel’s Sweet Shop

On another recent trip to Samuel’s, I stopped in for a late breakfast treat and under a glass dome was the most amazing looking Glazed Doughnut ($2.00) which looked large and fluffy. It certainly was and sweet and delicious as well. This puffy delight must have just been made and brought into the store.

Samuel’s Baked goods

What I love best about Samuel’s is the merchandising of the store with the bright colors, small baskets of candy bars and chocolates and bags of bulk candies with the logo on it lined on the shelves in a colorful rainbow. The whole store screams “Buy Me”!

Delicious desserts at Samuel’s

The nice part of the store is the service. The staff here really seems to care about their customers and helping pick the right items to buy. The gentleman who convinced me to buy the cookie was dead-on with what I needed for dessert after a big dinner elsewhere.

The store was really busy during Sinterklaas

In a time when Amazon is dominating retail, Samuel’s Sweet Shop is one of those stores that shows us how beautiful merchandising, great product and excellent service bring us back to the stores in droves bringing back our wonderful childhood memories.

Gourmet mini cookies at Samuel’s

During the recent Sinterklaas Parade festival in Rhinebeck in 2021, the store was stocked with all sorts of bagged candies, pastries and Chocolate Santas for people to enjoy. The prices during the parade day were very fair and I have never seen a store with such empty shelves by the end of the day.

The History of Samuel’s Sweet Shop:

Samuel’s Sweet Shop was created by former owner, Ira Gunther, in 1994 after a visit to the town a year earlier and falling in love with Rhinebeck, NY. Having been exposed to ‘penny candy’ years earlier by his Uncle Samuel, he named his shop after him and all those wonderful childhood memories.

The business was a success and continued in its direction until Mr. Gunther’s sudden passing in 2014 and the store almost closed. With the investment of two longtime loyal customers, actors Paul Rudd and Jeffery Dean Morgan and their families decided to buy the store with another couple and current manager, John Traver.

Samuel’s Sweet Shop during Sinterklaas

Mr. Traver, who has been working at the store since he was 15 still continues to ‘curate’ the selection of candies, which focuses on nostalgic, locally produced and unusual candies and sweets.

Preparing for the holidays

The store continues to welcome customers to the Hudson Valley region with wonderful merchandise and excellent service.

Samuel’s Sweet Shop during Sinterklaas in 2022

Disclaimer: This information was taken from publicly that the store has provided online and I give them full credit for it. Please visit the store during its business hours to see its ongoing collection of candies.

Samuel’s Sweet Shop decorated for Sinterklaas and Christmas

Samuel’s Sweet Shop in the Summer months.

Auntie El’s Farm Market and Bakery 171 Route 17 South Sloatsburg, NY 10974

Auntie El’s Farm Market and Bakery

171 Route 17 South

Sloatsburg, NY  10974

Phone: (845) 753-2122

Fax: (845) 753-5045

auntieelsfarmmarket.com

Homepage

Hours: Vary to the season/Please check their website above or call the above numbers.

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g48625-d4557200-Reviews-Auntie_El_s_Farm_Market_and_Bakery-Sloatsburg_New_York.html?m=19905

Auntie El’s Farm Market at 171 Route 17 South.

Auntie El’s sign welcoming customers.

I prefer the old school sign.

I love going to Auntie El’s Farm Market when I visit the mansions up in Ringwood, NJ or just for a drive to the area on a nice day. It is a very unassuming place that has so much to offer.

The Christmas holiday season at Auntie El’s is pretty special.

On the outside, they sell plants, gardening supplies, hot house flowers, pots and decorative lawn ornaments. During the holiday season, they sell Christmas trees, wreaths, garlands and grave blankets. They sell decorations for the inside of the house as well for Easter and Christmas.

The winter months brings Christmas trees and wreaths.

Getting ready for the holidays.

Buying a Christmas tree at Auntie El’s.

During the Summer months, there are all sorts of items for the garden in the way of plants, flowers, bushes and trees all nicely displayed and ready for pick up.

The greenhouse at Auntie El’s in the middle of the winter.

Inside it is a interesting mix of food, gourmet products, baked goods and antique items for the house and for gifts. Along the walls, there are private label jellies, sauces, toppings and rubs and mixes. You will be greeted by two large dogs that will lie in your way and then smile at you.

Auntie El’s displays their farm products beautifully.

I love it when you enter the Farmer’s Market and you are greeted by their dog. He looks at you and then falls back to sleep.

The family dog greets you with a smile and falls back to sleep.

Off to the side is their bakery, which wafts of great smells and delicious items coming out of the oven on a constant basis. There are apple cider doughnuts when in season, turnovers, cakes and freshly baked fruit pies.

The freshly baked pies at Auntie El’s.

With a choice of apple, peach and blueberry you want to buy all three. I brought in an interesting apple caramel chocolate pie that was rich and decadent during the holiday season.

Another unusual item is their cake truffles which are a combination of candy and cake enrobed in a chocolate covering. The outside has a thick layer of chocolate with a sweet inside of cake batter cooked to perfection and decorated for the holidays. There are five flavors to choose from.

The baked goods at Auntie El’s.

There is an array of doughnuts, cookies, turnovers and twists to choose from and you are guaranteed to leave with something. Don’t miss their Cider Doughnuts ($1.00) when they come fresh out the fryer.

The bakery.

There is nothing like them when they are warm. The Apple Turnovers ($2.99) where loaded with fruit and topped with a thick sugary icing that showcased the sweet cinnamon of the apples and sugary taste of the powered sugar icing.

The Candy Department.

Every thing is delicious and so nicely displayed. Their prices do vary and change so please check when you visit. They also have some lunch items posted during the day.

The delicious Chicken Patties and Black & White cookie in the prepared food section in the bakery.

The homemade Chicken Patties.

The family who own the business and the people that work there could not be nicer and are very helpful. They will help with the recommendations for the perfect gift and dessert.

It’s a nice place to visit for just an afternoon. The fruit department in the front of the store.

Auntie El’s Farm is preparing for the Fall business.

History of Auntie El’s Farm Market and Bakery:

Auntie El’s Farm Market and Bakery was founded in 1982 by Karl and Elena Schlademan who created a establishment that emphasized freshly baked goods,organic and gluten products,  nursery plants and antique items.

The fresh produce, famous pies, truffles, cookies, breads, jams and jellies, propane filling station and wonderful homemade dog treats has made Auntie El’s a historic landmark attraction for Sloatsburg area residents and visitors alike.

The Christmas department at Auntie El’s.

Disclaimer: This information from the Auntie El’s website and I give them full credit for the information. Please check with their website for changing seasonable hours.

The front of Auntie El’s bakery.

Merry Christmas at Auntie El’s.

The delicious Black & White cookie.

The yum factor!

Little Pickles 7505 North Broadway Red Hook, NY 12571

Little Pickles-The Children’s General Store

7505 North Broadway

Red Hook, NY  12571

(845) 835-8086

http://www.littlepickles.shop/

Open: Monday-Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm/Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm

My Review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g48473-d7954016-Reviews-Little_Pickles-Red_Hook_New_York.html?m=19905

Little Pickles at 7505 North Broadway (Route 9)

I have visited this whimsical store several times over the years and it just keeps getting better. Little Pickles is one of those stores that every town should have catering to the younger set. It is the type of store I would have loved to visit when I was a kid.

Little Pickles sign outside.

When you enter the store, it just gives you the feel that as a child you are the customer and you can make your own decisions on what to buy. There is something for every child here from clothes and shoes, games and puzzles, candy and small ‘stocking stuffer’ types of toys that kids can buy with their own allowance. It is the type of store that has that 70’s and 80’s mentality so it was refreshing when I was in the store during the holiday season that kids reacted so positively to it without a cellphone in sight.

The front of the store you are greeted by salespeople that actually smile at you and welcome you to the store. This is the perfect store for a child to come in with their family and select a gift or a present for themselves. There is all sorts of candies and balloons in jars, pocket toys like jacks and marbles all lining the shelves, color coordinated and beautifully displayed. There are baskets of classic sweets like Razzles and Tootsie Rolls. There are popular trendy toys that only the younger set can seem to keep up with in many styles.

In the back room, there is all sorts of games, puzzles, craft kits, wooden toys and construction and art playthings lining the walls. There is a small dress up section for the perfect princess or ballerina for any young girl to enjoy. You will also find popular toys like Lego and Playmobile that can be added to any collection. These are the toys of generations past that it is nice to see children today enjoying as well. The store carries a wide variety of classic toys and games such as Candyland and Operation. There is also a selection chemistry sets, scientific experiments and a variety of wooden playthings from Plan Toys and Melissa & Doug.

Little Pickles candy and small novelty items

Towards the other side of the store is the clothing and shoes of all colors and sizes. Not quite the Department store selection but tailored to a child who likes to go out and play. The best part of the clothing department is the fort that small kids and climb and play with selected toys while their older siblings shop. It is a whimsical space that is engaging to the younger set and keeps them occupied.

Little Pickles clothing and shoes

What I love best about Little Pickles as a store is the use of imagination that their merchandise gives to their customers, both old and young. The store is set up like a General Store for children and is painted in bright, colorful hues with pastels and there are details in the woodwork. The clothing area on the right side of the store is set up as a play area with its interesting paintings on the wall and little castle.

There is so much to see and do and for the adults reminiscing about their own childhoods, it is the perfect store to bring their kids into for their own sense of nostalgia. Every time I visit the store I am reminded of how much fun that I had as a kid.

I had the pleasure on a recent trip to meet the owner, Rebecca Rothstein and it was an interesting conversation on her perspective on being a shopkeeper and understanding the younger set as her customer base. This is a store where everyone is welcome to look and shop and converse with the owner. It is refreshing that her and her team still believe the power of good customer service and quality merchandise. It makes it fun to shop here.

Little Pickles at Christmas 2023.

The History of Little Pickles:

About us: (From the Little Pickles website)

Little Pickles is a kids’ haven in the heart of New York’s Hudson River Valley. We are:

*A Toy Store with pizzazz

*A Sweet Shop for every sweet tooth

*A Boutique with style that features shoes and accessories

*Special Events for time to time

*Gift Baskets & Gift Certificates

*Balloons for every occasion

*and  and ever-growing website with a thoughtfully curated collection of toys, shoes and gear

Our Mission:

At Little Pickles we believe that children deserve to shop in a place where they feel welcome and safe. We believe they deserve to be greeted upon arrival and treated with respect and dignity throughout their shopping experience. We believe that the environment in which they shop should be fun and engaging. We believe that kids deserve a truly magical experience when they are shopping, so that they will remember how wonderful it is and will want to come back again and again.

We believe that play is fundamental to the healthy cognitive, emotional and social development of the healthy cognitive, emotional and social development of every child and have gathered together a unique selection of merchandise from practical to whimsical, that will support children as they live and play. We believe that every child deserves a good book to read, an engaging toy to play with, a comfortable and durable pair of shoes and a little candy to suck on. With these every child has an opportunity to thrive.

Our Founder:

Rebecca Rothstein: Rebecca has a Master’s degree in Museum & Childhood Education from Bank Street Graduate College of Education and she has a NY State teaching certificates in Childhood and Early Childhood Education. She worked as a Pre-K head teacher at the Roosevelt Island Day Nursery in New York City before moving to Red Hook in 2010, when she opened Little Pickles Family Day Care in her home. She believes wholeheartedly in a progressive child development and education pedagogy that finds its roots in the research and writings of educational pioneers such as John  Dewey. Lev Vygotsky, Jean Piaget & Howard Gardner. Rebecca launched and run Little Pickles with the close support of her husband, Craig Rothstein, Little Pickles Partner and Co-Owner. They are parents to Georgina (a beautiful, musical girl born in 2005) and Harry (a mischievous little pickle born in 2012)

Disclosure: The information on the business and the owners and their family members was taken from their website, “Little Pickles.com” and I give them full credit on this information.