Lovin’ Local: A Valentine’s Day Guide to Small Businesses in Fairfield County

Ah, Valentine’s Day. It’ll be here sooner than you think. You could Amazon “prime” a gift for that special someone, but maybe this year you could try and keep it local and support small businesses! Whether you are a Valentine’s gift giver or not, you might want to take a peek at these local small businesses that our FCM Contributor Team recommends for great Valentine’s Day gifts!

Here’s where we recommend going (or ordering online) for your significant other, friend, sibling, or someone special in your life. We especially love to give a little something to our littles! After all, they made us mamas!

Bethel

• Adults:
  • Byrd’s Books: Independent bookstore with a great selection for all-age book lovers.
• Kids:
  • The Toy Room: Independent toy store carrying all your toy wants and needs.

Bridgeport

• Adults:
  • Pious Bird: Eclectic and vintage gifts for the hardest to please. 
  • Source Coffee: Amazing coffee from a community-driven coffee shop, need I say more? Gift cards, tote bags, and limited other merchandise available. 
• Kids:
  • Beardsley Zoo: Is your child obsessed with a certain animal? Why not become a sponsor? Memberships are also a great gift. Our local zoo is struggling right now. Let’s keep up the support. 

Darien

• Adults:
  • Barrett Bookstore: Independent bookstore with a great selection of adult and kid’s books. 
  • The Dock Shop: A nautical boutique with gifts that cater to the beach, boating, and fisherman enthusiasts in your life. 
• Kids:
  • Darien Toy Box: Independent toy store with a large collection of unique and traditional toys. 

Fairfield

• Adults:
  • In the Mood Intimates: Women’s apparel boutique, with an emphasis on intimate loungewear. The perfect spot to pick up something special for your valentine. 
  • BD Provisions: Collection of bulk foods sold by the pound in sustainable containers. Foods include coffee, beans, fruits, candies, chocolate, and more. It’s safe to say there is something for everyone here.
  • Hansen’s Flower Shop: Family-owned and operated florist. Beautiful flower arrangements and gift baskets for all your valentines. 
  • The Two Oh Three: “203” branded apparel, accessories, and more. The company also often collaborates with other local Fairfield County businesses. Perfect for the “Fairfield County” lover. 
  • Hemlock Hardware: Independently owned and operated hardware store. A great place to find gifts for the outdoor home enthusiast.  
• Kids:
  • Saltwater: Unique children’s gifts and apparel. Saltwater also carries women’s apparel, accessories, and jewelry (many from local vendors, including gorgeous earrings by Pink Moon by Brooke). 
  • Hands on Pottery: Paint your own pottery studio. Gift certificates and take-home kits available. Gifts for adults and kids alike (but my children are obsessed with this place, so I included it in the kid’s list). 

(check this out for a more extensive list of local Fairfield businesses)

Greenwich

• Adults:
  • The Fred Shop: Independently owned and operated women’s boutique. Also, check out their “sip and shop” location in Westport. 
  • Diane’s Books of Greenwich: Independent bookstore with a large selection of adult and family books. 
• Kids:
  • Smart Kids Toys: Locally owned and operated toy store, emphasizing educational games and healthy play. 
  • Funky Monkey Toys and Books: Family run toy store carrying a large selection of the newest, trendiest toys and all the classics. 

New Canaan

• Adults:
  • Elm Street Books: Independent bookstore for adults and kids. 
  • Groove: Baby, kids, and women’s boutique carrying apparel, accessories, and gifts. Check out their Westport location. 
• Kids:
  • The Toy Chest: Toy store which carries toys, puzzles, and books for all ages. Check out their Ridgefield location. 

(check this out for a more extensive list of local New Canaan businesses)

Norwalk

• Adults:
  • Love More Than Ever: A small grassroots street art movement attempting to shift the paradigm from Hate and Bigotry to Love and Acceptance. Check out their kid’s book and merchandise. 
  • Chou Chou: Independent women’s shoe and clothing boutique.
  • Allora Coffee and Bites: For the coffee lover in your life. Serving coffee, tea, cold drinks, and small bites. 
• Kids:
  • Forever Sweet Bakery: Cupcakes, cake pops, cookies, and more sweets. Check out their DIY cupcake decorating kits for a sweet gift. 
  • Maritime Aquarium: Adopting an animal can make a great gift for a child, as well as an annual membership. 

Ridgefield

• Adults:
  • Books on the Common: Independent bookstore with all-age books, unique greeting cards, stationery, and gifts. 
  • HERs: Modern women’s clothing and accessory boutique. Also, check out their Wilton location. 
  • Ridgefield Hardware Co: Locally owned and operated hardware store.
• Kids:
  • Sammy + Nat: Stylish kid’s boutique with clothing, gifts, and toys. 

Stamford

• Adults:
  • Whim: Teen and women’s boutique carrying an assortment of apparel, jewelry, handbags, accessories, and shoes. 
  • Honey Joe’s Family Coffee House: An independently run coffee shop with an adjacent play area for families. Delicious coffee, tea, and various menu items. 
• Kids:
  • Friend’s Bookshop at the Ferguson Library: Quality used books at reasonable prices to benefit the Ferguson Library’s numerous community outreach programs. Adult and kid’s books/bundles available.

Stratford

• Adults:
  • Mellow Monkey Gifts and Home Decor: Home decor/design store offering trend decor, home accents, and gifts. Self-described as “anything but the ordinary!”
  • Open Door Tea: Independent women-led and family-run tea room. Offering tea tastings, various cafe items, and more, any tea enthusiast is bound to love a gift from this establishment. 
  • 2 Roads Brewery: Besides the obvious (delicious beer and cider), 2 Roads also has apparel and various accessories available for your brewery fan. 
• Kids:
  • Goody Bassett’s Ice Cream Shoppe: Old fashioned ice cream shop with DIY kits available for the ultimate sweet treat gift. (*no website available)

(check this out for a more extensive list of local Stratford businesses)

Trumbull

• Adults:
  • City Line Florist: Independently run florist with over 100 years in business and a commitment to the local community. Besides beautiful flower arrangements, City Line Florist also offers a variety of Valentine’s Day themed gifts. 
  • Liv’s Gifts: Gift-shop carrying jewelry, accessories, home decor, and more. 
• Kids:
  • Pure Poetry: “A little bit of everything” is the best way to describe this store. Apothecaries, home decor, kid’s gift items, jewelry, accessories, and more can be found at this eclectic shop where you can find a gift for the hardest to please- adults and kids alike!

Westport

• Adults:
  • Savvy + Grace: Men and woman’s boutique offering an assortment of items, including apparel, gift baskets, accessories, and town specific merchandise. 
  • She Lala: Woman, tween, children, and baby apparel boutique. Additionally carries a variety of other items, including home decor, accessories, jewelry, and more. Check out their valentine’s day specific gift items here. Check out their other location in New Canaan.
• Kids:
  • Saugatuck Sweets: A local favorite sweet shop with ice-cream, candy, and many more treats. Besides being a small business, the owner is also involved with many philanthropic efforts for our surrounding community. Saugatuck Sweets also offers a variety of DIY take-home treat boxes. Check out their other location in Fairfield. 

Wilton

• Adults:
  • Cook’s Nook: The perfect store to find a gift for anyone who loves to cook. 
  • Classically Cate: Independently run gift shop with various items included but not limited to: baby items, birthday supplies, accessories, games, home items, and more. 
  • Champagne Taste: Women’s boutique with contemporary clothing, accessories, and jewelry at discounted prices. 
• Kids:
  • The Painted Cookie: Allergy-free bakery for all those kiddos who need a sweet treat but have nut and sesame restrictions.

**Make sure to check websites for all covid related protocols. Most stores offer limited in-store browsing, curbside pickup, and online ordering.

Happy gift-giving and Happy Valentine’s Day.

What did we miss? Tell us your favorite local business to shop for gifts!