the best weird, quirky, or inimitable shops in Brooklyn

December 1, 2011 4:31 PM

What are the best weird, quirky, or inimitable shops in Brooklyn for stocking stuffers? I'm shopping for small gifts.
posted by ocherdraco to Shopping (10 answers total)

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.?
posted by Diagonalize at 6:01 PM on December 1, 2011

Stuff in the Boerum Hill/Downtown Brooklyn/Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens area:

Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store (State & Bond)

There are a few place if you walk down Smith (I'm more familiar with the part closer to Atlantic Ave. That first link is nearish to there but a few blocks away).

Off the top of my head:
Exit 9
Paper Source
Flight 001

I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting, but if you're in that area I'd suggest walking down Smith St, Court St, and Atlantic Ave. Also, the Brooklyn Flea will be moving to Skylight One Hanson starting this weekend (with a few weekday dates), I believe. And also the DeKalb Market has a bunch of local vendors that might be worth checking out.
posted by wintrymix at 6:55 PM on December 1, 2011

I second both of these commenters' suggestions; I used to volunteer in the store at BSSCo and it's great; I got a boss a can of inspiration once and it was a big hit. At Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store I got some subway-line buttons that people always comment on. The Transit Museum may also have nice small gifts for the transit-ly inclined. If you can get food I heartily recommend Robicelli's cupcakes at DeKalb Market.

Scaredy Kat on 5th Avenue in Park Slope and BookCourt on Court Street are also worth checking out.
posted by mlle valentine at 7:48 PM on December 1, 2011

Cog and Pearl has some fun stuff.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:50 PM on December 1, 2011

Response by poster: Do the cans, bottles, etc., at BSSCo actually have anything in them to represent the supposed contents, or are they empty, and the can itself is the totality of the object? (Some of the people I'm gifting wouldn't get that. They'd be like, "You gave me a can? That's it?")
posted by ocherdraco at 7:50 PM on December 1, 2011

Swallow.
posted by Sylvia Plath's terrible fish at 8:29 PM on December 1, 2011

Full disclaimer: I have never actually been to the BSSCo storefront. That said, having been to its pirate counterpart store in San Francisco, I'd guess it depends on what you get from there. I do know that they have some actual "stuff" for sale, but probably many of the cans and bottles are just for show, as the proceeds are meant for charitable purposes.
posted by Diagonalize at 11:28 PM on December 1, 2011

I would just get off the L at Bedford and wander around. Make sure you wander over to Grand Street. Tons of little shops all over the joint.
posted by spicynuts at 7:38 AM on December 2, 2011

I have bright red superhero stockings from BSSCo that came in a can, and I know the wall-climbers are also real, but I think most of the more outrageous items are empty and not meant to be opened.
That said, I think there are better shops out there for little things.

In North Park Slope you can hit all of these in one long walk day around 5th ave:
Scaredy Kat for stationery and knick knacks
Goldy and Mac, Vedette, Alchemy, Eponymy, Lucia, Cog and Pearl for accessories
Flirt, Teddy, Brooklyn Industries for scarves and gloves
Beacon's Closet for all sorts of little things
Film Biz Prop Shop for totally weird things
Pink Olive for baby things
Bierkraft for singles of rare beer
3R Living for eco home stuff
Bob and Judy's antiques for vases, vintage cards, printing press letters
posted by rmless at 4:22 PM on December 6, 2011

Oh and Housing Works for board games and dvds
posted by rmless at 4:23 PM on December 6, 2011