When someone mentions shopping in New York City, most minds immediately go to Fifth Avenue. While the bright lights of Upper Manhattan are certainly tempting, as are the well-known department stores and luxury names, that’s not the only street where you’ll discover beautiful designs, unique finds and unexpected boutique shops. During your next trip to Manhattan, head to the Financial District, where you may be pleasantly surprised at the shopping scene.
In a neighborhood where money reigns supreme, shopping is plentiful (Photo: Jason Thibault)
The Financial District isn’t small, though, especially if you’re traversing it on foot. A good route for a shop-’til-you-drop excursion starts on Fulton Street near FDR Drive and travels west across the district, to Vesey Street. Traveling along these two streets and sticking to the surrounding blocks will give you a taste of Lower Manhattan shopping that’s altogether one of a kind, bringing you a range of purchases, from clothes to specialty gourmet food items, stationery to vintage goods.
Bowne & Co. Stationers
This historic shop is perfect for unique gifts (Photo: Teri Tynes)
New York’s oldest operating business under the same name, Bowne & Co. Stationers was established in 1775 and still specializes in small batch printing. Experience traditional 19th-century letterpress printing in the atmospheric shop, before picking out a few of your own purchases, such as hand-printed cards. All proceeds from the shop benefit the South Street Seaport Museum.
211 Water St.
Northern Grade Marketplace
This all-American-made boutique shop offers luxury clothing in the style of urban lumberjack. Discover an array of little-known and up-and-coming brands, before they become cool. Have a question about a particular maker or vendor? Just ask the friendly staff, who are all knowledgeable about their products, making for a more tailored and individualistic experience.
117 Beekman St.
Seaport Wine & Spirits
Specializing in artisanal wines and spirits from around the globe, Seaport Wine & Spirits hand selects all its products to ensure a wonderful experience for its customers. One little bonus this boutique wine and spirits store offers? They provide free delivery, so you can have your purchases brought straight to your hotel room. Stop by on weekends for a wine and spirits tasting and maybe discover a new favorite.
110 Fulton St.
Seaport Yarn
One item you probably didn’t expect to purchase during your trip to Manhattan? Yarn (Photo: Kate Henderson)
Seaport Yarn opened in 2002 and is now one of the largest yarn vendors in the city. Knitters from around the world travel to this small shop to purvey the endless variety available, as well as the premium products. Beyond the yarn, though, the shop sells all the accessories one could need for such a hobby, including instructional books, patterns and needles.
181 Broadway, Fourth Floor
C21 Edition
You don’t necessarily need to buy a fake in order to get designer brands at a steal in Manhattan (Photo: Betty Autier)
C21 Edition is the place to go for sample sales. The two-story boutique specializes in luxury brands at a steal, from Cartier to Louis Vuitton and everything in between. In addition to samples, you’ll see exclusive collabs and designer vintage goods. Everything here is hard to find elsewhere, which makes it that much more valuable, but don’t forget that everything’s at a discount!
21 Dey St.
Christian Benner Custom
Christian Benner’s stylishly edgy designs range from distressed leather to graphic t-shirts, with a punk rock feel that’s more than blatant. A designer worn by top celebs ranging from Lady Gaga to Lenny Kravitz and appearing in top fashion publications, this is one stop you won’t want to miss if you’re specifically searching for fashion in the Wall Street area.
189 Front St.
Ministry of Tomorrow
At Ministry of Tomorrow, it’s all about fashion activism, eco-fashion and conscious consumerism. The boutique offers hand-crafted, luxury bags created by skilled artisans. All bags are vegan leather and 100-percent certified organic and fair trade cotton and canvas. Each is a one-of-a-kind piece and work of art, shipped straight from the brand’s boutique factory in Kenya, where bags are produced at a rate of 300 per month.
185 Greenwich St.
By Holly Riddle