When you’re ready to log out of your Amazon Prime account and take a break from the big box retailers, the Hudson Valley is dotted with thoughtfully curated shops that reflect the taste (and values) of their owners. From locally made, hand-dipped beeswax candles to Danish furniture to clothing for both men and women from exclusive designers, these Hudson Valley retailers will scratch that shopping itch.
Woodsman Shoppe | Cornwall
Open the door to Woodsman in Cornwall and the first thing to catch your eye will likely be the hand-painted tile underfoot: a rustic scene of a bear, pine trees, and a cozy cabin. The scene, embedded in the reclaimed barn plank flooring, is a fitting entree for a shop that celebrates rugged luxury for the modern man. A stack of “Peaky Blinders”-style newsboy caps fills an old wooden crate near the door. The black walnut ledges on an opposite wall display Bridge & Boro jeans, as well as Pendleton sweaters, Wolverine boots, and hand-stitched, recycled-denim Levis. A center table holds Shinola watches, wallets, and other leather goods. If it’s well-made, handcrafted, and classic, chances are it can be found at Woodsman.
Bosco’s Mercantile + the Little Shop | Saugerties
Bosco’s Mercantile is a thriving bedding and home goods shop on Partition Street, stocking ethically and sustainably made products, from organic linens and throws to vintage indigo-dyed throw pillows and tabletop ceramics. You can browse through plush terry cloth bathrobes from Dusen Dusen; waffle towels from Hawkins New York; organic cotton, flannel, and linen bedding from Coyuchi; lambswool and alpaca throws from Harlow Henry; throw pillows made by artisans in Latin America from Hudson-based brand Minna; even ethical down duvets. And it’s not just delicious, cozy bedding. Bosco’s also stocks a wide array of candles from brands like Boy Smells and Apotheke to Anecdote Candle and Particle Goods. The small, curated apothecary inventory includes bath products from Compagnie de Provence, Wary Meyers, Jessie + Elizabeth, and Sweet Bella.
Gather | Katonah
“My inspiration is villages by the sea,” says Suzanne Martin of the concept for her home goods boutique Gather, in Katonah. “Montauk, Malibu, seaside Italy, or Portugal.” Gather carries handblown glassware, ceramics, candles, straw baskets from Africa, stonewashed linens—all with a focus on sustainability and ethical working conditions. Some of the local artisanal products Gather stocks include hand-dipped beeswax candles from Newburgh-based Alysia Mazzella, cutting boards from Hudson-based KHEM Studios, and ceramics from Erica Recto. Martin also stocks carafes, cocktail glasses, and furniture from Danish company Ferm Living; runners, napkins, and dish towels from Lithuanian brand Linen Tales; dinnerware, glasses, and linen sheets from Hawkins New York; and vegan, botanical skincare products from Palermo Body.
Warwick Olive Oil Company | Warwick
Warwick Olive Oil Company is not your usual taproom. It’s a gourmand’s dream, with a wide array of spices, jams, syrups, and kitchenware. But the stars of the show are the stainless-steel fustis—tanks of varying sizes with 90 different varieties of olive oils and vinegars that span a rainbow of flavors. Looking for a nice balsamic to drizzle over your roast chicken before it goes into the oven? Try the lemongrass mint. Their gremolata olive oil would brighten a Greek salad. There’s also a kitchen-centric annex with food and kitchenware. Here, a cooler holds truffle butter, pimiento cheese, and Vermont farmstead cheeses. Behind the bar are beautiful platters, trays, and cruets for sale; the bar itself is loaded with jarred pickles, jams, and dish towels.
River Mint Finery | Kingston
Purposeful shopping is the ethos at River Mint Finery, the Stockade District where the curated selection of clothing, jewelry, and goods showcase quality fabrication and “a good story.” Mindful consumers can find Kingston-based brands Eleven Six and Lake & Skye at the store, as well as some of owner Kathryn Hammill’s designer favorites, like the cotton T-shirt line For Days. In addition to clothing, River Mint Finery stocks accessories, like a wide variety of Haomy bags, jewelry by Tai Rittichai and Studio Grun, and accents for the home like functional ceramics from Kingston-based L’Impatience studio. “I’m a designer, and I love to bring products I find to the community and people around me,” Hammill says. “We do carry Levi's jeans—they're an American classic. Otherwise, I focus on independent designers who are close to their supply chain. A lot of the time, you buy something and you don’t make the connection with where it came from.”
Valley Variety | Hudson
Conceived by owner Chuck Rosenthal as a “modern and stylish interpretation of the traditional variety store,” Valley Variety carries an artful array of entrancing lifestyle accessories, home furnishings, and art. The shop, located on Warren Street, is Rosenthal’s passion project after spending nearly two decades in the Bay Area as the principal of a design firm. Whether your look is rustic farmhouse, industrial chic, or anything in between, the pieces you’ll discover are bound to blend and beautify.
