This year has been challenging, to say the least. From the pandemic, to wildfires, to shelter-in-place orders, small businesses have been hard hit. This year, we are taking the time to highlight a handful of our favorite small business friends, neighbors, and wholesale partners in our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide. Use this guide to get ideas for gifts for your loved ones. And please, if you’re going to spend a dollar this holiday season, spend it at a small business that you want to see open next year.
A Casemates subscription is truly the gift that keeps on giving.
Cocktail Subscription With Casements Bar
Our friends at Casements Bar in the Mission District got shut down by the pandemic right before what would have been their busiest night of the year—St. Patricks Day. They were quick to pivot to a delivery model, and have curated a monthly cocktail subscription to bring your favorite drinks to your door. Starting at just $25 a month, you can sign up for a monthly whiskey tasting or craft cocktail. This is a great last-minute gift for the boozehound in your life. Read more here.
We were introduced to Goldmine at Douglas—a cafe on Sanchez Street.
2. Goldmine Supershroom Immunity Support
Believe it or not, we don’t only drink coffee and whiskey. Our friends at Douglas Cafe & Market introduced us to Goldmine Immunity Support powder during quarantine and we’ve been enjoying it ever since. To create Goldmine, founders Rachael Gorjestani and Tina Hardison collaborated with seasoned herbalists to perfect our everyday adaptogen powder blend that helps your body manage stress, boost energy, and improve overall wellness. We recommend it to anyone who needs boost that coffee can’t provide. Check it out here.
Honestly, we think this is the best Chai we’ve ever had.
3. Flowerhead Chai Kits
Karina from Flowerhead has been our tea partner for several years. We’ve enjoyed her blends of ethically-sourced tea and locally-grown herbs at our cafes. If you’ve been lucky enough to find Flowerhead at an event, you’ve had Karina’s incredible Chai Tea. This year, she’s selling the secret to making the spiciest, and most dynamic Chai Tea you’ve ever had. She’s offering her classic Assam-based Chai Kit, as well as a caffeine-free Rooibos version. Shop both on the Flowerhead website here.
Churn Creamery was started at pop ups here in the Outer Sunset
4. Churn Urban Creamery Ice Cream Gift Cards
Over in the Portola District, our friends Rica and Chris have been operating Churn Urban Creamery since 2019, but you might recognize them from their pop-ups at the Andytown Roastery, Flower Piano, or Sunset Farmers Market. Their ice cream flavors are made from farm-fresh ingredients, sometimes from Rica’s own home garden. (We are pretty sure that Santa’s favorite ice cream is Churn’s Milk and Cookies flavor.) If you can’t swing by their pop-ups or location, you can purchase a gift card online. Use it at the next Farmer’s Market, or save it for a rainy day. Shop gift cards here.
A recent window display at the Great Highway Gallery on Lawton.
5. Great Highway Gallery Artwork
After spending 10 months at home with the same old walls, it’s time for a change of scenery. Take the money that you would have spent on your vacation this year and invest it in a piece of art from the Great Highway Gallery. Artist and gallery owner, John Lindsay, has a print, painting, or photograph for every budget. And he can frame any piece so it is wall-ready. Check out the gallery’s offerings here.
Tunnel Records Owner, Ben, flexing his tower of Technics turntables.
6. Record Player from Tunnel Records
Shelter in Place is a great time to start a new hobby. When we have a quiet moment, we’ve enjoyed sitting back and listening to vinyl. Lucky for us, our neighbors at Tunnel Records always have fresh tunes coming through the shop. Don’t have a record player? No problem! Tunnel Records has a selection of new and used turntables to choose from. Check their website for more info.
After a lengthy build out and planning process, Palm City Wines opened on Irving and 42nd Ave right at the start of the Pandemic.
7. Toast the End of 2020 with Palm City Wines
It’s almost over! The literal worst year ever is finally coming to an end. We’ll be celebrating with a toast of bubbles from Palm City Wines. Shop their collection of carefully-picked wines and beer, or grab one of their famous hoagies to go. We can’t wait to someday sit inside their beautiful shop, but until then, we’ll settle for a bottle to take home. Shop Palm City Wines bubbles here.
Your holiday dessert table could look like this! Read the new 20th Century Cafe cookbook and become a star baker.
8. Baking at the 20th Century Cafe Cookbook
Over on Gough Street, our friend Michelle Polzine has been baking up a storm since she opened the 20th Century Cafe in 2013. Her debut cookbook “Baking at the 20th Century Cafe” comes at the perfect time, when everyone has been honing their baking skills at home. She doesn’t hold back any recipes, spilling the secrets behind her honey cake, sachertorte, and dobos torta. Instead of buying the book from a large online retailer, consider purchasing it directly from 20th Century Cafe. Order it online here.
An Agave Tasting Flight from Nopalito.
9. Agave Flights from Nopalito
Miss sipping margaritas at Nopalito? Take the tequila bar home with you with Nopalito’s new Agave Flights. Featuring three different themed flights, Nopalito is ready to take you on an agave journey. Each tasting kit comes with a flavor wheel, cards, and their delicious, spicy crunchy garbanzo beans. Shop the flights here.
Avenues Dry Goods carries a variety of vintage goods and locally-made gifts. They also almost always have a dog in the shop, which is pretty great.
10. Drop in to Avenues Dry Goods for Last Minute Gifts
Over on Irving Street, our friends at Avenues Dry Goods have everything you need for stocking stuffers and beyond. Their shop is perfect curated with a variety of vintage clothing, jewelry, and home goods. You can easily find something for everyone on your list. The owners, Tim and Eve, will coordinate a virtual visit if you want to shop from home. Or visit their website to place an order for pick up. Visit their website here.
That’s it! That’s the round up. This list is be no means comprehensive, and there are many amazing small businesses in San Francisco to support this holiday season. We wish you all a happy holiday, and we look forward to another year of delicious coffee.