Holiday Shopping? Local Shops Have a lot to Offer

Joye, a charming boutique, is located on Front Street in Scituate Harbor

Kelly Horan, Jane McGuiggin, and Grace Dousa

As the holiday season approaches, the inevitable stress of gift-giving begins. Technology may have taken away the essence and excitement of going shopping and buying presents; however, local stores in the Scituate area can restore the excitement that comes along with the holiday season and giving gifts to loved ones.  Living in a beautiful coastal area, Scituate shoppers can find unique and thoughtful gifts, as a variety of stores offer great holiday gifts in Scituate Harbor, North Scituate, and Cohasset. 

Located in Scituate Harbor, Joye is a charming boutique and a great spot to start your Christmas shopping. According to owner Nancy Levanchy, the most popular items are jewelry and Christmas decorations during this time. A classic gift for someone this holiday season could be one of their scarves, a perfect choice “because there is no size, so they fit everybody,” according to Levanchy. “Most customers are buying for another but always find something for themselves,” she noted. Levanchy explained that several stores in Scituate Harbor bring in local artists during the holiday season. Levanchy enjoys spotlighting artist Becky O’Toole, who has strong ties to Scituate and donates a portion of each sale to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. 

Clothing is a popular gift for people of any age, especially teenagers. Cattivo, a clothing boutique in North Scituate, is the ideal location to find an array of trendy clothes and accessories for teenagers. Cattivo quickly gained popularity after its opening and has continued to expand with additional locations. The store has something for everybody–whether it’s a new dress, a fun sweater, or festive, affordable jewelry. Cattivo has a great selection of jewelry, allowing you to choose from fun pieces to simple staple pieces. No matter the person’s style, jewelry will always be an amazing addition to an outfit. Cattivo makes shopping for your loved ones this holiday season easier than ever and will guarantee any gift giver success. 

In neighboring Cohasset, Pretty Little Things, a small boutique located on 3A, has a collection of special gifts this holiday season. SHS senior Bridget Thompson, an employee at Pretty Little Things, explained that during this time of year she finds “sweaters and pom-pom hats are most popular.” Thompson advises customers to look at winter candles and ornaments for their holiday gift shopping because “they are both functional and a perfect addition to anyone’s home.” No matter what the item customers choose, Thompson feels all options in the store are special because “everything on display is personally selected by the owner and manager,” creating an interesting and unique store inventory. 

In Cohasset Center, another clothing boutique, Phia, offers stylish clothing for teenagers. With the long winter months ahead, a sweater could be the ultimate gift for any teenager. With plenty of sweaters in stock, you can look forward to finding a vast assortment of different colors, designs, and styles. These sweaters will be the perfect addition to any wardrobe during the winter season.

For coffee lovers on your list, the Cohasset Starbucks location is a classic place to buy a gift. When asked about the most popular gift items, SHS senior Leah Sullivan, who is employed at the Cohasset Starbucks, said it “would probably be any of the iced reusable cups which come in many different colors and designs.” The Starbucks reusable cups are perfect for everyday use and are often seen throughout the SHS hallways. Sullivan recommends the venti clear reusable cup “because it’s simple and cute.” Sullivan also noted “you can come into Starbucks and get iced or hot coffee or tea for free in the cup for the whole month of January,” which is an added benefit to gifting the reusable cup! 

If you are still unsure of what to give someone, a gift card is always well-received. Along with the local town centers and harbors, there are a wide variety of quick food chain restaurants in the South Shore that teens love to visit–and gift cards to these locations make a perfect gift: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Lucky Finn are just some of the popular places found locally. 

Finding a gift for the special people in your life can be difficult. However, shopping locally this holiday season could make this task easier and fun. From classic boutique items to gift cards, this holiday gift guide will help steer you to gift-giving success!