It’s gift buying season! Like so many people, we want to help support small businesses – especially in 2020 when so many of these businesses have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. So we put together this list of our favorite Cleveland small businesses that we believe you should support if you’re looking to shop local this season.
Clothing & Apparel – Cleveland Style
Whether you’re looking for some unique Browns gear for that pumped-up football fan in your life, or you’re looking to get something for somebody to proudly wear CLE across their chest, here’s our list of faves:
- CLE Clothing Co.
- Emily Roggenburk
- GV Artwork
- Homage (not technically Cleveland-specific, but they have awesome CLE gear)
- Legend Headwear
- We Bleed Ohio
Food & Restaurants
CLE has some of the very best food centered right here in Northeast Ohio. But restaurants have been especially hit hard given their nature of bringing people together, so maybe pick up a gift card to a restaurant or buy from a Cleveland-based food brand to help support those businesses centered right here.
- Annie’s Signature Sweets
- Cleveland Kitchen
- Dante
- EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant
- Fahrenheit
- Foundry Kitchen & Bar
- Humble Wine Bar
- Mabel’s BBQ
- Mason’s Creamery (serving ramen in the winter months!)
- Randy’s Pickles
- Strip Steakhouse
- Thyme x Table
Beer, Wine & Spirits
One does not simply brag about Cleveland without bragging about the local brews. There are so many excellent places to grab beer, wine and spirits. Here’s a few of our favorites:
- The Brew Kettle
- CLE Urban Winery
- Fat Head’s Brewery
- Great Lakes Brewing Co.
- Market Garden Brewery
- Nano Brew Cleveland
- Platform Beer Co.
- Railroad Brewing Co.
- Sibling Revelry Brewery
- Western Reserve Distillers
Duo’s Cleveland-based team at Sibling Revelry Brewing.
Coffee – Another Kind of Brew
Cleveland is a bit of a powerhouse on the coffee front. So. Many. Amazing. Roasters. As marketers (and a handful of us are parents), we suck down a lot of coffee and care about having the good stuff always on hand.
- Erie Island Coffee Co.
- Loop Tremont (also a record store!)
- Phoenix Coffee Co.
- Rising Star Coffee Roasters
- Solstice Roasters
Local Arts, Crafts & Home Items
The Northeast Ohio art scene continues to impress all year round. The holidays are an exceptionally great time of year to support your local makers!
- Elbowgrease Design
- Helm Collective
- Lauren HB Studio
- Made Cleveland
- Noble Fawn Jewelry
- Océanne
- Sasha Handmade
- Stem Handmade Soap
Unique Experiences
Whether you’re looking for solo experiences, something fun to do with your bae or some family fun, this list should be a solid resource!
- Visit A Christmas Story House (open all year round!)
- Explore the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve
- Ride the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
- Play Shuffleboard at Forest City Shuffleboard Arena & Bar
- Walk The Canopy Walk at Holden Arboretum
Classic Cleveland
You can’t have a Cleveland list without mentioning these well-known NEO institutions. Consider yourself a Clevelander when you can check all these off of your CLE bucket list:
- Cleveland Metroparks including Edgewater Park
- Cleveland Metroparks Zoo & Rainforest
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Cleveland Museum of Natural History
- Greater Cleveland Aquarium
- Playhouse Square
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- West Side Market
BONUS! Nonprofits to Support
Sometimes the very best gifts to buy are the gifts where you can help others. Cleveland is definitely not short on nonprofits in the area to support. We’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of these nonprofits over the years in some capacity and we believe they are definitely worth your investment.
Have a suggestion of a local business that deserves some love? Let us know on social media at @duocleveland.