Like it or not, Black Friday is engrained in our society as much as capitalism itself. But even those who avoid those late night deals and lines can admit that holiday shopping season is upon us and there are plenty of locally owned shops looking for love this time of year. If you need cool gift ideas and want to support Albuquerque businesses, we’ve got you covered with more local shopping spots than you can shake a leftover turkey leg at.
Books
Given our ink-stained fingers, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that The Paper. staff are fans of reading books. While there is one online option with a South American river-sized stock of best sellers, we prefer the old fashioned way of buying books.
Page 1 Books
Locally owned and operated since 1981, Page 1 Books (5150 Eubank Blvd. NE) is one of Albuquerque’s largest independent bookstores. In addition to books, they have loads of games, apparel, mugs, teas, stationery and cards for any occasion.
Books on the Bosque
Books on the Bosque (6261 Riverside Plaza Ln. NW) has nearly 4,000 square feet of shopping space. They recently started a rewards program, and what better time to start earning points than during the year’s biggest spending season? This year they partnered with Trifecta Coffee Co., and anyone who orders Trifecta pies through the bookstore’s website gets a coupon for 10% off at Books on the Bosque. It’s a win for shoppers and anyone who likes a good book and a tasty dessert.
Quirky Books
In a converted eyeglass factory east of Nob Hill, Quirky Used Books and More (120 Jefferson St. NE) has got the books — over 16,000 of them. It also has local artwork and a selection of LPs, CDs, DVDs and collectibles. Browsers are welcome but you probably won’t be able to leave empty-handed.
Bookworks
Look no further than Bookworks (4022 Rio Grande Blvd. SW) for bestsellers, new releases and independent classics available in-store or shipped within days. This fall, Bookworks celebrates 39 years of business serving readers. A quick click on their website will get you a couple of gift certificates.
Organic Books
Nob Hill’s home-grown, family-owned bookstore Organic Books (111 Carlisle Blvd. SE) will help you find a gift that will cultivate the mind. They focus on books written by New Mexicans and buy books directly from local authors. Shop in-store or curbside, trade or donate used books or take a peek at their Bookshop page for holiday gift ideas.
Music and Entertainment
The increase of music streaming sites can make it difficult to find the perfect gift for those melophiles in our lives. Luckily, Albuquerque still has spots to find that perfect record, music poster or instruments to make even the most musically elite friend happy.
Longhair Records
If you are shopping for your favorite music snob, or if your own music tastes are a little bit nichey, Longhair Records (1315 San Mateo Blvd. NE) can fill that void with vinyl. The shop has a trippy selection of rare music, weird movies, and vintage media — records, CDs, cassette tapes and VHS for old-school collectors. The store also has some of the most knowledgeable staff in town to guide those who have “heard it all” toward their next musical discovery. Besides records, Longhair Records stocks turntables, vintage posters, rare music memorabilia spanning indie, jazz, hip-hop and every subgenre of rock ‘n’ roll imaginable.
Charley’s Records and CD’s
If you haven’t heard of Charley’s Records and CDs (7602 Menaul Blvd. NE) yet, this holiday season is the time to check out a longstanding Albuquerque staple. For years, they’ve been hustling every type of popular and rare music there is, and buying, selling and trading vinyl records, CDs, tapes, metal/rock T-shirts, posters, patches and more.
Grumpy’s Guitars
Instead of giving your money to a big corporation, why not buy locally and make your favorite rock ‘n’ roll rebel proud? Impress them with a new instrument from Grumpy’s Guitars (2514 San Mateo Pl. NE) and stick it to the man. One of Burque’s favorite locally owned, full-service guitar shops, Grumpy’s sells and repairs new, used and vintage musical instruments and accessories. If you’re shopping for someone who’s a little bit country, Grumpy’s has more than guitars. They also sell banjos, mandolins and ukuleles.
Nob Hill Music
One of Albuquerque’s most charming music shops, Nob Hill Music (3904-B Central Ave. SE) specializes in rock and jazz LPs, cassettes and CDs, but they stock genres that cover all the bases: soul, hip-hop, reggae, country, folk and more. You can shop from home on their online vinyl database; just don’t get stuck all day browsing through the thousands of records in their catalog. They can get your favorite vintage media aficionado hooked up with some used stereo equipment: speakers, turntables, receivers, CD players and cassette players. During the holidays, get a sweet free Hawaiian shirt when you drop 25 bucks. Nob Hill Music is veteran owned and offers military and veteran discounts for those who serve.
Astro Zombies
Sometimes we have to shop for someone who likes to keep it weird all year long. At Astro Zombies (3100 Central Ave. SE) you can find strange and scary pieces of pop culture like vinyl, comics and toys galore. From vintage Star Wars to modern horror, Dead Kennedys to Wu-Tang Clan, Astro Zombies will satisfy those who get easily bored with the status quo. Ask for a tour of the “ceiling of fame” covered in autographs and art from majorly cool celebrities.
Food
Maybe it’s because we’ve been sustaining ourselves with leftover election night pizza for days, but the staff at The Paper. loves food. We’ve all got our favorite go-to lunch spots, but here are some of our favorites when it comes to mouth watering desserts or eye-watering chile that can also be gift wrapped.
Candy Lady
If you’ve been in Burque long enough you’ve probably heard about the Candy Lady (424 San Felipe St. SW) and her wicked chocolate creations, including the candy meth she cooked up as a tribute to Breaking Bad. Let’s not forget that adult section that most of us wondered about as kids, with naughty-shaped chocolates that still make us giggle as adults. The Candy Lady is chill — she’ll even hook you up with some cool candy recipes.
Chile Traditions
For those who like it hot, Chile Traditions (6919 Montgomery Blvd. NE) has been known since the 1980s for their seasonal chile roasting. But their shop in the Northeast Heights is full of endless spicy products all year that range from tongue-tingling to “melt your face off” and everything in between. Hatch chile products, hot sauces from chile specialists spanning the globe, and Southwestern decor pack their shelves and freezers. Order online if you’re in a pinch. Your beloved chile-heads will think you shopped for hours.
El Modelo
You might want to stock up on holiday tamales at El Modelo (1715 Second Street SW). They’ve been perfecting their craft since 1929. The tamales are made with fresh ingredients locally bought daily, and pickup orders can be made until 6:30 p.m., seven days a week. El Modelo sells carne adovada, masa and husks for those who prefer to cook and serve their own holiday dinner piping hot and made right at home.
Burque Bakehouse
Sourdough bread, croissants and tons of pastries stack the menu at Burque Bakehouse (640 Broadway Blvd. SE), a French-influenced, small batch bakery with undeniable Burque swag, but you might want to get there early because the good stuff will sell out. They will be open Nov. 27 for those who want to grab some grub and impress some holiday dinner guests.
Elixir Chocolates
For more than 20 years, Elixir Chocolates (4350 Alexander Blvd. NE) has been a favorite gift spot for handcrafted, artisan-style confections such as truffles, homemade caramels, peppermints, toffees, nut clusters and more. Some of their concoctions have a special bite and are labeled “a little bit spicy” just in case you’re giving a sweet gift to someone with sensitive tastebuds. Their “Timmy Krack Korn Puffs” are a unique combination of butter-flavored, oven-baked corn snacks — kinda like Cheetos without the cheese — and topped with toffee, caramel and a variety of other spicy or non-spicy ingredients. You can walk in and “build your own box” of personalized assorted chocolates or order online and get them shipped in time for a winter surprise.
Retail
Thrift and consignment stores might have the gift you couldn’t find anywhere else in Albuquerque, but some of these retailers sell exotic merchandise you can’t find on this side of the globe. In a town as quirky as the Duke City is, it’s no surprise that the best shopping destinations are the ones that offer something out of the ordinary, or even a bit exotic. Remember the days when AI tried to take over the world in sci-fi movies? Fortunately for us, so far it looks like it’s more concerned about helping shoppers find far-out gifts from distant locations and different decades.
The Next Best Thing to Being There
Cruise or fly to the southeast corner of the Sawmill area of Albuquerque and discover The Next Best Thing to Being There (1315 Mountain Rd. NW) where extraordinary gifts from all over the world are at your fingertips. With musical instruments from Africa to modern and antique art and jewelry from every corner of the globe, your wish is their desire. Check the website to see what’s new; their inventory is always changing.
Your Other Closet
Don’t forget about Your Other Closet (5850 Eubank Blvd. NE) in the Mountain Run shopping center, that perfect gift might have been there all along. They have pages of holiday gifts to scroll through on their website and will have a special online sale this Thanksgiving weekend. Owner Kelli Huslander has been keeping the northeast heights fashionable with new or “like new” clothing, used furniture and home decor in great condition and a rotating inventory of holiday gifts since 2016. An extra time-saving perk: Your Other Closet will wrap your gifts for free.
Off Broadway Vintage & Costumes
For gifts outside the box, step into Off Broadway Vintage & Costumes (3110 Central Ave. SE) and shop for creative gifts like costumes, masks, makeup, wigs and accessories since 1984, but they also sell high-end, authentic vintage clothing from as far back as the 1920’s on their Etsy page. If you’re planning to surprise guests for an extra-special holiday party this year, they offer costume rentals at daily rates with discounts for longer periods.
Amapola Gallery
Old Town is known for good holiday shopping, and great art. Amapola Gallery (205 Romero St. NW) is a local art co-op of 40 New Mexican artists where you can find works in a variety of different mediums — printmaking, pottery, watercolor, woodwork, photography, the list goes on — to view and purchase. November’s featured artist installation showcases landscapes of the Southwest in oils from Christopher Miller and serigraphs from Gwen Peterson. You can get the lowdown on all the artists in the collective on Amapola’s website and peep some of their work before heading out this season.