Local Shopping Guide – Shop Local for that Last-Minute Gift

REVISED – DECEMBER 17TH, 2023 | Originally Written and Published by KAYLA ANDERSON

Tis the season for holiday shopping, and what better way to celebrate your loved ones than by getting them something unique, original, and made or sourced in your own town. And from now until Christmas, there are dozens of events, shops, and promotions within Incline Village and Crystal Bay that are worth checking out. Here are a few options for finding gifts close to your holiday home:

Panache (930 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 204, Incline Village) next to Raley’s in Incline Village carries home décor items such as nice-smelling candles, Tahoe-centric coffee table books, and warm women’s clothing, everything from stylish activewear to Emu boots and slippers.

Clearly Tahoe in the Village Plaza (Starbucks) plaza is another great option. Shop unique, one-of-a-kind gifts, memorable gifts for the adventure seeker in your life.

You can also scoop up comfortable, warm second hand clothing at the Village Christian Thrift Shop (799 Southwood Blvd., Incline Village), Pet Network Thrift Store (760 Mays Blvd. Ste 9, Incline Village), and Tahoe Family Solutions (774 Mays Blvd. #13, Incline Village) all in and around Mays Boulevard. All these thrift stores have kitchen appliances, furniture, sports equipment, greeting cards, and an abundance of other good finds, so you can really stock up on gifts while saving money and supporting worthy causes. Tahoe Forest Hospice Gift & Thrift (893 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 1500, Incline Village) also has an amazing assortment of items, and its staff is super friendly. If you are in the Christmas Tree Village, be sure to stop in at The Village Pet Foundation thrift store.

It’s near impossible to spend any amount of time in the Lake Tahoe region without encountering the photography of Chris Talbot. Check out Talbot Fine Art Gallery for great gift ideas.

Karma Tahoe (868 Tahoe Blvd. Ste. 12, Incline Village) in Christmas Tree Village started out as a women’s clothing boutique but expanded to include children and men’s clothing. Find gently used boots, shoes, purses, and jewelry too.

Speaking of jewelry…if you’re thinking of taking your relationship to the next level, consider checking out specially sourced turquoise, stone, and metallic necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings at family generational business The Potlatch (930 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 401, Incline Village), or the glimmering Forever Rox jewelry store (930 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) to find priceless diamonds, also located in the Raley’s Shopping Center.

For things exclusively made in Lake Tahoe, Handmade at the Lake (865 Tahoe Blvd. Ste 104, Incline Village) sells quilts, kitchen and bath accessories, Lake Tahoe ornaments, bath sets, and pottery made right here in Tahoe. 

FOR THE FOODIE IN YOUR LIFE:

Raley’s (930 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village), Grocery Outlet (Village Center) and Happy Tiers Bakery (Christmas Tree Village, Incline Village) has you covered, with sweets, specialty breakfasts, and more. Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s Tahoe Provisions (111 Country Club Dr., Incline Village) also has Tahoe made snacks and to-go treats that are made right here at the lake, and you may get to catch a glimpse of its impressive holiday gingerbread display. Sunshine Deli (919 Incline Way, Incline Village) sells delectable pastries, specialty donuts made inhouse, and other belly-filling yet healthy breakfast and lunch items.  And don’t forget to oder your handmade Tamales from Thania’s Juice Bar for your Christmas feast.

Alcohol makes a good gift for those ages 21 and older, and there’s no better place to find it than at Incline Spirits & Cigars (120 Country Club Dr. Unit 25, Incline Village). If you’re looking for more of a laidback wine night, head over to Glasses Wine Bar (760 Mays Blvd. Ste. 8, Incline Village) to grab a bottle to share with friends or pour your own glass our of one of its many wine dispensers.

FOR THE KIDS:

If you are shopping for young ones, The Potlatch has an entire kids books and games section. And while you’re so close, it’s worth meandering across the parking lot about two hundred yards away to cuddle up with the soft plush toys at Panache. To find a whole shop dedicated to kids, venture over to Village Toys (899 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) that’s now located next to Starbucks on the corner of Highway 28 and Village Boulevard. Buy an unwrapped gift for charity (Toys for Tots and others) and receive a 20 percent discount through the holiday season.

Have you checked out the new Bowl Incline (920 Southwood Blvd., Incline Village)? If not, consider buying a bowling session for your family for an experience you’ll never forget in the newly renovated building. There is something for everyone here, including three pool tables, a state-of-the-art arcade, cornhole boards in an outside enclosed patio area, and a fancy cocktail menu for adults. Learn more about the business’s reinvention in the Winter 2022 edition of Live Work Play magazine. 

FOR THE GARDENER/INTERIOR DESIGNER IN YOUR LIFE:

If you have that special person who takes pride in their yard and home, check out High Sierra Gardens (866 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) for a lovely variety of plants and their holders, or put together a nice fresh flower bouquet to bring to your party host. For a gift that lasts a bit longer, head over to Mountain Hardware and Sports (910 Tahoe Blvd. Unit 103, Incline Village) for tools, hoses, paint, appliances, barbeques, garden equipment, and now home and outdoor apparel.

Lisa Douglas Designs and Tahoe Gifting Co. are now located in the Christmas Tree Village. Definielty recommend heading into and checking out their new shop.

Bridget Giroux Design (Above Drink Coffee Do Stuff in Incline Village) mother/daughter team brings a fresh, modern take on how to design a mountain rustic home with aesthetic tastes close to the Holly Hunt brand. Every month, the design studio also hosts exhibits featuring local artists in its pop-up gallery and hosts a holiday shopping event open to the public in late November/early December. 

FOR THE SKIER OR SNOWBOARDER:

For all things outdoor-related, visit the Village Ski Loft (800 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) for socks, skis, snowboards, goggles, jackets, pants, and more. It also carries mountain bike and hiking accessories for the summer aficionado. If you have a four-legged that you like to explore the outdoors with, pick up some stocking stuffer treats for them at the newly expanded Pet Station (800 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village) located underneath VSL.

Speaking of skis, check out the line of Praxis sticks made right here in Incline Village (848 Tanager St. Unit J, Incline Village). Take them up to our local, community-owned Diamond Peak Ski Resort (1210 Ski Way, Incline Village) and pick up a signature DP gift item at its shop within the base lodge.