(1) Brasstown Chocolate:
I fell in love with Brasstown Chocolate years before becoming a chocolatier. They are a bean-to-bar artisanal chocolate company here in Winston. They source cocoa beans from different regions and roast them to coax out the best flavors. My favorite is the Ecuadorian Esmeraldas which has complex flavors, including fruit and vanilla but still has the classic chocolate flavor that everyone will enjoy.
(2) Wood & Thread Boutique:
Wood & Thread is known for women’s clothing but also has mugs, candles, and home decor. It’s easy to find something within your budget. These gold-tone necklaces with initials are simple and fun. They even have a selection of cards for last-minute gift-givers like me. Fun fact, I took a photo of the shop for Google maps that has over 70k views.
(3) La Luz & Co:
La Luz & Co. is a treat-yourself kind of place! The café side features a plant-based menu where I’ll buy a tea and pick out a tasty pastry (gluten-free for me). Then I’ll browse their selection of “mindful” gifts. They stock ethically sourced items from all over the world. These crystals are not only good to look at, but they all also have different spiritual qualities.
(4) Sawtooth Shop and Gallery:
Located inside the Sawtooth School for Visual Art, this shop is stocked with handmade items from the artisans who teach there. They have everything from pottery, jewelry, furniture, and woodworking at every price point. Richard Vanstrum makes these hand-turned wine stoppers from exotic hardwoods like African blackwood, camel thorn, and mopani.
(5) Imagine Flowers & Gifts:
You can give flowers for any occasion, so it’s a gifting no-brainer. Cut flowers are always the prettiest to receive, but gifting a plant means the recipient will remember you for a long time. Imagine Flowers has a variety of smaller gift items as well. Stopping in the shop is always a treat.
Joey Burdette, a native of Charleston, WV, has lived all over North Carolina but immediately felt at home after relocating to Winston-Salem in 2012. Joey has established himself as a serial entrepreneur in the downtown scene over the years. You may recognize him from Twin City Hive, a coffee shop he founded. Or you may have seen him in Our State Magazine, where he won the “Made In NC Award” for his bourbon honey chocolate truffle 2019. Joey is the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Winston-Salem Symphony. Joey earned his Bachelor of Science Communications degree from West Virginia State University. He is pursuing his Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communication at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Joey is slowly renovating a 93-year-old home in Ardmore in his spare time, which he shares with his poodle Helen.