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- [00:09]
A
And this is all of it on wnyc. I'm David Fuerst in for Alison Stewart. And here at all of it, we are gift shopping local this holiday season. And in part, that is thanks to Caroline Weaver, creative creator of the locavore guide, which helps us in our local New York shopping. And Caroline has been joining us every week this month to shout out small business businesses in all five boroughs. And today we are heading to the Bronx and we want your suggestions as well as to where you like to spend your dollars in the Bronx. Caroline Weaver's new book is called the locavore guide to shopping New York City for 2026. And Caroline, welcome back to the show.
- [00:52]
B
Happy to be here.
- [00:53]
A
And let's quickly shout out your business as well. It is called the locavore variety store.
- [00:59]
B
That's right. You have a lot of titles, I suppose. I do. I do more than one job.
- [01:04]
A
Let's get right to it. Let's get to the Bronx right away because I know you want to start by discussing Arthur Avenue holiday shopping.
- [01:13]
B
Oh, yeah.
- [01:14]
A
Why is this such a fun place to be?
- [01:16]
B
Well, it is what today is December 15, which means that if you are hosting, you are probably making your grocery list. And in my opinion, there is no better place to go grocery shopping in New York City than Arthur avenue, which is an Italian, an enclave near the New York botanical garden. And if you've never been there, it's a street with many streets off of it that are just densely populated with Italian businesses. There are restaurants, there are shops, there is something for everybody. A specialist for everything. And many of these shops do really special things in that they've been around for so long. There are certain things that they are allowed to do and sell that are no longer allowed in New York City. Like there's a bakery, Terra Nova, they have this incredible wood fired oven that has been grandfathered in. There is Calabria pork store, which famously has sausages hanging from the ceiling. The pork is ground there. It is. The sausages are made there. They are cured on the ceiling for at least six weeks. And that is a really old process for curing sausages that's no longer allowed but grandfathered in because this is such a special old business. But this. Yeah, there's a place to buy every product.
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A
You listed a few spots on the avenue to look out for. I'm just going to list them here.
- [02:28]
B
Yeah.
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A
And get your thoughts as I go through this here. Sereni coffee and gifts.
- [02:33]
B
Yes. This shop is a family owned importer of Italian goods. They have tons and tons of coffee, but they also have other grocery items that are very hard to find, like Pocket Coffee, which is a popular Ferrero product. That is a chocolate filled with espresso. They have all the fun little sodas that are very hard to find here. So if you have kids coming over, people who don't drink alcohol, this is a great place to go to stock up on something special.
- [02:57]
A
Okay, that sounds fantastic. Sereni coffee and gifts. Tidal Brothers Market.
- [03:02]
B
Oh, yeah. This is an iconic little, tiny, crowded grocery store. They do a lot of wholesale to restaurants and other shops all around the country. And so they've got it all. If you are a baker, this is an amazing place to go for, like, bulk quantities of things like almond paste. You will get the best deal in New York City at Tidal Brothers. If you're going to somebody's house and you want an assortment of lovely olives or anchovies, this is where you go for that.
- [03:26]
A
Okay, here we go. Cosenza's and Randazzo's fish markets.
- [03:31]
B
Yes, these are two equally wonderful competing fish markets across the street from each other.
- [03:36]
A
I see you were very careful to say equally wonderful, and I really believe.
- [03:40]
B
That they really are. And they both also serve oysters on the sidewalk, which is such a fun experience when you're shopping. You can stop and, like, have a dozen oysters on the sidewalk. But if you are Italian and you are doing the feast of seven fishes, you can get way more than seven fishes between these two stores. It's a really fun place to shop.
- [03:56]
A
I'm gonna get to another spot in just a moment if you wanna join this conversation. If you have a Bronx business you want to shout out 212-433-9692. That's 212-433. WNYC. Another one on that list right there. Borgatti's Ravioli.
- [04:16]
B
Yeah, Borgatti's is a ravioli and pasta shop. They have really fun flavors of dried fettuccine, which make a great gift. We also sell them in my shop. Lovely boxes of ravioli and all sorts of flavors. And I think this is a really cool thing to bring as a gift to somebody who is really busy during holiday season and they are just going to need something easy to make for dinner.
- [04:35]
A
And as we are talking about Borgatti's, we're getting a text about it right there. Someone saying, as a Fordham alum, that's my favorite ravioli. So coming in at exactly the right moment right there, where would you suggest people do their holiday Shopping in the Bronx. Are there any unique stores that you would especially recommend or that perhaps you have relied on over the years?
- [04:59]
B
Oh, yeah. Well, one that came up in conversation in my shop recently because one of my employees bought a gift from this shop, Maryanne's Irish Craft and Design Shop. This is in Riverdale, and it has been around for, I think, about 35 years. And they specialize in Irish imports, but especially the really beautiful Aran wool sweaters for children, for women, for men, for everybody. And I think the prices range between like $60 for a kid's sweater all the way up to like 350 for something really, really lovely and intricate. And they've got lots of pottery. That's a really unique specialist.
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A
What's the name of that spot again?
- [05:34]
B
Marianne's Irish Craft and Design Shop.
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A
And is it especially, you know, Irish? Do you get a lot of authentic work there?
- [05:41]
B
Oh, yeah. Everything in the store is imported from Ireland. Yeah.
- [05:45]
A
Very cool. I wanted to ask you just in general, about shopping local, why you feel like it matters? I mean, you get to interact with local store owners. You meet your neighbors sometimes when you're out shopping. How does shopping local help us feel connected to our community, to the surrounding area?
- [06:06]
B
Shopping is a social activity, and you are naturally encountering people. It is good for our social wellness in that way. And it's also a great opportunity to learn things. We don't have to be experts on everything. We don't have to research every single thing we need to buy. You can go to a shop and ask an expert, and they will tell you everything you need to know. And it's. It's a lot more fun that way. And you get the instant gratification of learning something, finding the thing you're looking for, and feeling like you really discovered it.
- [06:33]
A
If you want to join the conversation again, the number is 212-9692. We have one suggestion here. Grab a picnic lunch for the zoo or eat in at Tino's Deli on Arthur Avenue.
- [06:48]
B
Oh, yeah, that's a terrific deli.
- [06:49]
A
Terrific deli. And let's take a phone call. This is Joel. Not calling in from the Bronx, as far as I can tell, but from Mexico City. Is that right, Joel, welcome.
- [06:59]
C
That's right. Let me turn off. Well, maybe I don't have.
- [07:04]
A
Yeah, we can hear you just fine.
- [07:06]
C
Okay. I'm a New Yorker, but I live in Mexico City. Whenever I'm in New York, I love the Arthur Avenue suggestions. The other one I would shout out is Madonia Brothers I don't know, maybe you already spoke about them. Terrific bakery on Arthur Avenue. But my suggestion was is a store called Frank's. It's been there for decades. It's in Tremont, on Tremont Avenue and I think Park Avenue. Right, right where the train, Metro north train passes.
- [07:36]
A
Okay, great spot. And what do you love about it?
- [07:41]
C
I love it. What I love about it is the, the fact that it's been there forever. It's survived many difficult decades in the Bronx that everybody knows all about. The period of the Bronx is burning. But it's also, it's just an outstanding over packed, overstuffed store with absolutely every kind of sports jersey or sports uniform you can imagine. And it's old school. It looks like not a lot has changed in the store in terms of the decor, the beautiful neon outside on two sides on Tremont and on Park.
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A
That's great.
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C
It's just a Bronx institution.
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A
Joel, thank you for that recommendation from Mexico City today. And what about that Frank's?
- [08:26]
B
Frank's was on my list of shops to discuss. It's been around since 1920 and it is family owned. And there are almost no independently owned or any really sporting goods stores left in New York City. There aren't that many. It is a dying breed of shop. And Frank's is really special because they, they cover camping gear, they cover workout gear, they cover sports goods. So if you need a football for your nephew, but you also want to find binoculars for your mom who just started bird watching, this is a great place to go. It's. And it is really jam packed. It's a little overwhelming in a really fun way.
- [08:59]
A
Yeah. Because. Yeah, but that's some of those classic stores, especially one that's been around for 100 years, that is going to be packed in a fascinating way.
- [09:07]
B
Yeah. And their window displays are fun because it's just in a really old style of doing a window display. Just like rows and rows and rows of things all the way up to the ceiling. They really demonstrate what they sell there.
- [09:17]
A
We are speaking with Caroline Weaver. Your book is called the Locavore Guide to shopping New York City for 2026. And we're also taking your suggestions on where to shop in the Bronx. 212-433-9692. And talking about your book, Caroline, you have some new rules in your book, what you call essential etiquette for the 21st century shopper. One is to be mindful of time. Can you talk about that? What does that mean in relation to local shopping?
- [09:54]
B
Yeah, well, as we all know time is money. And when you come into a store, the best thing about shopping in person in a store is you get to ask for help and that there is a real person to help you. But that time is also really valuable. And so when you're shopping at an independent store, go in, ask for help, get your questions answered, but make sure that if you are using the time of somebody who works there, especially during holiday season, this week is really tough for all of us that you are making a purchase or that you will go back when you are ready to buy that thing. Please don't go and ask questions and then go on Amazon and buy that thing at a lower price. Because what you don't really realize at the time is that extra dollar you're paying. That goes towards the expert advice that you are getting from a real person.
- [10:35]
A
Which is a lot different than looking at some recommendations online that you try to sort out. Wait, is that written by an actual person who bought this thing or not? Or what is this?
- [10:45]
B
Right? There is real value in human advice.
- [10:48]
A
Okay, well, another rule I see is to not ask for a discount. Even if a local shop owner could maybe perhaps give one more than a chain brand, why not ask local store owners for discounts?
- [11:02]
B
The way that goods are priced in an independent retailer is a little different to how they're priced in a big box store. They just don't have the margins for it. It's not appropriate to haggle with a small business owner like you might if you are at, I don't know, a flea market. Even so, I think this idea of haggling for a better price is outdated in general.
- [11:23]
A
Outdated in general. Well, let's get to another recommendation. 212-433-9692. James from Manhattan, welcome to all of it.
- [11:35]
D
Thank you for having me.
- [11:36]
A
Do you have a recommendation for the Bronx?
- [11:39]
D
I certainly do. I highly recommend the Bronx Beer hall, which is in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, which by itself, I don't know if your host, your guest, mentioned the Arthur Avenue Retail Market. She very well might have. But it's an incredible old school big building with all kinds of vegetable markets and seafood and sandwiches and Italian specialties. And in the middle of this beer, of this big market, the two brothers, the Ramirez brothers, opened a place called the Bronx Beer hall, which is sort of like an open air bar with some tables and bar stools that you can stop and have a beer in the middle of this tremendous atmosphere of people shopping for their vegetables and their dinners. And you can bring food from the different vendors in the place over to the beer hall, to their tables and they have a revolving, incredible, revolving menu of New York State beers. Just an amazing place. And the two brothers that started are really, really great guys. They're really trying to promote Bronx businesses and just highly recommend the place.
- [12:43]
A
Very cool. Thank you. James. Is that a place you're familiar with?
- [12:45]
B
Oh yeah. The Arthur Avenue retail market is such a great place to start. When you go to Arthur Avenue, have a beer, have an espress so you can get hand rolled cigars there, you can buy produce, you can get a sandwich, you can find it all there.
- [12:55]
A
And I want to get to a few more things on your list because we have a lot to get to here. And you got to describe this place to us. Dan's parents house. This is City island, right? You've listed this. It's located at 239 City Island Avenue. Now what is this? This is your friend Dan's parents house.
- [13:16]
B
This is a house that is packed full of nostalgic vintage toys. And it started out because Dan, who the store is named for, Dan and his wife had all these toys from his own 80s childhood, from his mother's. He's born and raised in the Bronx. From his mother's attic that he started selling at, I believe the Brooklyn Flea and it turned into a full fledged retail store. And they have like mint condition Barbies in their boxes. You can get old trading cards in their original packages. They have these really fun mystery boxes that you can buy that are just full of toys and stickers and all these bits and bobs. It is a really fun place to explore.
- [13:50]
A
I took a look at it online yesterday and it looks amazing. I mean it looks like a place you need to explore. And the store's website says, quote, your childhood revisited.
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B
Yeah, that is very accurate. Yeah. Take a day trip to City island and spend a couple hours searching around Dan's parents house. It's a lot of fun.
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A
It definitely seems like a place where nostalgia and toys intersect. But don't just spend all that time as you're saying, maybe think about getting something as a gift.
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B
Oh yeah, yeah. I think for a friend who has a particular affinity for something from their childhood, is a great place. Or if you're shopping for children and you are of the belief that toys were better back in the 80s and 90s, which I think many of us feel that way, you can find them something special there.
- [14:36]
A
Very cool. And again, just because the name is a bit, I want to make sure I say the name correctly. Dan's parents house, City Island.
- [14:45]
B
That's right.
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A
Okay. And we're getting a text here. This is for a place that I believe is on your list. The Lit Bar independent bookstore in the Bronx.
- [14:53]
B
Oh, yeah, the Lit Bar is in Mott Haven. It is a bookstore that has a little bar in the back, which is very much a current trend, opening a bookstore with a bar in it. But Noel Santos, who opened this shop in 2019, was very much ahead of the curve. And she opened this shop in response to the Barnes and Noble in the Bronx, which was the only bookstore in the Bronx closing. And it's an amazing bookstore that covers all genres, but they specialize in representation for their home community in the Bronx. You find a lot of books that take place in the Bronx that are about the Bronx, that are children's books about black culture, that are about Hispanic culture. It's a really special shop that is a bookstore for the Bronx by somebody from the Bronx.
- [15:37]
A
Very cool. And also, there's another place in Mott Haven that you have here, Bronx Native. This is an apparel store.
- [15:44]
B
Yeah, it's an apparel store. It's a community hub. It's a little bit of everything. Amaris, who owns this shop, does tons of community initiatives. He does food drives. He does big events on the sidewalk. They have an event every year called Bronx Native Day, where they have performers and artists, and they just celebrate Bronx culture. But what he does in the store is he makes merch and clothing that's about the Bronx and collaborates with other institutions like the New York Botanical Garden. He has a whole line of things there with the mantra rooted in the Bronx, which is cute because it's at the Botanical Garden. And it's a really great place if you're buying streetwear or apparel for somebody who has a lot of Bronx pride.
- [16:26]
A
We're getting a text here. I love Dan's. I think that's a reference to Dan's parents house. A great place to spend some time and find some cool stuff. Oh, let's see here. The Lit Bar. We got to. What about something in Fordham Heights? Let's head to Fordham Heights for a store called Takeout. Am I saying that right?
- [16:46]
B
That's right.
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A
This is not a place to take out food, though.
- [16:48]
B
No, it is not. It is a really, really cool streetwear store. And unlike a lot of the streetwear stores that exist in New York City, they have things for kids, they have things for women. It is not just men's clothes and sneakers, and they do a lot of limited sneaker releases. But they also really easy, giftable, cool accessories and clothing by brands like Gramici and North Face. And it's a really special place. You can even go there to get things like say your daughter wants a pair of adidas sambas. And you just cannot bear the thought of going to the adidas store in soho. You can go to takeout and get that there.
- [17:24]
A
I see another rule here that I want to mention, another etiquette tip of yours, and that is to respect the inventory. What does that mean?
- [17:33]
B
Wow. It means a lot of things. First of all, please don't bring food and beverages into a shop. And if you do have a coffee, consider putting it by the door or even asking the person behind the counter where you should put it. It is unbelievable to me how many people I know who work in bookstores who complain about people putting their coffee on books, which is appalling. They're made out of paper. You cannot do that. And another thing too that's really helpful, specifically this time of year is if you're shopping and you gather some things and you decide you no longer want to purchase them, please don't put them on a random display. Please bring them to the counter and give them to the person checking you out so they can put them back in the appropriate place. That saves us a lot of time and helps us keep our shops organized and nice for the rest of the customers.
- [18:18]
A
And speaking about shops, let's talk about your shop. Just as we wrap up here, people who love to shop locally might want to know about your store, the locavore variety store. It's at 434 Sixth Ave. In Manhattan.
- [18:31]
B
Yeah, we specialize in products made within 100 miles of new York city by independently owned brands. So everything is hyper local. And we really, we really do well at this time of year because we sell a lot of gifty things. Especially for your last minute stocking stuffers this week. It's a great place to come and buy all the things that you may have forgotten.
- [18:50]
A
What are some of the top items this year for stocking stuffers?
- [18:53]
B
Oh, well, we. This. And this I think is an indicator of how people are shopping this year. We cannot keep roll on body glitter in stock.
- [19:01]
A
What?
- [19:01]
B
Which is. It sounds silly, but we sell this roll on body glitter that's $10. And it's very reminiscent of these types of like fun, cheap, cheerful beauty products from like the early 2000s. And I think this, this year especially because there's so much economic volatility, people want something that's going to inspire nostalgia that's going to be joyful and that isn't going to cost them a million dollars. And so that's an indicator of that.
- [19:26]
A
That's a fun thing to pop into. A few stockings and everything seems more festive all of a sudden.
- [19:31]
B
Absolutely. Yeah. You're never too old for a little glitter.
- [19:35]
A
Fantastic. Well, our guest has been Caroline Weaver, creator of the locavore guide and author of the book the locavore Guide to Shopping New York City 2026. And she's joining us every week this month to talk about small business holiday shopping in each of New York's five boroughs. We've been talking about the Bronx today. We're finishing next week with Queens. Thanks, car, Caroline.
- [19:57]
B
Thank you.
- [19:59]
A
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