2025 Best of the Best Winners: SHOP

Shop: The Best of Style and Shopping

Place to Play Dress-Up: Thrift Pony 

This resale shop is bright pink and glittery, a walk-in treasure chest of vintage dresses, low-rise cargos, and fuzzy jackets of all sizes. Dressing rooms are wallpapered in vintage magazines, and the mirror has a squiggly pink frame. 1824 Statesville Ave., Ste. 103

Place to Get Tins of Fish: The Culture Shop 

If celebrities had to stock their pantries in Charlotte, this is where they’d go. Shelves are lined with provisions like really good cheese, natural wines, and, of course, the modern-day cool-cat snack: tinned fish. The Culture Shop carries everything under the sea—smoked caviar, Fishwife anchovies, octopus paté. Get a sleeve of fancy crackers and a tin of fish, and settle into that omega 3-rich, salty high that only fish packaged in metal can provide. 1425 Kennon St.

Place to Cast a Spell: Sanctuary Imports 

Sometimes, we all need a jar of dried herbs to throw in a pot and cast a little spell. Sanctuary Imports in Plaza Midwood is a metaphysical playground that hosts new moon circles, tea gatherings, Reiki, sound baths, and Tarot readings. If you’ve ever wanted your aura photo taken, they can do that, too. 822 Lamar Ave.

Meat to Support Western North Carolina: The Chop Shop Butchery

One of the easiest ways to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts is to shop Western North Carolina businesses. Asheville-based whole-animal butcher Chop Shop Butchery has a location in Myers Park. When you buy its (gorgeous) short ribs or pork chops, you support not only the shop but also the Western North Carolina farmers who supply it. 2820 Selwyn Ave., Ste. 160

Paint Store to Get DIY-Inspired: CLT Paint Cures

This south Charlotte retailer is the only woman-owned, independent paint store in the state. Find top brands like Benjamin Moore, Romabio, and Golden Paintworks, plus luxury brands like Little Greene. Owner and color expert Kristine Compton, who worked at the store for almost 20 years before taking it over, is always there with a smile and helpful guidance. 8706 Pineville-Matthews Road, Ste. 120

Old School Golf Club Whisperer: John Gamble, Carolina Golf Manufacturing

When something’s a bit off-kilter with your club—and you’re certain it’s not the person swinging it—Johnny’s your guy. You’ll find golfers of all levels lined up inside his Plaza Midwood shop waiting for him to tinker with their drivers. 2917 Central Ave., Ste. B 

Prime Fish Cellar

Sake and Provisions Shop: Prime Fish Cellar

When you want an encore of anything you tasted at Omakase Experience, head a few doors down to this gourmet market and bottle shop in Providence Plaza. It’s stocked with rare wines, premium sakes, fresh wasabi root from Japan, and hard-to-find ingredients to make your own sushi. It’s also the only Charlotte retailer to carry the Yubari King muskmelon, one of the world’s most expensive fruits. If you’re in a rush, grab a fresh sashimi box or some A5 wagyu meatballs from the freezer. If you have some time, stay to sample caviar and wine flights. 2921 Providence Road

Cocktail Mixers: Spirits of Alchemy 

Most cocktail mixers taste overly sweet and artificial. But each bottle from Charlotte-based Spirits of Alchemy feels dialed and packaged. One of its Old Fashioned mixers blends cinnamon and smoked cayenne pepper, while its Cast Away product, fusing mango and pineapple, conjures Caribbean vibes. All varieties can be found on the company’s website or at local shops, including Sip City, Moxie Mercantile, Tip Top Daily Market, and Paper Skyscraper locations.

Sports Card Selection: Replay Sports Cards

This South End shop has sealed boxes, rare cards, and an adorkable staff that’s schooled in specific eras and players. Check their schedule for monthly Rip Nights where you can buy, sell, and trade with fellow collectors and enjoy free giveaways. 115 E. Park Ave., Ste. C

Noelle Muñoz models her Soñadora necklace, 6-Stone ring, Bones bracelet, and Solara earrings.

Boho Modern Jewelry: Noelle Muñoz

It’s hard to watch Noelle Muñoz at her workbench and call her a jewelry designer. When she’s bouncing between the torch, soldering tools, clamps, metal files, and polishing machine, it feels disrespectful to call her anything other than an artisan. Her jewelry blends architectural shapes and Mexican iconography, resulting in striking silver and gold statement pieces that whisper rather than yell. On her website, you’ll find a range of earrings, necklaces, and rings under $200 as well as bold signature pieces like her Bones bracelet ($825) and the Soñadora necklace ($835).

Place to Get Your Giddy Up: El Potrero Western Wear 

This ain’t Texas, but you can pass for a Lone Star native after a trip to this east Charlotte store. Find a vast selection of western hats, boots, leather belts, and apparel for men, women, and kids from brands like Ariat, Stetson, and Cuadra. If the vibe is cowboy-chic, this is the place to shop. 3036 Eastway Drive

Community in Motion: VisArt Video 

Charlotte’s last video rental store officially became a nonprofit in 2021. With a rarity-filled trove of 50,000-plus titles, the store boasts “the largest collection of film and video on the East Coast.” Beyond access to that treasure, visitors to this east Charlotte spot can take advantage of VisArt’s educational programming, special screenings, coffee shop, and community events. 3104 Eastway Drive

PC Paradise: Micro Center 

Think of it as a Home Depot for home office tech. Micro Center carries row upon row of computing products, 3D printers, robotics kits, graphics cards, gaming-specific upgrades, and much more. One major attraction for 3D printer enthusiasts: a filament-dispensing robot that produces your selection in seconds. 4744 South Blvd.

Place to Get and Save a Goldfish: The Fish Room of Charlotte

This team knows aquatic pets: what they like, who gets along with whom, and plant preferences. They also know enough about water purification technology to earn an honorary science degree. When your kid’s betta fish seems to be panting on the bottom of the tank, they’ll do triage with you over the phone and walk you through the remedy. Whether you have a wall-to-wall tropical aquarium or a singular swimmer in a bowl, this place will take your fish family seriously. 8129 Ardrey Kell Road, Ste. 103

Paper Goods: Good Postage

Many folks still love a nice handwritten note. Good Postage has the materials for that and much more at its Camp North End store—with paper that’s recycled and printed locally. Beyond its notecards, notebooks, and writing tools, you’ll also find original art, art supplies, pouches, totes, and more. 1824 Statesville Ave., Ste. 106A

Christmas Superstore: Holiday House & Co. Pop-Up

This isn’t the place to go for a new ornament or strand of lights. This is the spot for those who want to make Santa gasp when he sees your tree. We’re told they’ll be back this year in a new location.

Courtesy, Belmont Bookshop

Bookshelf Wealth: Belmont Bookshop

Browse books and vinyl records, play board games, have a drink with friends, and let the kids explore the indoor treehouse. The big green chalkboard in the back always has a schedule of events, like book release parties, kids story times, and blind date book clubs (if you know, you know). 7 N. Main St., Belmont

BOBlight: 

Overstock Resellers

Our readers love to shop, and we all go nuts for a deal. When we reported the opening of Reclectic, the overstock discount store for Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People, half a million people interacted with the post. So brace yourself—Charlotte’s got more. There’s Where Ya Bin, an Amazon overstock and returns store in Matthews (1834 Matthews Township Parkway, Ste. 100) and Concord (30 Branchview Drive NE); Fast Design (4746 Sweden Road), a Target home liquidation warehouse; and the Frontgate outlet (9571A South Blvd.), which sells discounted returns, overstock items, and minorly damaged goods from the pricey home furnishing retailer.