Caroline Weaver took on a bold challenge in 2022: mapping every independent shop in New York City on foot. Logging up to eight hours daily, she traversed more than 1,000 miles and explored 10,000 stores before unveiling the Locavore Guide, an online directory spotlighting NYC’s independent retailers.
She soon followed up by launching The Locavore Variety Store in Greenwich Village, a compact space brimming exclusively with products craed within a 100-mile radius of the city.
Classic Retail Vibes and Local Sourcing
The shop evokes timeless retail charm through peg boards, gondola shelving, and an orange bodega-style countertop with slanted candy racks—all procured from nearby Brooklyn. Items range from classic shop door bells and glow-in-the-dark hair bobbles to iconic plastic Wiffle balls cherished by kids nationwide.
Weaver designed the store to highlight local manufacturing’s diversity. “Local goods go far beyond cottage cras like handmade soap, pottery, or textiles,” she says. “They include all sorts of factory-made items, if you scrutinize the label’s fine print.”
Everyday Essentials and Quirky Finds
Standouts include the Pequa drain unclogger ($8) produced in Great Neck, Long Island; New Jersey’s Kiss-Off stain-remover stick ($6.50); and Pennsylvania’s Squigle Tooth Builder Sensitive Toothpaste ($11). These practical picks pair with whimsical gis, such as holiday-favorite glass pickle ornaments ($28) and Joya Studio scented candles ($60) in vessels replicating Brooklyn-Queens Expressway water towers.
Weaver praises the candles as “the most stylish New York City souvenir available.” The runaway bestseller: Cannoli Bar ($15 for six) from a Long Island family bakery. “It truly captures the cannoli flavor,” she notes.
The Growing Locavore Guide
The online Locavore Guide now catalogs over 14,000 shops, with a mobile app in development. Its annual print edition ($25) showcases Weaver’s picks of 789 standout spots, including bonsai experts at Dandy Farmer and NYC’s final tack shop, Manhattan Saddlery. The layout nods to Yellow Pages and vintage Zagat guides.
Locavore exclusives feature Shops of NYC trading cards ($10) and Baseball Scoring Pencils ($12) craed at America’s oldest pencil factory in Jersey City.
Fostering Community in NYC Shopping
Weaver engages followers on Instagram with lively videos of her bike quests for rarities like pillbox hats and lilac perfumes, alongside breakdowns of independent retail dynamics. She currently pens Shop World, a book delving into the sector.
At its core, Locavore builds connections. “Opting for a real store over convenience yields extras like walking exercise, in-person chats, or petting an adorable cat,” Weaver explains. “These intangible perks enrich urban living beyond simple purchases.”
The Locavore Variety Store sits at 434 6th Avenue, NYC 10011; thelocavore.shop
