A Shopping Guide for the Shopper

Where to Find the Best Shops in Venice

Whenever we travel, one of the things I look for is a place where we can purchase an ornament or fridge magnet that highlights the area that we visited. While we are on the hunt for the best ornament or magnet, we often run into really neat stores that offer one of a kind gifts and products that can be used back home. Venice, Florida has several of these shops and we are going to discuss the two that stood out the most to us. One of the shops was a one-stop-shop that literally had everything you would want from Florida. Here are The Best Shops in Venice, FL.

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The Best Bookshop

The Island Bookshop

206 Miami Avenue West

The Island Bookshop is a unique bookshop that is beautifully arranged and is a great place to find a unique book or gift for that lover of books in your group. It is owned by two college professors who love to share their passion for learning and reading. They have created a bookshop that cultivates a community environment that inspires reading (1).

The island bookshop sells new books, art, and photography some of which are created by local residents. The Island Bookshop is involved in many reading and writing groups, along with community outreach programs which define the bookshop’s mission(1). A great place to cultivate the reader in you and in your children. I would recommend making a stop here to enjoy this beautiful shop.

The children’s section has a wonderful array of books that are fun and educational, making reading less of a chore and more of an activity. Here you can find some classics as well as newer written books. My wife collects children books for our little one, and she always finds a good book in this little book store.

Another area that stood out is the front window, which is always decorated with seasonal décor. This makes it much more inviting and gives off a cozy feel. As soon as we walked into this bookshop, we felt instantly relaxed and were able to peruse at our leisure. Since the owners are avid readers themselves, they have a wonderful collection of books that can be somewhat hard to find. I saw several books that I would want to acquire for my personal library.

If time allows and you are taking that after lunch or breakfast walk, make a stop here. The bookshop and owners give a pretty good preview of the culture that makes up Venice, FL. So grab a coffee, buy a book and enjoy an afternoon of casual reading in one of the many beautiful parks in Venice, FL.

The Best Gift Shop

Venice Stationers

211 W Venice Avenue

Venice Stationers is hands down the best gift shop in Venice and maybe even the West Coast of Florida. This wonderful gift shop has been a staple in the Venice community since 1954. The shop has all kinds of gifts and items ranging from stationery, games, and gifts, to garden and home décor. You will find something for everyone. Just an overall great store to peruse and take a break from the hot Florida sun.

My wife and I walked into the Venice Stationers gift shop and thought we would just stop by for a minute. An hour later we found kitchen items, nightlights made out of seashells, a painting for our kitchen, a kitchen floor mat with coastal design and a beautiful picture frame to remind us of our time in Venice, FL. This shop even has a small Lilly Pulitzer section. You can see why they go by the moto “The store with a bit of everything” (2).

The Lilly Pulitzer section pictured above is well appointed and showcases some of the other items Lilly has that my not be well known. You cannot travel to Florida and not pick out something made by Lilly Pulitzer. This brand is the embodiment of Florida. Despite the brand’s costs the store offered very reasonable prices for many of the items they carried from Lilly Pulitzer.

The section with the metal crane artwork and other various home décor was very interesting and will remind you of your trip to Venice, FL.

The puzzle and board game section was very neat as well. Many of the puzzles depict art pieces by various artists that usually resemble popular pictures or local area attractions. I think we found a set of puzzles that all depict various works by Thomas Kinkade.

Another great section was the Home Décor area. Here you will see several different designs for a lazy Susan. A great piece of art that not only looks great but is functional too. We bought one for our breakfast table and love it. We use it to pass condiments and other small side dishes.

Conclusion

That was our take on the Best Shops in Venice or at least notable ones you should prioritize. What I love about Venice is that it does not give you that same cookie cutter shopping experience that is predominate in a lot of larger cities in Florida. Instead, you get more of a slower paced intimate feel that allows you to not only peruse individual shops that are unique but also enjoy the surrounding area.

This is made possible by the relaxed culture that makes up Venice, FL. The well-manicured lawns and landscaped parks, the tree lined boulevards and colorful buildings all create a laid back and more enjoyable experience as you walk up and down the sidewalk lined streets. Venice is truly a special city and one I hope you can enjoy someday.

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References

1. The Island Bookshop (2022) https://www.theislandbookshop.com/
2. Venice Stationers (2022) https://www.venicestationersfl.com/

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