One of Park Slope’s main venues, Fifth Avenue is a shopper’s haven. Admittedly it lacks the grand department stores and ateliers of Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, but it makes up for it with variety and that unique Brooklyn combination of community spirit and quirky individualism. Starting from the northern end of the neighborhood, let’s stop by some of the most notable of the avenue’s shops.
44 Fifth Avenue (between Dean and Bergen Streets)
An offshoot of children’s hair salon and toy store LuLu’s Cuts & Toys (two doors down, at 48 Fifth Avenue), this shop is packed with goodies for tykes who are possibly too young to need a haircut but could still use onesies, plush toys, and picture books. It is chock-a-block with clothes, playthings, and gifts for the littlest of little ones up to four-year-olds. If you need a brush teether that looks like an ear of corn, a panda backpack for your preschooler, a Bob Dylan onesie, or an impossibly soft plush bunny, this is where you will find it. And if you are clueless about babies but need a present, LuLu’s will help you put together a custom baby-shower gift basket.
60 Fifth Avenue (between Bergen Street and St. Marks Place)
In addition to offering interior design services, Items of Interest sells a curated assortment of furnishings, many by local artisans. The aesthetic leans toward unfussy, warm contemporary comfort, though there are pieces for just about every style. Velvet ikat pillows share space with Mongolian wool throws, Danish Modern-inspired chairs keep company with apartment-size sleeper sofas, marble photo frames sit by brass animal figurines.
140 Fifth Avenue (between Baltic and Douglass Streets)
Sure, you can grab a bottle of extra virgin olive oil from the local supermarket. But it is not likely to be, say, Coratina olive oil from Uruguay, “intensely herbaceous and grassy with notes of green almond and cinnamon,” nor infused with chipotles or blood oranges. O Live Brooklyn takes a sommelier’s approach to olive oil—and to vinegars too. If you were already aware of the existence of dark chocolate balsamic vinegar or are now intrigued to try it, this shop is a must-visit. It also sells a carefully chosen assortment of salsas, mustards, spices, gift boxes (the truffle-lover’s box, with two truffle-infused oils, salt, and mustard, will certainly garner you reciprocal dinner-party invites for quite some time), and even body-care products. And you need not be a gourmet to appreciate the stunning range of bowls and boards crafted of richly figured olive wood.
158 Fifth Avenue (between Douglas and Degraw Streets)
Not only are the apparel, jewelry, and accessories sold at this boutique flattering and timelessly fashionable, but they are also eco-friendly and ethically produced. Fabrics are organic, recycled, or artisan-made. In addition to carrying items from brands that meets its criteria, Bhoomki produces its own line of apparel, working with a women-owned factory in India that in turn employs artisans, many of whom craft their wares from their own villages. Recent standouts included handwoven cruelty-free silk scarves in a luscious array of colors achieved using low-impact dyes; shirtwaist dresses made in Bangladesh of organic cotton; silky-soft blouses made from casein, a byproduct of the dairy industry; and hand-cast rings made of upcycled brass.
167 Fifth Avenue (between Lincoln and Berkeley Places)
Whatever the gift-giving occasion and whoever the recipient may be, Pink Olive likely has the perfect present. Dalmatian-print moccasins for babies? Check. Whimsical bowls, mugs, tote bags, and wall prints? Check. Salty Road’s made-in-Brooklyn taffy in such flavors as bergamot and salty caramel apple? Check again. Necklaces with cupcake pendants, dog toys shaped like New York taxis, and all manner of cards to accompany the gifts? Check, check, and check.
229 Fifth Avenue (between President and Carroll Streets)
Like Bhoomki, Diana Kane specializes in ethically produced women’s apparel from local designers and small brands, as well as striking jewelry handcrafted by Kane herself. Cropped joggers from Alternative Apparel made of organic and recycled fabrics and flouncy, feminine cotton shirts from Xirena were among the recent apparel best-sellers.
Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store
232 Fifth Avenue (between President and Carroll Streets)
General stores used to be stocked floor to ceiling with items one absolutely needed. Annie’s is filled with items you likely do not need but will surely want. Take the cheese board by Brooklyn Slate Co. made from stone sourced in upstate New York, the Herbivore Detox Bath Salts, the thermos adorned with the iconic Hudson’s Bay stripes, or the socks bearing the visage of Bob “The Joy of Painting” Ross: Yes, you can live without them—but that does not mean you should.
266 Fifth Avenue (at Garfield Place)
There is no shortage of thrift shops in Park Slope, but that of Housing Works is considered one of the, if not the very, best. Designer clothing and handbags, vintage furniture, books, enough vases to hold several acres’ worth of cut flowers, showstopping art and accents… You could easily while away an entire afternoon here.
316 Fifth Avenue (between Second and Third Streets)
A.P.C., Isabel Marant Etoile, Loeffler Randall, Mara Hoffman, Proenza Schouler, and Tsumori Chisato are among the well-known designers featured at this store selling women’s apparel, footwear, and accessories. But the smaller, up-and-coming labels more than hold their own: streamlined but flirty dresses by Sacai, pants and shirts by Zero + Maria Cornejo that drape perfectly, supple leather handbags by Are Studio that are handcrafted in Los Angeles.
372 Fifth Avenue (between Fifth and Sixth Streets)
This store does indeed sell supplies for superheroes: journals for detailing good deeds, specialty chocolate bars for that extra boost of energy, maps in case the GPS to your super-vehicle breaks, and of course, plenty of capes. And like nearly all superheroes, this quirky shop has a secret identity: It also houses 826NYC, a not-for-profit organization that helps students ages 6-18 improve their writing skills. All purchases from the store support the organization.
374 Fifth Avenue (between Fifth and Sixth Streets)
Whether you are landscaping a backyard, sending a congratulatory bouquet, seeking wedding centerpieces, or in search of a low-maintenance houseplant for the narrowest of windowsills, Zuzu’s Petals can help. Named after a plot point in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” this shop includes a rear patio that in season is a cornucopia of blooms, shrubs, and trees suitable for local gardens; houseplants are available indoors year-round. You can shop pots, planters, and gardening tools too. Zuzu’s also provides florist services for everything from Valentine’s Day to grand festivities, and it will deliver locally.
476 Fifth Avenue (between 10th and 11th Streets)
Mountain bikes at Bicycle Habitat. Image: Erin Nicole Brown Photography/Flickr
Mountain bikes, road bikes, city bikes, kids’ bikes, folding bikes—even recumbent bikes, tricycles, and unicycles: Bicycle Habitat sells them all, plus the parts, tools, and accessories to complement them. The shop has garnered a loyal clientele not only for its wide-ranging offering but also for its knowledgeable staff and extras such as free brake and gear adjustments for the life of your bike.