3 stores that all have *one* thing in common
And where I decided to spend some money.
Hey Geezers,
If you’re looking to spend some money in Minneapolis from the comfort of your own desk, couch or bed today, The Locavore Guide based out of NYC has some excellent ideas for you on her Instagram post here.
(And my succinct thoughts on what’s happening in Minneapolis here!)
Local businesses are what give a neighborhood its pulse. In Brooklyn, it’s the bodega with the elite turkey sandwich; the bookstores; the bagel shop where, Monday through Friday, you have to beat the high schoolers to the cinnamon raisin bagels (what is it with teens and cinnamon raisin? I don’t want competition over what should be the least popular bagel flavor); the nail salons; the plant shops and card and gift stores.
It’s the hardware store that’s been run by the same guy since 1989. He has a great laugh. He also makes fun of you for losing your keys because he’s made, conservatively, seven copies for you in the last four years.
These are the small places that quietly turn a collection of streets into a community. Hello! It’s Sesame Street!
The Locavore does an incredible job at documenting and stocking “an emporium of local goods, all grown/baked/created/pickled within 100 miles of New York City”.
Beware, it is easy to get lost in this site or her store.
But today she’s branching out and sharing Minnesota storefronts that could use your dollars. And hey, who here doesn’t love to shop? That’s what I thought.
Here are three that caught my eye (though all would be worthy of your purchases!):
Find Furnish: Vintage homeware and furniture at extremely reasonable prices (especially if you are used to the NYC and LA vintage scenes!). They will ship small items; art and dishware, vases, etc, anywhere in the country. And they can ship bigger items on a case-by-case basis. So if you see your dream chair or dream desk, they will work with a carrier they trust (or one you love!) and figure out pricing and timing of shipping.
This avocado green viking dish is $28 at FindFurnish; someone beat me to buying it!
BenchPressed: This letterpress, design and retail shop has great art prints, apparel, accessories, and fun, colorful and happy things. WE NEED FUN, COLORFUL AND HAPPY THINGS. I bought the print below immediately. You can also buy Baggu there; and did you know Baggu was one of our first ever recs? I still carry a folded up tote in my purse at all times. I love feeling prepared. You can get one at BenchPressed!
14Hill Gift Shop: I love — I LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — a gift shop. Just passing through a town for one hour for the first and maybe only time in my life? I will buy a tea towel with that town’s map on it, and you can’t stop me!!!! And while 14Hill has plenty of MN and MPLS wears, it was this hat that really made me realize it was stupid to not own a hat that said “I love pickles” because I really really do.
Everything Caroline at The Locavore suggests is fab. If you’re looking for a new follow, I can’t recommend her enough. Thank you, Caroline, for sharing all of these great storefronts with us and giving us a chance to spend money in MN from wherever we are.
Can’t end the newsletter without thanking my longest-running Gee Thanks! sponsor who makes these free newsletters possible to send to all of my subscribers!
Dermstore, we love you! Right now, you can use code GEETHANKS for 15-25% off almost everything site-wide including our bestseller of 2025, the THERAFACE, which is both a cold and hot massager for your face or anywhere else (no not like THAT). It sold more units in our community than Maya — the first time that has ever happened in Gee Thanks! history.
And also, a cool thing happened the other night that I want to tell you about.
I was seeing Liberation on Tuesday night and during intermission this woman came up to me and she said, “Are you Caroline Moss?” and I nodded, and she pointed down at her pants, which were the exact pants I was wearing (can you guess which ones?). And she said, “Not just these pants, but you also influenced me to raise thousands of dollars on Venmo for mutual aid organizations, just using my small platform.”
Katie, if you’re reading this, you made my 2026.
I bought a ton of great stuff at Benchpressed this summer!