Unique Holiday Shopping in Elizabeth City

Elizabeth City’s downtown shops and a special exhibition at Museum of the Albemarle make November fun.

Black Friday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year but it doesn’t have to be stressful or overwhelming if you shop in Elizabeth City. Its downtown stores provide a rewarding holiday shopping experience and in a world of big-box stores, these shops offer a refreshing change. And don’t forget about supporting these venues on Small Business Saturday on November 24 which helps boost the local economy.

Need something for the bibliophile in your life? Look no further than Page After Page (111 S. Water. St.; 252-335-7243), a full-service bookstore located across the street from scenic Mariners’ Wharf Park. In addition to the large selection of books in stock, the store will order just about any book a customer wants including out-of-print titles. Books can also be shipped to any location in the U.S.

Specializing in fine handcrafted, estate, and unusual jewelry, Eclectic Jewelry (513 E. Fearing St.; 252-331-2770) offers a wide selection of options. The store also offers services that allow customers to redesign an heirloom piece or to select gemstones and setting to bring their own design to life.

What began as a pop-up shop during the 2017 N. C. Potato Festival, Lazzy Frog (603 E. Fearing St.; 252-338-2328) is now a boutique with a variety of casual clothing for women, men and children. It also has Elizabeth City- and North Carolina-themed items. Check out the Longitude and Latitude tee shirt and the NC trucker hat—both available in several colors.

Want to add a personalized touch to that great find? In Stitches (507 E. Main St.; 252-338-3094) provides custom embroidery in a variety of fonts and colors. The store also offers a selection of clothing, accessories and gifts—from baby bathrobes to freeze pop holders to toilet paper—that can all be monogrammed.

Arts of the Albemarle (516 E. Main St.; 252-335-6455) offers a treasure trove of items interspersed throughout the galleries. There are paintings available but also rugs, hand-thrown mugs, silk-screened scarves, and notecards featuring iconic locations in Elizabeth City.

Filled to the brim with art and vintage furniture, home décor, and collectibles, Tina Clancy’s Art and Antique Connection (116 N. Poindexter St.; 252-339-3868) has something for every age and taste. In addition to the broad selection of items, the store does furniture restoration for customers and also offers repurposed and revived pieces for sale.

Committed to original quality handcrafts and historical and educational items that are representative of the region, the Museum Gift Shop at Museum of the Albemarle (501 S. Water St.; 252-335-1453) showcases artisans from northeastern North Carolina. Hand-painted glass ornaments, embroidered hand towels and lighthouses made from local cotton mill spools are among the items available.

And once you’ve finished up at the gift shop, be sure to see the exhibition, ‘River Bridge: Sunken Secrets’ on the second floor of the museum. Discoveries from an erstwhile port, known as River Bridge, has historians studying thousands of artifacts, more than 300 years old, found in the tannic, coffee-colored waters of the Pasquotank River. Shedding new light on trade and commerce practices in the region from the 1700s to the early 1900s, the relics obtained from the excavation site include dinner plates from the Revolutionary War years, a German broad axe from the early 1700s, and everyday items like work boots, beer tankards, and hand-decorated chamber pots. Nearly 300 of the 10,000 artifacts uncovered, many of which have never been seen anywhere else, are currently on display at MoA.

Come and experience all our area has to offer and please share your favorite adventures with us by tagging your photos on social media with #DiscoverECity.

Simone Cooper is a publicist and branding specialist who is also a mid-century modern fanatic. When she’s not assisting clients with messaging, you can find her hunting for furniture and housewares from the 1960s.

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