For last-minute stocking stuffers, look no further than Monkey Wrench Books.
’Twas the week before Christmas, and all through Morgantown, many a creature was stirring in its search for eleventh-hour gifts. Whether you’re a chronic last-minute shopper or time just got away from you this year, we won’t judge. In fact, we have the answer to your dilemma—turn away from online shopping and turn toward Morgantown’s many locally owned businesses.
Start your shopping at Monkey Wrench Books, Morgantown’s independent downtown bookstore, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. They’ve got gifts for more than just the bookworm in your life—there’s something for the Mountaineer, the cat lover, and the fashionista, to name a few.
If you can, bring cash—credit card fees are among the shop’s top expenses.
To make your search easier, cafe manager Gray Buchanan chose some great stocking stuffers from the shop’s best-selling items and employee favorites:
Good & Well Supply Co. Mountaineer candle
“These little candles are actually new to us. They’re really aromatic, but it’s also a fun company that donates $1 of proceeds to different outdoor organizations for each candle, and we love stuff like that,” Buchanan says. “Anything that helps support each other is always a really good thing.”
Zen Garden Litter Box
“This is just one of our best sellers, and it’s just so completely cute and kitschy. We’re also giant cat people—everyone on staff has a cat,” says Buchanan. “We even have an entire cat section.”
Leather keychains
“These little keychains are really, really, really durable, and they sell really well,” says Buchanan. “I put one on my keys four months ago as soon as we got them in.”
While you’re shopping, warm your hands with a coffee, tea, or hot cocoa from the cafe, and choose from the seasonal menu for extra festive flavors. That’s not all that makes Monkey Wrench Books’ drinks so special—Buchanan actually makes all of the syrups.
“Whatever strikes my fancy in a given season, I’ll come up with some fun little syrups,” Buchanan says. “The Brown Sugar Fall Spice has been selling like crazy.”
Gift cards make a great gift for a hard-to-buy-for person, but for small businesses, it can mean decreased revenue from January through March. Instead, consult your local bookworm—the friendly faces at Monkey Wrench Books are always happy to recommend books and knick knacks for even the toughest of cookies.
Or, turn to one of the store’s best-selling sections and our personal favorite here at Morgantown magazine: shelves and shelves filled with books about Appalachia, by Appalachian writers.
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