Pop-Up Shops: Areaware's Stop Shop Brings High Design to Port Authority

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Areaware's holiday Stop Shop pop-up is a curated collection of unique, high design gifts options in the middle of a neighborhood known more for falafel and porn. Squatting in the same Port Authority space that hosted the first Save Fashion, Stop Shop is sort of a cooler, more expensive, skewed-older Urban Outfitters stocked with upscale novelties and impulse purchases. You certainly don't need hyper-realistic metallic piggy banks, artisinal dinnerware printed with red-winged blackbirds, or cast plaster rollerskates—but these artful oddities would make delightful presents for that slightly hard-to-shop-for art snob on your list.

Open through January 2nd, the quirky merchandising and retro-ridiculous holiday displays definitely make a visit worthwhile even if you're not in the market for Kid Robot, those ceramic deli coffee mug dealies, or a new STRiDA folding mini-bike. That said, a trip is very necessary for independent designer clothing whores. Find a selection of Kenzo Minami tees starting at $50; woolly United Bamboo outerwear starting at about $500 (prices are about 25% below retail); plus a fine selection of wearables by A Détacher, threeASFOUR, Cheap Monday and Rogan. Then, since you're in the neighborhood, you might as well pick up some falafel and porn.
· Spot Check: Gifts for Arty Tourists at Areaware [Racked]
· Areaware Stop Shop [Official Site]