If you’re looking for a way to consume more sustainably, try checking out some small businesses in the area! Shopping small makes it easier to know where your products are coming from, who is making them, and what materials they are made of. Also, buying from small businesses helps support your fellow community members. As we begin to transition into the holiday season, here are a few small businesses in the Rochester area that you should check out!
- Akimbo Bookshop: https://akimbobooks.org/about-us
Akimbo Bookshop is an independent bookstore in the Neighborhood of the Arts, featuring small publishers, social justice fiction, international fiction, and more! The shop is located on University Ave and holds events such as author readings, teach-ins, mutual aid events, live music shows, and artist exhibitions. There are options to buy books online and customers can sign up for a yearly membership that gives you a discount on purchases. - Fuego Coffee Roasters: https://fuegocoffee.com/
Fuego Coffee is an independent coffee shop in the Washington Square neighborhood “passionate about cultivating a conscious community around coffee”. One of the shop’s main goals is to maintain close and supportive relationships with their partner farms in El Salvador and Colombia. Fuego Coffee also strives to help the local community by fundraising for nonprofits and hosting food and supply drives. They serve coffee, tea, kombucha, and food from several local restaurants. - Marilla’s Mindful Supplies: https://marillas.com/pages/about
If you haven’t heard of a refill store, it is a shop that carries a wide variety of household supplies in bulk to limit use of single-use plastic containers. Customers bring their own containers or bags to purchase items. Marilla’s Mindful Supplies is exactly that; they carry an assortment of necessities such as soap, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, and even bulk pantry ingredients like beans, nuts, and spices. - Rochester Public Market: https://www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmarket/
A highly popular attraction for Rochester residents, the public market boasts a great assortment of fresh produce and other foods, brought to booths by a wide selection of vendors. Check out what’s in season and enjoy great prices on fresh, local food. In addition to fruits and vegetables, you can also find cheeses and meats, freshly made empanadas, and hot drinks. EBT is accepted here. - Stacy K Floral: https://stacykfloral.com/
If you’re looking to get floral arrangements for an event or as a gift for someone this holiday season, definitely check out Stacy K Floral, a local florist specializing in a ton of different services. These include weddings, miscellaneous events, single bouquets, and Stacy K also has a selection of gift boxes, candles, plants, and more! - Women of Color New York: https://www.wocny.com/
Women of Color New York is a collaboration of women-owned businesses, including products for fashion, beauty/wellness, and decor. This is a great hub if you are looking for different kinds of products created by Black-owned entrepreneurs.
Written by Carmen Marshall ’25
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash