The holidays are marked by festive activities, such as spending time with family and friends, decorating homes, and of course, shopping. Whether you find holiday shopping enjoyable or stressful, a little guidance can spark creative gift ideas. So, I wanted to share some Freehold holiday shopping ideas that might help you check a few names off your list.
Especially For You Florist & Gift Shop on West Main Street carries a wide variety of options for both gift giving and decorating. With offerings from signature holiday floral arrangements to classics like roses, this local shop, which opened in 1976, is a great place to start holiday shopping. I chatted with Owner Marlene Rogala, who said flowers, whether to mark a milestone or for the holidays, are always a surprise. “People don’t expect to get flowers. It lifts their day,” she said. This unique shop also offers customers Freehold logo giftware like glasses, hats, and key rings, jewelry, and the works of local artists, like Mary Caruso-Albert and Toni Field. I especially appreciated how both artists capture the spirit of downtown Freehold in their collections. During the holidays, Rogala said, the shop also offers outdoor wreaths fully adorned with pinecones and bows.
Next, Calgo Gardens, described by owner Penny Estomin as a cooperative of “artful businesses,” provides a full encounter with nature, including In Bloom nursery, and the opportunity to shop at The Barn, a one-of-a-kind gift shop. “For the holidays, The Barn gift shop offers a curated assortment of gifts for home, garden and everyone who enjoys artful gifts. Our mission is to bring our customers whimsical, natural, recycled merchandise made in America and Global Fair Trade,” explained Estomin. She listed jewelry, pottery, blown glass, home accents and unique clothing as examples of the curated items from artisans around the world. “Our special assortment for the holidays includes glass blown ornaments and menorahs, recycled wooden and metal trees, hand forged iron candle sticks, beautifully crafted candles and so much more. Each space in the store tells its own story,” Estomin said.
Calgo Gardens at 462 Adelphia Road is also home to Tulip Tree Café, a perfect place to buy gift cards for family and friends who value organic foods. This farm-to-table cafe features a menu filled with healthy options like avocado and tomato toast, baby arugula salad with Jersey peaches, and a roasted veggie sandwich, just to name a few. Heidi Schulz, owner and chef, stated that the cafe spotlights “the freshest ingredients procured from local farms, on site gardens and high-quality fruit and produce markets.” Schulz pointed out that the cafe, which has an experienced staff of all women, promotes “best practices that respect the Earth and the Environment.” Whether picking up a gift card or enjoying a locally grown meal, I value the dedication of Tulip Tree Cafe’s natural approach to food. The Barn, Tulip Tree Cafe and In Bloom nursery all complement each other and work together to offer holiday fun,” said Estomin.
Continuing this shopping journey, I found some incredible options at the Freehold Raceway Mall.
Aveda, a store that specializes in hair and skin products for women and men, was founded in 1978. Since then, customers have been drawn not only to the quality of their products, but also to their commitment to the environment. Offering vegan and environmentally friendly products, Aveda caters to nourishing hair and skin. For the holidays, I am pleased to share that Aveda has merry gift boxes (ranging in price from about $30 to $75) filled with beauty items, like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, moisturizer, and scalp lotion, for the person on your shopping list who appreciates products specific to their hair and skin type without causing damage. “It’s important to our customers to not have products with chemicals and toxins because they damage the hair and scalp,” according to Maureen “Mo” Champion, store manager. Aveda uses recycled products for packaging, Champion added.
Continuing in the mall, I found the Lego store. Here, I can shop readily for children (and adults) of all ages. From special holiday Lego sets, like the new Santa Post Office, to the Lego Holiday Main Street, these items combine the fun of building with the joy of the holidays. Other favorite items include the ever-popular Star Wars sets and the beautiful Botanical Collection. I spoke with Isabella Cividanes, Lego store supervisor, about the enduring popularity of this classic brand. “Everybody knows Lego. Parents introduce it to their children,” she said. All ages buy Legos, Cividanes added. She introduced me to Lego Ideas, which provides the opportunity for Lego lovers to design and submit an idea for a new concept. If the idea gains the support of 10,000 people, Lego experts will review the concept. Tuxedo Cat, a very well-liked choice among fans, was conceived through Lego Ideas, according to Cividanes. Home Alone, Colosseum and Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night are also great choices from Lego Ideas. I will definitely introduce Lego Ideas to friends and family who might have a few creative designs of their own.
My final find at the Freehold Raceway Mall, Sugar Bear Candy Store is the perfect stop for sweet treats. Gift ideas at this colorful candy store offer easy-to-grab favorites from gummy bears to chocolates to nuts. Owner Gabby Zaman shared that Sugar Bear Candy Store is collaborating with GODIVA this holiday season. “We will have boxed items filled with a variety of chocolate,” she said. These easily recognizable gold boxes will start at $19.99. I asked Zaman what’s hot at her store, and she quickly replied – The Dubai Chocolate Bar. This pistachio-filled bar was made popular on TikTok. Zaman said teens frequent her store, and TikTok is part of the reason. So, for chocolate lovers on my shopping list, I can place a check mark.
Freehold shops have so much to offer during this often-hectic time of year. But with a thought-out list in hand, I have no doubt that the search will bring its own holiday joy. — 07728
