‘Shop local' queen beat tariffs with store of NYC-made goods
Tucked away at 434 Sixth Ave. in the West Village, the Locavore Variety Store is helmed by 'shop local' queen Caroline Weaver, an entrepreneur on a serious mission to change the way New Yorkers consume.
Since opening a year ago, the 'shop about shopping' has become something of a gold mine for quirky, homegrown finds — sourced within 100 miles of the Big Apple.
Advertisement
8 Since setting up shop a year ago, the Locavore (above) has morphed into a hot spot for offbeat, locally made loot — sourced within 100 miles of the Big Apple.
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
Amid candy-colored decor, quirky displays show off 700 products from over 130 regional makers. There are household essentials — cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils — pantry staples like green goodies made by Eddie's Pickles in Maspeth, Queens, and unusual notions and gifts like cigarette lighters made with Dum Dum gum wrappers by comedian and downtown denizen Amy Sedaris.
'I want to remind people that shopping is fun,' Weaver told The Post. 'It's about going out, experiencing our neighborhoods, discovering something new and having fun.'
Advertisement
Weaver's retail journey started with the beloved CW Pencil Enterprise, a cult-favorite stationery spot she ran from 2014 to 2021 on the Lower East Side.
But when the iconic address shuttered during the pandemic, the city cheerleader found herself dreaming of the ultimate buy-local boutique — giving birth to her latest retail baby not long after.
'The shop was always meant to be my demonstration of what shopping local really means — that it's friendly, it's fun, it's about things that are made in our communities and that have stories,' Weaver explained.
8 Inside the Locavore, you'll find a parade of offbeat displays, showcasing 700 handpicked products from over 130 local makers.
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
Advertisement
'That's the storytelling part of it, and that's something Amazon and big box stores will never be able to compete with. My hope is that as the economic squeeze tightens and small businesses start to struggle, people will really begin to see why it matters to shop local,' Weaver said.
The selection is as unexpected as it is charming — think Wiffle Balls straight outta Shelton, Connecticut, or wool dusters created by a Bronx family business, all waiting under the watchful, cardboard-cutout eye of another local staple: the pigeon.
And Weaver has opted to keep things as simple as they are amusing, featuring grocery store-style shelving sourced from a Canarsie warehouse — she even sanded and stained the floor herself.
8 Shopping at the Locavore is like stepping into a treasure trove of local finds.
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
Advertisement
But this isn't just a smile-inducing spot for a browse — the passionate proprietor wants to spark excitement in her customers for a full exploration of Gotham's gargantuan selection of worthy mom-and-pop shops.
Since 1990, big corporations have slashed 4 million jobs, but small businesses added 8 million, according to the Small Business Administration.
As that number grows, Weaver has made it her job to catalog every independent retail space in the city — hoofing it through all five boroughs to track down all the hidden gems, going back to 2021. Four years and 14,000 stops later, she's almost done.
8 This ain't just a feel-good pit stop — Weaver's on a mission to get New Yorkers hyped about exploring the city's hidden gems and unsung mom-and-pop shops.
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
To save New Yorkers a ton of legwork, she's put out the Locavore Guide — a pint-sized version of her epic database, spotlighting 670 of the city's coolest indie shops like Village Revival Records in Greenwich Village and Beadkraft in Chelsea, to name a few.
And you can shop her store without even leaving the house — Weaver also recently caved and launched an online operation to bolster revenue and make her finds accessible beyond NYC.
Katie McClure, who helped Weaver set up her entertaining emporium, said the Locavore has become more than just a retail space.
8 The selection's a delightful grab bag of the unexpected — think Dum Dum lighters handcrafted by Amy Sedaris and old-school C. Howard's gum at the counter, which Weaver likens to a classic 'bodega setup.'
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
Advertisement
'People who come in here are friends. I've made friends with customers, and also very randomly, a lot of people run into each other here,' McClure said.
Emily Dean, who started working at the Locavore before its official opening, said the close-knit nature of the shop and its locally made items are what make it special.
'People come in and say things like, 'Oh, I know the person who made this,' and I'm, like, 'No way, that's a real person that makes that, and they're right around the corner.' Things like that just bring in a lot of joy,' Dean said.
8 Weaver's kept it stripped-down and spirited, decking out the shop with old-school grocery store shelves from a Canarsie warehouse — and she even sanded and stained the floor herself.
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
Advertisement
Weaver explained that she wants shopping at the Locavore 'to feel democratic,' and that she sells items in 'every price range and category' so that everyone who walks in 'can feel like there's something for them.'
Weaver also wants her store to be the opposite of shops that 'make you feel like you're not allowed to touch anything' and encourages customer curiosity and exploration.
Cleo Le-Tan, who knows a thing or two about running a small biz, is a happy customer. She owns Pillow-Cat Books in the East Village — and she's in love with the Locavore's vibe.
8 Weaver's on a mission to map every mom-and-pop shop in the city — pounding the pavement across all five boroughs since 2021. Four years and 14,000 stops later, she's nearly there.
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
Advertisement
'I like that you can just get all this different stuff — it's kind of a sort of deluxe convenience store. There isn't really that anywhere,' Le-Tan told The Post.
'My 6-year-old daughter does ballet upstairs, so we always come down after. She always wants to come here — she calls Caroline 'Coraline,' like the movie,' the professional bookworm added.
Le-Tan's daughter Alpha told The Post that she loves the store's locally made fruit leather from small biz Joray — with 'strawberry and cherry' her two current favorite flavors.
For Weaver, these visits — Alpha's candy runs, or the children who come in for their weekly Eddie's pickle fix — are exactly why she opened the shop, and why she loves being part of the community.
Advertisement
8 Weaver's all about breaking the 'don't touch' vibe of stuffy shops — instead, she wants the Locavore to invite hands-on browsing and playful exploration.
Kim Max for N.Y.Post
'I grew up in rural Ohio, and I became a shop owner because of all the memories I made as a kid in little shops like this,' she said.
'That's why it matters so much to me to create those kinds of experiences for other people's kids now.'
For Alpha's birthday last month, Weaver tied up a bouquet of her favorite flavors as a special gift.
'It's moments like that — being part of these kids' lives — that really matter to me,' she said with a smile.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
AI-fueled crypto scams are booming, up 456% — and no one is safe, expert warns
Crypto crooks are getting bolder — and now, they sound just like your mom. Global crypto scams soared 456% between May 2024 and April 2025 — becoming increasingly reliant on AI-generated voices, deepfake videos and phony credentials to fleece unsuspecting victims, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs' Ari Redbord told The Post after testifying before Congress last Tuesday. 'These scams are highly effective, as the technology feels incredibly real and familiar to the victim,' Redbord said. Advertisement 4 TRM Labs' Ari Redbord, who testified before Congress last week, says scammers are now using AI-generated voices and deepfake credentials to mimic loved ones and steal crypto. Igor Faun – 'We've seen cases where scammers use AI to replicate the voice of a loved one, tricking the victim into transferring money under the guise of an urgent request.' And the threat is exploding — especially in high-density cities like New York, Miami and Los Angeles, he added. In June, New York officials froze $300,000 in stolen cryptocurrency and seized more than 100 scam websites linked to a Vietnam-based ring that targeted Russian-speaking Brooklynites with fake Facebook investment ads. Advertisement Meta shut down over 700 Facebook accounts tied to the scam. Investigators say the group used deepfake BitLicense certificates and moved victims onto encrypted apps like Telegram before draining their wallets. 4 Even crypto pros aren't safe — MoonPay's CEO and CFO were conned into wiring $250,000 to a scammer pretending to be a Trump inauguration insider. Igor Faun – Advertisement Some New Yorkers lost hundreds of thousands of dollars — and it's not just everyday joes getting targeted. Even crypto insiders are falling for it. Florida-based crypto firm MoonPay saw its CEO Ivan Soto-Wright and CFO Mouna Ammari Siala duped into wiring $250,000 in crypto to a scammer posing as Trump inauguration co-chair Steve Witkoff, according to a recent Department of Justice complaint. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Globally, fraudsters swiped more than $10.7 billion in 2024 through crypto cons — including romance scams, fake trading platforms and 'pig-butchering,' where scammers build fake relationships before draining victims' accounts, Redbord said. Advertisement In the US, Americans filed nearly 150,000 crypto-related fraud complaints in 2024, with losses topping $3.9 billion, according to the FBI. But the real number is likely much higher. 4 A Vietnam-based ring targeted Brooklyn's Russian-speaking community with fake BitLicenses and phony Facebook accounts before vanishing with hundreds of thousands. Igor Faun – 'Only around 15% of victims actually report these crimes,' Redbord said, citing shame, fear and distrust in law enforcement — particularly among older adults and immigrant communities. One of these scammers go-to tools? Crypto ATMs — especially those tucked inside New York delis and convenience stores. Illicit use at these kiosks is more than twice as high as in the broader crypto market, Redbord said. Victims are often directed to scan a QR code and deposit cash, instantly converting it to crypto before the funds disappear. As the scams rage on, Washington is starting to bring order to the Wild West of crypto. 4 Officials say the real number of crypto scam victims is far higher than reported, as shame and fear keep many from coming forward. Igor Faun – House lawmakers wrapped up 'Crypto Week' last Thursday by passing the first-ever comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation — a trio of bills focused on regulating stablecoins, trading platforms and digital asset infrastructure. Advertisement Even so, Redbord advised, common sense is the best defense. 'If something feels too good to be true — especially unsolicited investment advice — it almost always is,' he said. 'Verify the platform. Confirm identities. And when in doubt, report it — whether to IC3, Chainabuse or your local authorities.'
a day ago
Some of Mamdani's platform is surprisingly similar to Bloomberg's, experts say
He proposed free crosstown buses. He pushed for steep tax hikes on the wealthy—including an 18.5% property tax increase— insisting none of his rich friends threatened to leave the city over higher taxes. He championed millions to build supermarkets in long-neglected neighborhoods. And under his plan, city workers could give privately raised cash to New Yorkers booking dental appointments or keeping their children in school. These progressive policies, however, are not from New York City's Democratic nominee for mayor, Zohran Mamdani. Experts said they were from Michael Bloomberg, New York's billionaire former Republican mayor and a prominent supporter of Andrew Cuomo's run for mayor. As Mamdani reshapes the city's political map, some experts told ABC News a striking parallel is emerging. Behind the labels of "socialist" and "technocrat," both men share aligned goals: taxing the rich during crises, promoting expansive transit ideas, and bold plans to bring fresh food to low-income communities. Still, experts said, even when policies overlap, most New Yorkers do not see them as similar. They point out many people know Mamdani as an organizer who has posted that capitalism is a form of thef t; Bloomberg as a businessman who built a fortune managing the free market that Mamdani is critiquing. Mamdani identifies himself as a democratic socialist and has stated, "I don't think that we should have billionaires." Bloomberg is one of the richest people in the world. Neither Mamdani nor Bloomberg provided statements to ABC News. Mamdani recently acknowledged in a private meeting with business leaders that he hopes to emulate Bloomberg on a few issues — even as he draws fire from many in the business community, sources familiar told ABC News. "There's a resistance from a lot of powerful forces ... And it doesn't have to do with Mamdani's politics, it has to do with the fact that he doesn't come from them," Democratic strategist Peter Feld told ABC News. Bloomberg spent $8 million backing Cuomo's failed bid to become the Democratic nominee for mayor. "If you said which of these things go together, you probably wouldn't pick Bloomberg and Mamdani," Christine Quinn, the former city council speaker who helped Bloomberg pass key policies, told ABC News. "But when you peel away at the onion, there's a lot of similarities." Free buses As early as 2007, Bloomberg spoke about his public transit goals, telling WABC, "If you were to design the ultimate system, you would have mass transit be free and charge an enormous amount for cars." During his 2009 re-election campaign, Bloomberg proposed making some Manhattan crosstown buses free of charge. An archived screenshot from his campaign website states, "The MTA should eliminate fare collection..." At a campaign event, he called the MTA "bloated" and "inefficient." The New York Times contrasted observers calling the proposal "radical," and a Regional Plan Association official saying it "captured people's imaginations." A Mamdani campaign pillar calls for free fares on all bus lines. After piloting a fare-free program on five lines as an assemblymember, Mamdani compared it to Kansas City and Boston's free programs. Cuomo's bus plan for mayor includes evaluating the "expansion of a fare-free bus pilot program" that Mamdani championed, and expanding a 50% discount on public transportation for low-income residents. Regional Plan Association's Kate Slevin, who served in city government under Bloomberg, said she "can't remember other mayoral candidates" with a similar plan for free buses. Slevin told ABC News, "When it comes to fares, those are the only two I can remember." After Bloomberg won, a transportation website reported he removed the proposal from his website. The plan was never implemented. Both men faced criticism over feasibility - the MTA controls bus fares. Mamdani has not publicly highlighted Bloomberg's old bus proposal, but he's aware of at least one Bloomberg transportation initiative: in a recent video about expanding dedicated bus lanes, he said, "It's not a new proposal, Mayor Bloomberg suggested it in 2008." Taxing the wealthy After 9/11, during New York City's financial crisis, Mayor Bloomberg increased property taxes by 18.5%, short of his original 25% push. Months later, Bloomberg raised sales and income taxes. Single filers earning over $100,000 were among those impacted. "[Bloomberg] knew that to make New York livable, you had to raise taxes, and he put that as a priority, rather than to simply cut the budget and vital services," NYU Professor of Urban Planning and Policy, Mitchell Moss, told ABC News. "Taxes were not a peripheral part of his fiscal policy. They were a central part." In a 2007 USC speech, Bloomberg reflected, "As a last resort, we even raised property taxes and income taxes on high-earners," recalling backlash, saying "raising taxes didn't make me the most popular..." In response to concerns New Yorkers may leave, Bloomberg told WNYC: "I can only tell you, among my friends, I've never heard one person say I'm going to move out of the city because of the taxes ... Not one." Former Mayor Bill de Blasio attempted to raise taxes on the wealthy to fix subways, but was not successful. Mamdani proposes permanent additional 2% tax increases for earners making over $1 million and raising corporate taxes. Bloomberg framed his hikes as temporary, specifically tied to emergencies. However, even Bloomberg acknowledged that his tax revenue supported broader ambitions. "Mike Bloomberg raised taxes following 9/11 out of fiscal necessity, not ideology," Ed Skyler, a senior executive at Citigroup and former deputy mayor for Bloomberg, told ABC News. At USC, he said increases, "allowed us to close the huge budget deficits, balance the books and continue investing in the future: building new schools, revitalizing old industrial areas, creating the largest affordable housing program in the nation, supporting our cultural institutions, parks, libraries, and universities, and expanding world-wide advertising to attract businesses and tourists." Food policy for low-income communities Under Bloomberg, starting in 2009, dozens of FRESH grocery stores opened. Many are still operating today. The program offered public subsidies to private grocery operators to boost access to fresh food in underserved neighborhoods. Quinn, then city council speaker and a key player in passing the program, said they always asked: "how do we use the powers of the city of New York to jolt the private sector into action?" Bloomberg frequently sought to merge public and private efforts—through initiatives like his Green Carts program —which supplied permits for vendors selling fresh produce in "food deserts," and Health Bucks, which enabled discounted food to be purchased at farmers markets. Mamdani proposes one municipally owned, nonprofit grocery store in each borough, offering goods at wholesale prices. On " Plain English," Mamdani said his plan would cost less than FRESH. CUNY School of Public Health Professor Nevin Cohen said he believes Mamdani's plan would cost less than Bloomberg's, too. He wrote a piece titled " Guess What? Government Is Already in the Grocery Business," mentioning existing markets in Madison and Atlanta. Mamdani's idea isn't new to the city. Former Mayor Fiorello La Guardia created the first public market network and several still remain today. Under Bloomberg, one such market—Essex Market—was rezoned and relocated to a new, modern space. Cohen said Bloomberg and Mamdani's plans "are not just similar. They actually had the same underlying goal." Cohen said, "Bloomberg very much intervened in the market" and sent an old advertisement of Bloomberg, dressed as a nanny, labeled, "You only thought you lived in the land of the free." Quinn also notes that many of Bloomberg's plans faced resistance, but once implemented, became part of the city's fabric. "What is radical on Monday often becomes widespread by Wednesday," Quinn said.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Survive NYC summer nights with sheets that actually breathe
Discover startups, services, products and more from our partner StackCommerce. New York Post edits this content, and may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. TL;DR: NYC heat is relentless — sleep cooler with this ultra-soft, bamboo-blend sheet set for just $29.99 (Reg. $129.99). NYC summers are brutal. Between sweltering subway platforms, cranked-up fire hydrants, and apartments that feel like steam rooms by midnight, getting decent sleep in this city is a full-time job. And if your bed is still outfitted with scratchy discount sheets or sweat-trapping polyester? You're just making things worse for yourself. This bamboo-blend sheet set for $29.99 was practically made for New Yorkers trying to sleep through a citywide heatwave. Made from a 60% high-strength microfiber and 40% bamboo fiber blend, the material is ultra-soft — like 1,000-thread-count Egyptian cotton soft — without the steep price tag. It's designed to help regulate body temperature, so you'll stay cool even when the humidity won't quit. Plus, it's naturally odor-resistant, which is more than we can say for the BQE. Advertisement New York Post Comp This twin-sized set (other sizes also available) includes one fitted sheet with deep 16-inch pockets (great if your bed frame pulls double-duty as storage), one flat sheet, and one standard pillowcase. It's wrinkle-resistant and fade-resistant, which means it'll still look fresh after those 3 a.m. panic washes. The black color adds a sleek, elevated look that works for any apartment aesthetic — whether you're going for moody SoHo loft or 'IKEA but make it sexy.' Sustainably made and stylishly low-key, this is the kind of upgrade that makes your bed feel like a retreat — not a punishment. Get the super soft 1800 series bamboo blend sheet set for just $29.99 (regularly $129.99) while it's still in stock. StackSocial prices subject to change.
