Discover a dynamic shopping scene exists on Mercer Island today – a blended scene of old and new, along with an established handful that are somewhere in between.
Beloved mainstays include Island Books, Mercer Island Florist, and Oh! Chocolate – each have served the community for decades.
Local businesses that have operated on the island for five years or longer include Terra Bella, Hip Zephyr, Clarke + Clarke Art & Artifacts, and MIVAL Gallery; and more recent newcomers include Island Treats and The Boutique Lounge.
So whether you’re on the mission to find the perfect gift or if you’re planning a leisurely shopping outing, here are our favorite local spots you won’t want to miss:
Island Books
Mercer Island’s one and only independent bookstore, this beloved shop has been serving Mercer Island since 1973. In addition to a well-stocked collection of books, Island Books also has a hand-selected variety of gift items and a large children’s section, filled with books, games, and toys, along with a playhouse and bench where kids can sit and read. Island Books staff will beautifully wrap your presents and gifts; they also ship for free anywhere in the United States.
Terra Bella
Terra Bella is a home accessory, gift, and gourmet kitchen shop. Originally established in 2000, Terra Bella’s first retail shop opened in Bellevue in 2009 and re-located to Mercer Island in 2013. You’ll find a unique and tasteful selection of gifts; an extensive kitchen section; and an inspiring home section with decor items, serving and tableware, vases, fine Italian linens, door mats, candles, and much more.
Oh! Chocolate
Oh! Chocolate is a must-stop for chocolate lovers and has been delighting customers since 1985. This family-owned shop – spanning three generations! – offers a variety of chocolate-covered caramels and truffles – hand-crafted and perfected throughout the years. They sell elegant gift boxes in a variety of sizes – from two-piece favor boxes to their grand assortment, a 36-piece two-tiered chocolate box set.
Island Treats
Treat yourself to Island Treats. This colorful storefront opened on Mercer Island in June 2018 and has been a popular sweet spot on the island ever since. Signature favorites include chocolate salted caramels, pretzel thingies, caramallows, candy grahams, peanut butter bites, and toffee. The shop also carries an assortment of other sweets and treats, bulk candy, and party supplies.
The Boutique Lounge
The Boutique Lounge is a shopping destination in itself, given its location in Mercer Island’s south end shopping center. It provides a much-needed retail option for Mercer Island’s south end residents and is also a worthwhile trip for anyone else (just an additional 7 or 8 minutes by vehicle down Island Crest Way). The boutique’s selection of curated gifts and unique essentials includes apparel for all ages, handbags, jewelry, cosmetic and skin care products, clothing and goods for babies and kids, home goods (candles, linens, throw blankets, and office items), Mercer Island spirit wear, and much more. They’ve also got you covered with gift wrapping.
Hip Zephyr
Hip Zephyr has been around since 2006 – its original location was in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle. Owner Dana Dewhurst moved the boutique to Mercer Island in 2013, making Mercer Island’s shopping scene more hip in the process as well. A women’s clothing boutique, Hip Zephyr offers distinctive products ranging from obscure, indie designers to well-known, tried-and-true labels. Once you’ve discovered a great new outfit, you can complete your look from Hip Zephyr’s selection of jewelry, handbags, and shoes. The boutique’s knowledgeable staff are always happy to help you coordinate your ensemble.
Barrels
Barrels – both a wine bar and a wine bottle shop – has the island’s most extensive selection of wines. The 1500-bottle rack along a wall inside the shop features wines from Washington, Oregon, California, France, Italy, Spain, South Africa, and Argentina. Owners Tina and Joe Kennedy are always helpful to customers seeking recommendations and can help you find the right bottle of wine, whatever your taste preference or budget.
Mercer Island Florist
Mercer Island Florist was established on Mercer Island in 1963 and since then has been creating beautiful arrangements for special gifts and occasions toward delivering lasting impressions and memories. The Mercer Island Florist shop also includes a lovely gift section with ceramics, potted plants, succulents, candles, cards, and home decor items. It’s a fun place to shop and to peek into the flower workshop where the talented florists are working on creative floral bouquets and displays.
Clarke & Clarke Art + Artifacts
Owned by husband-wife team Ginny and Jim Clarke, Clarke & Clarke Art + Artifacts is a one-of-a-kind gallery with an expertly curated selection of art from around the world. Step inside and you’ll discover works of Northwest mid-century painters, potters, and glass artists as well as a antique and vintage-art pieces from Asia, the Himalayas, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Philippines, Africa, India, North and South America. Ginny and Jim are wonderful supporters of the artists and the local community – and are passionate about bringing people together through their First Friday Art Walk events. They are celebrating their 5th year in business on Mercer Island this year.
MIVAL Gallery
The MIVAL Gallery is an extension of the Mercer Island Visual Arts League, a local arts organization dedicated to promoting awareness and appreciation of visual arts throughout the community of Mercer Island. The organization has been around since 1961, and the gallery celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019. Tucked into the Avellino building next to Baskin-Robbins, the gallery features contemporary works of both emerging and established local artists working in various mediums, including paintings, photography, jewelry, scarves, encaustics, sculpture, prints, cards, and more. The gallery is staffed by the artists who are incredibly helpful and insightful about the works on display. While this shop can be easily overlooked, its one you won’t want to miss.
SZ Gallery
The SZ Gallery is an extension of Suzanne Zahr’s architecture and design firm, located in downtown Mercer Island. Zahr turns over new exhibits displayed in her beautiful art gallery every two months and offers the occasional pop-up exhibit. You can stop by the gallery 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
Learn more →
And more …
You’ll also find local food establishments and service-based businesses that welcome shoppers with enticing retail offerings:
L’Experience Paris, a Parisian-style cafe on Mercer Island, offers a small but mighty selection of France’s finest goods – teas, juices, condiments, sweets, and more – as well as French wine.
La Fête Pâtisserie Française, a traditional French pâtisserie in downtown, also sells a selection of retail items including products by Batdorf & Bronson Coffee, Palais des Thés USA, and Valhorna France.
Sano Cafe has a specially curated retail section of nutritional products, including Moonjuice dusts, vitamins, and protein powders; Bulletproof coffee products; along with beauty products, such as lotions, oils, and lip butter.
Metropolitan Market also has a nice selection of home-good items. The Kitchen Shop offers a wide selection of on-trend gift items, as well as everyday housewares and essential tools for the kitchen. The floral department features fresh bouquets, in addition to potted indoor and outdoor plants and orchids. A health and beauty section features a large variety of curated items, including luxurious soaps, bath bombs, and other handmade cosmetics.
Au Courant Salon & The DEN has a fun retail selection that includes jewelry, chocolate, Seahawks gift items, home goods, and style accessories.
If you’re looking for something special for a furry or feathered friend, stop into All the Best Pet Care or Mud Bay – retailers of dog and cat supplies – or Denise’s Parrot Place, where you can buy bird accessories and even a pet bird.
For gently used items, the Mercer Island Thrift Shop has a varied inventory of home goods, apparel, jewelry, toys, games, and more. Plus, proceeds from your purchase will go toward supporting Mercer Island Youth & Family Services programs.
For gently used books, the Friends of the Mercer Island Library group hosts seasonal sales and holiday pop-up sales at the library. Sale proceeds go toward supporting library programming.
Last but not least – one of my favorite places to shop on Mercer Island is the local True Value hardware store. We’re lucky to have such a “handy” shop in the island.
