2019 #ShopLocal Gift Guide for Champaign & Logan County

​It is no secret that we are avid #ShopLocal supporters.

So we thought, what better way to showcase our love for our fellow entrepreneurs than to share our absolute favorite hometown spots to shop steps away from our location #OnTheSquare and beyond!

Find unique holiday gifts or add some local flavor to your gift certificate game this Christmas season.

Here is our EXCLUSIVE "Ryan & Chris Approved" family favorites:

Urbana's favorite gift baskets since 1893!

Carmazzi’s –  This quaint little shop is great for nostalgia and kids (Candy, Candy, Candy!)
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They also offer great Gift Baskets and Quick Lunches on the Go. Say Hi to Patsy and support a wonderful local business that's been serving Urbana since 1893!

Cafe Paradiso's Chef Katy in the kitchen with her famous Pad Thai.

Café Paradiso – One of the best restaurant experiences around, and a perfect spot for a date night (Mrs. Berry totally agrees!). Primo Italian and seafood dishes. We love giving out gift certificates to Cafe Paradiso for website referrals. 

Do we even need to mention that it was also voted Best Pizza in Champaign County?
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Insider tips: Leave your comfort zone and try Chef Katy’s weekend specials and make reservations ahead of time to guarantee your table, especially on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Cindy Oelker's Grand Champion Peanut Butter Pie

Liberty Gathering Place – This restaurant is quintessential West Liberty! Cindy Oelker has been serving up homemade favorites in downtown West Liberty since Ryan and Chris were just a couple of kids doing their "TIGER-RRRR BEST!"

​Grab a whole pie (the certified best in Champaign County!) and treat your family to a taste of West Liberty!
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Insider tips: Visit on Wednesday nights for their all-you-can-eat Hot Bar Buffets or if it’s Cindy’s homemade pies and desserts you crave, plan a trip for Sunday lunch when they have an all-you-can-eat Dessert Bar. ​

An Urbana Institution since 1927!

Crabill’s Hamburger Shoppe – An Urbana classic!
This cash-only burger joint is the perfect place to grab some gift certificates. You haven't had a burger until you’ve had a Crabill hamburger. They have a call-ahead, drive-thru option, but we recommend eating at one of the 9 bar stools inside for a truly unique Urbana experience. Start with 6 cheeseburgers with everything (NO KETCHUP!), a Stewart’s Root Beer, and a bag of Mumford’s Potato Chips.

Fun Fact: Our best friend Cam set the hot dog record at Crabill’s in high school. He ate 12 jumbo dogs while we recorded the experience. If you know Cam, ask him how he felt at his high school musical practice after his record-setting feat!

Even Santa gets his Christmas tree from Hillside!

Hillside Greenhouse – This is both a great gift spot and a holiday family adventure.
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Pick up some gift certificates and let your friends or loved ones visit Hillside and pick out their favorite flowers, plants, or home decor, or bring the whole family out to choose fresh greenery, fresh cut Christmas trees and holiday decorations! The kids (and you) won’t want to miss out on the hot chocolate and cookies every Saturday and Sunday! Their holiday season is November 23 - December 21st, and they typically re-open for spring in late March or early April.

Just south of West Liberty, the Jones Country Store Barn is stocked with one-of-a-kind finds!

Jones Country Store – They’ve got EVERYTHING!
The ultimate #ShopLocal stop with over 50 local vendors selling everything from seasonal home décor, to one-of-a-kind handmade gifts, to local apparel, to Amish-made snacks and treats, to the best homemade goat milk soaps, bath bombs, lotions, body butters, lip balms and more.

All the charm of a local general store in a seemingly endless 2-story barn full of amazing finds. You could spend a whole day at Jones Country Store!

If you want a meaningful gift that last a lifetime, see Angi at C&A Engraving!

C&A Engraving & Gifts – The possibilities are nearly endless here. They have an Indian Lake Gift Shop full of great gifts and inspiration, but if you absolutely love shopping online, C&A's website is the best of both worlds: online shopping + #ShoppingLocal!

We are constantly blown away by C&A's incredible customization and personalized options. Putting your favorite family picture on an ornament is really popular this time of year. Or take a picture of your favorite recipe card in Grandma’s handwriting, send it to C&A and have them engrave it forever on a new cutting board. If you can’t think of the perfect item, give a gift certificate and let your recipient choose their own personalized gift!

Check out Homegrown Yoga's new digs in downtown Bellefontaine!

Homegrown Yoga – Introduce your friend or loved one to the magic of Homegrown Yoga.

They offer gift cards for classes for everyone from kids to adults, beginners and advanced….even Paddleboard and Aerial Yoga for the really advanced. What a way to unwind and exercise after a stressful holiday season.

After all this running around #ShoppingLocal, remember to treat yourself too!

West Liberty Healing Arts (Massages & Reflexology) and Massage on Monument Square – After running around all holiday season, everyone could use a relaxing, deep tissue massage from a professional. Ask to see Mary at WLHA or Allie or Abbey at Massage on Monument Square and tell them Ryan sent you!

Chris prefers the sugar rush of a Cinnamoo to get through his day!

Spotted Cow Coffeehouse – Who doesn’t LOVE great coffee (besides Chris)?
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Give a loved one the best coffee in Urbana! (The Spotted Cow makes theirs with the beans from another wonderful local business, Hemisphere Coffee Roasters.) And if you know someone like Chris who doesn't start their day with a hot cup o' joe, they've got more than just great coffee.

Treat the whole office to some "cinnamoos", the Cow's ginormous take on delicious cinnamon rolls. They've also got great handmade local gifts from their partners  at Downsize Farm. While you're stopping in, Ryan recommends treating yourself with his favorite beverage, the Milky Way latte, hot in the winter and chilled in the summer. Wednesdays are another great day to stop in for a slice of $1 pie with your coffee.

Whether you are shopping for the kids, mom and dad, the love of your life, teachers, mail carriers or your great Uncle Ned... We hope we've shared that our little corner of the world has everything you need this gift-giving season.

Disconnect from your Amazon app, venture out, support your hometown businesses and pick up some great local gifts this holiday season. Take our recommendations or find your own and share them in the comments! ​