New places, old favorites offer ways to shop local downtown this holiday season

This paid piece is sponsored by Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.

Santa and the elves are in one window, Frosty the Snowman is in the other, and Rudolph’s nose is glowing through the glass.

Christmas has arrived at the iconic Zandbroz Variety windows on Phillips Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls, but even after 35 years, co-owner Jeff Danz takes nothing for granted.

“It’s daunting every year,” he said.

“You want to make sure you have the right inventory and have the place looking like it’s holiday time, but the reality for most small retailers is that the fourth quarter, the Christmas season, determines if you’re going to end the year in the black or in the red. And to some degree, that’s still true for us even after 35 years.”

At JuLiana’s Boutique La Femme inside the Harvester Building at 196 E. Sixth St., owners Julie Haagenson and Lana Olshove are entering their ninth holiday season and equally are counting on strong sales.

“Every year is critical. It completely makes or breaks our year,” Haagenson said.

When it comes to reasons to attract people into the store, “we’re always trying to reinvent,” Olshove added.

“Plus, we’ve expanded our inventory with skin care and gift items, including options that are less expensive for holiday gifting.”

This year, they’ll bring back a favorite event that debuted in 2023 — Pink Friday, offering 20 percent off most full-priced purchases if you wear pink to the boutique from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.

On Dec. 12, they’re hoping for their biggest day of the year — an annual holiday open house that draws men and women for shopping, savings and socializing.

“We literally roll a red carpet down the hallway for when you walk into the Harvester,” Haagenson said. “You can bring friends in, shop, you’ll get wine and charcuterie and have the chance to win prizes.”

Within his specialty store, Danz has carefully selected inventory for the holiday season — including options for men and boys who can be trickier to shop for — with plenty of unique gift items.

“Since COVID, it forced us to look even more for local and U.S.-based products, and there’s been an explosion of entrepreneurial products,” Danz said. “We’ve been finding a lot of small entrepreneurial companies all over the country doing fun stuff.”

There also are new businesses ready to serve customers all across downtown — especially in pockets you might not have discovered yet.

On the north side, stop and explore the new Steel District and you’ll find some destination shopping.

Alcove, a store that’s part of the Washington Pavilion, offers a museum store-style experience with gifts around art, science and local talent. It’s on the first floor of the parking ramp and apartment building that serves The Steel District at 151 E. Fourth Place.

“We are going to lean heavily into holiday-season shopping — it’s the most unique place in all of Sioux Falls to buy your gifts,” said Darrin Smith, president and CEO of Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

“We’re going to have special events for people to come down, and we want people to understand that it’s connected to the Pavilion. When you shop here, you’re benefiting the Pavilion. You’re supporting the arts and the broader mission.”

Alcove offers gifts for all ages and interests, he added.

“It’s really fun and unique,” Smith said. “This is a great time to discover it.”

Next door, Pasque Boutique also is ready to greet holiday shoppers.

“We’ve set up a stocking-stuffer bar with lots of good, cost-effective gifts — most under $20,” owner Alicia Engelking said. “We have fun little date-night games for couples, car diffusers that are really popular gifts, a lot of bath and body items, rings, candles, notepads, journals, so a lot of great ideas even for work Secret Santas and that kind of thing.”

Along with apparel for women — a mix of work and weekend wear — the store has whiskey-related items for men, permanent jewelry and a charm bar that has been popular with parents and daughters, sisters and friends.

“We want you to be able to walk in off the street and find something you love,” Engelking said. “We’re participating in Small Business Saturday, we have a candle-making workshop coming up on Dec. 12, and we’re working on some sip-and-shops in December.”

The holiday season “is very important,” she added. “We’re brand-new down here, and with construction, that can limit your foot traffic. It’s wrapping up, so we really hope the community comes out and supports well this holiday season. It’s a great time to come.”

Another new development, Cherapa Place, also has a new shopping destination for the holidays.

Combine expanded to Sioux Falls from the Twin Cities and offers a curated selection of men’s and women’s apparel, home merchandise and gift items. It’s on the first floor of The Bancorp Building at 345 N. Reid Place.

“You’re not going to find these gift options anywhere else in Sioux Falls — and in many cases, we have limited inventory even within the store, so the emphasis is on unique, quality pieces,” co-owner Anne Haber said.

Your winter wardrobe will receive an instant update with Combine’s sweaters, jackets and scarves, while artisan-sourced rugs, lamps and pottery bring a new touch of style to your home.

“We have so many one-of-a-kind gift ideas too,” Haber added. “We can help source the perfect items for clients, hostess gifts or the person in your life you always struggle to shop for.”

Combine also offers private shopping by appointment and will host special events throughout the holiday season.

And don’t forget that downtown keeps going east — approaching Cliff Avenue.

At 1010 E. Eighth St., In Flower is marking its first holiday season with a pastel-filled wonderland of botanical art, dried floral and gift items.

“I feel like not everyone knows where we are, and when they finally discover, they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m glad I found this,'” owner Stephanie Thi said. “We’re a little out of the way yet, but I think it’ll be good in the long run.”

Along with a create-your-own bouquet bar, pre-made arrangements and the ability to customize everything from centerpieces to wedding bouquets, In Flower has broadened its inventory this holiday season.

“We have lots of gift-y things — ornaments, decorative things, and we have candles, books, unique vases and art prints,” Thi said.

“I just put a ‘plant’ sign in the window, and ever since, people have been whipping around coming in, so it’s been really nice and fun.”

A Thanksgiving centerpiece workshop filled up, and she plans to hold another for Christmas. On Dec. 7, she and neighboring Daylily Coffee plan to host a shared holiday party to make ornaments and offer beverages.

“It’s a really big time of year for me,” Thi said. “It’s the time of year I make the most money, especially on my dried and custom products because people are decorating, and I can ship a lot of these products, too, so it’s super-crucial.”

Back at Zandbroz Variety at 209 S. Phillips Ave., Danz has some sense of what the weeks ahead will hold. He looks forward to customers who might come back only once a year to visit family and make time to stop in and shop.

“It’s a lot of reunions at Christmas downtown, and that’s fun to see,” he said. “For a lot of people, this is the only time each year they come downtown to shop or they come to town to shop. It’s a chance for small retail to shine, to show people what they carry and the kind of service they can offer, and hopefully that turns into a customer that comes back during the year.”

Special events

Downtown retailers will be offering events and promotions for the rest of the year, but some new additions offer the chance to visit many for shared activities:

Find Metli

Downtown has a new elf this holiday season! Meet Metli, who loves all things local and will be visiting a different downtown business every day. Peek at his schedule here, and then check in at the business that day for special offers.

Shop late

Shop after normal business hours on Dec. 5, 12 and 19. Many downtown stores will offer themed nights involving peppermint, gingerbread and stocking stuffers.

Give back

The Downtown Gives coupon book also returns this year. It will be sold for $15 at 24 participating locations, offering coupons that are good during the first quarter of 2025 and benefiting the Union Gospel Mission.