RED SHED
Owners Valarie Jolly, Michele McKechnie, and Michele Jones have transformed a lifelong passion for traveling and collecting flea market finds from New York to Paris into one of the quaintest shops in downtown Grapevine. Crystal chandeliers, baroque headboards, and delicate vanities exude weathered charm, and salvaged architectural finds dot the Red Shed’s gardens. Don’t miss the last Saturday of every other month, when the owners throw a European-style flea market.
VETRO GLASS BLOWING STUDIO & ART GALLERY
A kaleidoscope of colors swirl and bend like smoke at glass artist David Gappa’s studio and gallery. Gappa and his team of glass-blowing artisans create dazzling vases, decanters, and the like. Vetro also carries work by Kenji Ito, Afro Celotto, and more. Step inside Vetro’s fully functioning glassblowing studio to see how it’s done, or sign up for a workshop and create your own work of art.
GYPSY WAREHOUSE
Chunky necklaces with ethnic flair. Chartreuse faux python skin clutches. Flowing scarves that would leave Stevie Nicks speechless. Yes, it’s fun fashion for the Chico’s-wearing set at this spacious shop—more than 2,000 square feet—that also features Treska fashion accessories, a Fort Worth-designed line of colorful, beaded jewelry.
GRAPEVINE OLIVE OIL COMPANY
Housed within the Willow Cottage, this epicurean boutique features more than 40 olive oils and balsamic vinegars in such unusual flavors as Sicilian lemon white balsamic, Persian lime olive oil, roasted walnut oil, and oregano white balsamic. Best of all: you can sample whatever you like. The shop also carries pasta sauces, rice, and rubs.
OFF THE VINE
Let’s be honest. It’s easy to drink some mediocre wine in Grapevine. Not so at this well-stocked shop. Owner Holly Donnelly poured us an Italian sparkling Chardonnay, and it was love at first sip. Though the selection leans heavily on California and Washington state bottles, Donnelly tosses in some quirky choices, like a Lebanese Maysara Vin Rouge Classic and a Rhone-inspired blend from Boekenhoutskloof of South Africa. Keep an eye open for Off the Vine’s Grab Bag bin: various bottles sealed in brown bags and sold for $20 each, with Donnelly’s guarantee that no bottle was offered for less than $20 before getting bagged.
BRITISH EMPORIUM
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. The same holds true for this surprising shop, where Anglophiles mad for Cadbury sweets, bangers and mash, and, yes, even haggis will delight in those hard-to-find British delicacies in, of all places, northern Tarrant County. Put together a gift basket of shortbreads, scones, and teas (one of the most exhaustive selections of British teas in North Texas), and toss in a Monty Python and the Holy Grail or Doctor Who DVD for some levity. A “Keep Calm and Carry On” coffee mug will help the sourest of pusses keep a stiff upper lip.
COYOTE COWBOY
Downtown Grapevine certainly doesn’t lack for any rhinestone-studded “yeehaw” duds. Happily, we found this recently opened Western boutique that has a curated array of boots by Lucchese, Old Gringo, and Corral. Embrace your urban cowgirl with a Tasha Polizzi embroidered shirt or Patricia Wolf fringed wrap belt. For your dude back on the ranch, try a classic Western shirt in double dye silk twill by Ryan Michael.
