110 Best Shopping in Texas, USA

This year-round, open-air market with roots stretching back to the early 1970s is the soul of the Drag. The unreconstructed hippie ambience is at least as much of a draw as the actual merchandise crafted and sold by various local artisans. The wares include jewelry, leatherwork, candles, photographs, paintings, sculpture, textiles, and the inevitable tie-dyed T-shirts. Note that the market is firmly regulated by the city, and all vendors must be licensed by a commission. Days and hours of operation have been changed and scaled down since COVID; current status updates can be found on their website and social media pages.

A South Congress landmark for decades, this place is impossible to miss—just look for the huge red boot above the door. Set amid trendy, touristy SoCo, Allens is anything but. More than a dozen brands of cowboy boots (including Frye, Justin, Lucchese, Liberty Black, and Tony Lama) are displayed on rows upon rows of shelves, along with other Western wear. If you're a newcomer to the boot world, study the store's website before your visit for some basics on proper fit. Staff members are exceptionally helpful.

South Congress is filled with shops that pack a nostalgia factor, from vintage goods to home cooking, but none is quite as sweet as this place, where bins upon bins of colorful sour candies, chocolates, and lollipops line the oh-so-colorful walls. There’s Shakespearean Insult Gum, Texas-made Chick-O-Sticks, and gobs of themed candy. And if you slide up to the bar, you can order milkshakes, shaved ice, or old-fashioned sodas.

Texas's largest independent bookstore is a homegrown alternative to monster chain stores. It was established in 1970 and has been voted Austin's best bookstore for more than 20 years, stocking bestsellers along with books on topics such as women's studies, personal growth, and alternative home building; there's also a good children's section. Browse magazines; shop for quirky, hard-to-find gifts; and catch readings and signings by local authors, literati luminaries, and even former presidents who make stops here while on book tours.

Set aside at least a few hours or more to navigate this sprawling antique mall, filled with furniture, jewelry, housewares, and innumerable other relics from the past.

One of the most fun shops at the Pearl, Feliz Modern POP is a cool and colorful collection of things for you, your home, your friends, your family, your pets, and everyone you know. Many items have a Southwestern or Latin flair, like the Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico coloring book or a catnip-taco cat toy. Co-owners Mario and Ginger Diaz have assembled quite a collection for gifting, entertaining, and celebrating the connections in our lives with global art, accessories, and home decor. There's candy and artisanal soda, too. Their flagship store, Feliz Modern, is at 110 W. Olmos in the Monte Vista Historic District. 

A phenomenal stop for specialty jellies and preserves, Fisher & Weiser's is located in an early-1900s brewery and the property features more than 1,000 peach trees surrounded by pines. Fresh peaches are available June through August, but it is also home to a cooking school, and wine tastings occur year-round.

If Gruene Hall is king of the town, the Gruene General Store is its queen. Parts of the building date to the 1850s; the soda fountain is a 1950s time warp. You can find all sorts of unusual Texas gifts, cards, and foods. The store closes by 6 pm on Sunday.

This is about as close you can get to Old Mexico without crossing the border. Market Square (El Mercado) has been a favorite of locals and visitors for generations for eating, drinking, shopping, and celebrating. The three-block space houses restaurants, shops, galleries, and working artisans crafting their wares in everything from silver to leather to woodwork. The Market Square outdoor plaza often has music and dance performances, especially during the holidays. Check the website calendar for upcoming programming. It's a fun, colorful outing, especially if you're dining at Mi Tierra Bakery and Café or La Margarita Restaurant & Oyster Bar and are up for a lively afternoon or evening. 

The buyers for this large, independently owned world-market store comb the planet for colorful and unusual examples of folk art from more than 40 countries. African trade beads and baskets, Nepalese jewelry, Turkish textiles, and lots of Mexican items (including milagros, postcards, and cheap souvenirs and gifts) are just a few of the goodies stashed away in this delightful place.

A one-stop shop for all things Western, here you can find anything from fringed suede jackets and scalloped leather belts to roper boots, spurs, saddles, and even a replica firearm. 

No matter what time of year you’re visiting Fredericksburg, don’t miss a chance to get into the holiday spirit at this huge shop that sells everything Christmas-theme you could possibly imagine. From holiday villages and Nativity scenes to ornaments and stockings, you’re guaranteed to find something to add to your decoration collection here.

This longtime beloved independent bookstore has been part of San Antonio's literary world since 1972, residing in several neighborhoods before landing at the Pearl. The large and well-stocked store has thousands of books in all subjects as well as cards and gift items. It hosts regular author-signing events for local and national writers as well as a weekly children's story time. Ask the very helpful and knowledgeable staff about the latest and best independent and mainstream bestsellers.

This fantastic place is so much the ultimate toy store of your childhood fantasies that it's too good to save for actual children—don't be embarrassed to come in even if you don't have little ones of your own. It's the place to get things like Edgar Allan Poe and Beethoven action figures, vinyl dinosaur figurines, reproductions of vintage toys you played with as a kid, and floor-to-ceiling diversions for all ages, including science toys, metal robots, stuffed animals, costumes, hard-to-find candy, baubles and bangles, and more.

This eclectic purveyor was a staple of South Congress Avenue for decades but has moved its treasure trove of antiques and collectibles to a different location off South Lamar. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary or want to browse the King of Austin vintage, this is the place. Stocked with antique items that have been procured from dozens of vendors, Uncommon Objects has an ever-changing stock that at varying times has included mourning jewelry made of human hair, tribal masks, anatomical charts from the turn of the 20th century, and plenty of taxidermy.

The beating burnt-orange heart of Longhorn Nation is on display at the ultimate showcase of UT sports paraphernalia, located right smack in the middle of the Drag on campus. You can find burnt-orange-and-Longhorn-logoed everything at this three-level emporium, from Crocs and dress shirts to bath mats, a full set of luggage, and even a $350 pair of Lucchese cowboy boots and a $600 acoustic guitar. An entire room is devoted to children's wear, from the nursery on up. Founded in 1896 and modeled after a similar co-op at Harvard, UT's Co-op (which offers discounts to faculty, students, and staff) claims to be the largest seller of used textbooks in the country. Even if you have no direct (or indirect) connection to UT, do stop in if you're in the neighborhood; it's gawk-inducing and unforgettable.

This large independent shop is an Austin institution that's been an integral part of the local music scene since 1982. With an outstanding selection, superb customer service, and free in-store concerts (including some pretty impressive names during SXSW), it may be the only Austin record store you'll ever need.

A San Antonio fashion staple for more than 46 years, this family-owned business is now run by the third-generation owner. It's a beautiful store bursting with color and textures selling a brilliant array of women's fashions that reflect local flair and culture. Over the years the store has expanded into select home decor as well as jewelry, accessories, and gifts. The staff is welcoming and helpful, but it can get busy so plan on plenty of time to browse and take it all in. 

Look for the distinctive smokestacks at this open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment center (the area was once a cement factory). Today, Alamo Quarry Market includes a Regal movie theater complex and many standard mall stores, such as Old Navy, Whole Foods, and Banana Republic. This entire area actually offers a huge array of shopping. Quarry Village is across from Quarry Market, and the Shops at Lincoln Heights are close by at the intersection of Broadway and East Base Road.

This family-owned showroom sells unique, solid wood furniture handmade by Amish craftsmen.

More than 45 vendors spread out over nearly 11,000 square feet here. Lose yourself in the vintage linens, lunchboxes, posters and postcards, and sparkling rhinestone jewelry scattered among the antique chests of drawers, cabinets, and tables.

In the self-proclaimed Live Music Capital of the World, nothing is as sweet as finding a record store like this one. With an emphasis on local Texas players and blues music, the shop opened as a hangout for showgoers back when Antone’s Nightclub was across the street. Over the years, performers like Memphis Slim, James Cotton, Pinetop Perkins, and Doug Sahm played the club and recorded for the Antone’s label. Today, you’ll find bins of vinyl as well as new releases and various posters and gifts. An expert staff can help serious music lovers with any and all inquiries.

Peruse paintings (oil, acrylic, and watercolor), pottery, prints, sculpture, and more at Artistic Endeavors Gallery, which specializes in original works by regional artists, many of which turn their artistic eye toward San Antonio's charms.

Look no further than this ultra-modern shop when you're on the hunt for unique pieces like hand-carved onyx sculptures from Mexico. The large establishment also offers contemporary art, custom framing, and art restoration, but it's the extensive selection of knockout contemporary art glass of the highest quality (including huge pieces of Murano glass) that really sets this space apart. Founded in 1985, it also carries exceptional crafts from throughout the world, plus small bronzes and exquisite stemware.

This men's shop has it all, from three-piece suits, jeans, and button-downs to athletic clothing and accessories. You'll also find a nicely curated selection of shoes, handmade leather wallets and billfolds, shave products, and dopp kits—there's even a humidor filled with cigars to choose from.

This local musician-owned record store features a wide variety of albums, plus equipment, books, movies, and more.

You'll be inspired to create the farmhouse of your dreams after visiting this architectural salvage and home goods store, where you'll find a treasure trove of unique furnishings, decorative pieces, and vintage building materials, including corbels, gables, awnings, windows, and doors.