15 STEPS - Ithaca (NY)

5 /5 Peter Jones: This is run by charming woman who knows everything about each piece on sale in her store. My wife and I before we had children had bought some Christmas ornaments here which we still put on our tree and dearly love. It is still the same shop and The same owner. We were offered bottled water when we arrived which was very nice for the warm day. We ended up buying some chocolates which were exceptional and I was able to get a delightful Mother’s Day gift for my wife. I highly recommend a trip to 15 steps.

5 /5 M Miller: This store is a feast for the eyes, of exquisite and clever and unique items; with the current virus paralysis keeping us from traveling abroad, this is a great time to go wandering in the fresh air of the Commons and stop by this gem of a shop. I could not escape without buying a beautiful pair of earrings, a delicate little Zen handmade jigsaw puzzle, and a very reasonably-priced bar of artisan chocolate. Indeed, for the work and craftmanship and taste involved, everything was affordable and even more hard to resist as a result. I hadnt been there for too long, but will go again soon. You just cant look for things like this online, they make the impact in the store -- though, having said that, I plan to view their website to get prepped for the next in-person visit. I attach a picture of a wonderful owl pillow my daughter bought there not long ago.

1 /5 Gloria Gioia: I have been their client for years, but lately, I got disappointed with their service in case of faulty items. I was there before my summer vacation, and I bought a bunch of gifts, including a pair of ear hoops for myself, for which I paid approximately $40. I wore these earrings on the first day of my vacation, but I lost one right after they were hooked to my ear because the locking hooks were poorly made. I went back to the shop to report the issue, and they told me they were not responsible if the item failed to work or became defective as soon as clients left their shops door after the purchase. Double-check item quality before you buy something there.

5 /5 Josh: This is a very cool store with many high quality unique items and a very friendly helpful staff. I bought a beautiful blown glass Apple, that was museum quality and made a great gift for my good friend in Japan. The chocolates are amazing. If youre looking for quality one of a kind gifts, this is my favorite go to spot in Ithaca.

5 /5 Christina Altieri: Beautiful jewelry, gorgeous craft items; their buyers are spot on. This is where we do most of our Commons holiday shopping. I have purchased jewelry, Xmas tree decorations and even clothing from 15 Steps. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful, without being overbearing. They were especially kind to my teen son, who last year wanted to do holiday shopping alone. He went there and they helped him pick out several nice gifts.