You know New York has the big attractions, but what if your kids are more interested in a store that sells holograms or a locksmith who made art out of 10,000 keys? These are the shops that make a family trip to NYC feel like a treasure hunt.
Hidden GemsFamily FunUnique ShoppingOff the Beaten Path
For families who’ve done the Statue of Liberty and the Natural History museum once, these weird, wonderful shops are the reason to come back. They’re not all easy to find—some have no sign, others require an email appointment—but the payoff is a New York that feels like your own secret. The tradeoff? You’ll need to plan ahead. A few are in outer boroughs like Ridgewood or Astoria, and most are tiny. But if your kids are the kind who’d rather explore a tatami tea room than a Times Square souvenir shop, this list is for you.
What It’s Actually Like Visiting These Shops
Imagine walking up to an unmarked door in a Greenpoint apartment building, buzzing a landline, and being let into a living room full of 1960s fashion magazines. That’s High Valley Books. Now imagine a Queens factory building where the air smells like scorched steel and a blacksmith is hammering out a medieval helm. That’s WassonArtistry. The physical reality: a lot of walking between neighborhoods, and many shops are appointment-only (the Diamond District showroom, the fossil room at Astro Gallery, the tatami room). Some are open only a few days a week. For families, that means you can’t just stumble in—you need to book ahead and plan a route. The upside? Each visit feels like a personal invitation.
If you’d rather let someone else handle the logistics, a guided tour that strings several spots together can save time. For a broad overview of the city, the New York in One Day guided sightseeing tour covers a lot of ground, though it won’t hit the hidden shops specifically.
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Shops That Feel Like Secret Museums
Astro Gallery of Gems
At 417 Fifth Avenue, this gem shop bills itself as the world’s largest. Upstairs: geodes the size of refrigerators. Downstairs (by appointment only): a fossil room with a $95,000 T. rex tibia and trilobites as big as house cats. Celebrities like Brad Pitt and Nicolas Cage have shopped here. My kids would lose their minds over the dinosaur bones. Entry is free for the main floor, but you must book ahead for the fossil basement—ask for Dennis Tanjeloff.
Holographic Studios
The world’s oldest hologram gallery, run by “Dr. Laser” in a lab coat. Located at 240 East 26th Street in Kips Bay, it’s part museum, part workshop. Hour-long tours explain how holograms are made, and they offer classes. It’s weird, dated in the best way, and completely unlike anything else in the city.
Museum of Nostalgia
In Astoria, Queens, this is part toy store, part time capsule. Owners Phebe Taylor and Jeff Zappala turned their apartment into a floor-to-ceiling collection of 1960s–1980s toys: Care Bears, Star Wars figures, a playable Ms. Pac-Man arcade machine. It’s small, but if your family is into vintage pop culture, it’s a perfect 30-minute stop.
- Astro Gallery’s fossil room is by appointment only—call ahead or email through their site. No walk-ins.
- Holographic Studios offers tours for around $20 per person, but call to confirm hours—they can be irregular.
Hidden Workshops and Hands-On Finds
Globus Washitsu
Above Broadway near Union Square, an unmarked door leads to a Kyoto-style tatami room built by Stephen Globus. He offers Japanese tea ceremony lessons ($50 members, $60 nonmembers) and hosts calligraphy workshops, rakugo storytelling, and kimono exhibitions. Kids can sit on tatami mats and learn about Japanese culture. Appointment only—email [email protected]. No shoes allowed.
WassonArtistry
A working forge in Ridgewood, Queens, where Jeffrey Wasson builds custom medieval armor for films and jousters. The smell of scorched steel hits you at the door. Full suits cost $15,000–$50,000, but you can book a private dagger-forging class for $650 (not cheap, but unforgettable). The New York Adventure Club occasionally runs a $32 visit. Either way, you need an appointment via wassonartistry.com.
Marla Aaron
On the 9th floor of a Diamond District building, designer Marla Aaron sells sterling silver carabiners and locks that click satisfyingly shut. Prices range from $110 to over $250,000 (pink diamond version). The showroom is appointment-only, but you can also book a virtual Zoom visit. It’s a jewelry store, but the locks and vending-machine display make it feel like a secret club.
Bookstores That Are More Than Books
High Valley Books
A private bookstore in Bill Hall’s Greenpoint living room and basement. No sign, just a buzzer. Appointment only via landline (347) 889-6346 or Instagram DM @highvalleybooks. First-timers get a quiet tour; regulars browse the basement for stranger finds. Prices range from $40 to “Vespa-cost.” Fashion archivists and set decorators come here for obscure 1960s magazines. For families, it’s a glimpse into a collector’s world—but kids need to be calm and curious.
Pillow Cat Books
At 328 East 9th Street in the East Village, this tiny shop is dedicated to animal-themed books—from Paddington to Orwell’s Animal Farm. It’s cozy and quirky, with a focus on cats, rats, and imaginary creatures. Open daily, no appointment needed.
Mysterious Bookshop
The world’s oldest store dedicated to mystery, crime fiction, and thrillers. Located at 58 Warren Street in TriBeCa, it’s a paradise for older kids who love a good whodunit. They stock rare editions and host author events. No appointment needed, but it’s small.
Food and Candy That’s a Little Different
Economy Candy
At 108 Rivington Street on the Lower East Side, this family-run institution has been open since 1937. They stock long-forgotten candy brands, imported chocolates, and novelty sweets. It’s a time machine for parents and a sugar paradise for kids. Open daily, no appointment.
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
A family-run scoop shop at 65 Bayard Street in Chinatown serving flavors like pandan, lychee, and black sesame. It’s been an institution for decades. A perfect post-walking-tour treat.
Fishs Eddy
At 889 Broadway in Flatiron, this store sells quirky, mix-and-match dishes and diner-style glassware. It’s been around for over 35 years. Kids love the humorous mugs and plates. Open daily, no appointment.
If you want to combine food with shopping, the Chinatown and Little Italy walking food tour stops at Economy Candy and other local spots. It’s a three-hour, 7-tasting walk that covers a lot of ground—good for families who want to eat while they explore.
Planning Your Route and Costs
Most of these shops are free to enter, though activities like tea ceremonies ($50–$60) or dagger-forging classes ($650) cost extra. The main expense is time: getting from Greenpoint to Ridgewood to Midtown can eat a whole day. I’d recommend picking one or two neighborhoods per trip. For example, combine Globus Washitsu (Union Square) with Fishs Eddy (Flatiron) and Strand Book Store (also Flatiron) for a walkable afternoon. Or head to Greenpoint for High Valley Books and Archivio Records, then grab a slice at a local pizzeria.
For a full overview of family-friendly NYC, check out our complete guide to NYC. It covers everything from stroller-friendly parks to museums.
If you’re short on time, a half-day best of NYC bus tour can give you an overview, but it won’t stop at these hidden shops. For a deeper dive, consider a private tour that can be customized—the Greenwich Village food tour covers the neighborhood where Pillow Cat Books and C.O. Bigelow Apothecary sit.
| Shop | Neighborhood | Appointment Needed? | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Gallery of Gems | Midtown | Yes (fossil room) | $24 – $95,000 |
| Globus Washitsu | Union Square | Yes (email) | $50–$60 (tea ceremony) |
| High Valley Books | Greenpoint | Yes (phone/IG) | $40 – high |
| WassonArtistry | Ridgewood, Queens | Yes (website) | $650 (class) – $50,000 (armor) |
| Economy Candy | Lower East Side | No | $2 – $20 |
| Mysterious Bookshop | TriBeCa | No | $10 – $500+ |
Your Questions About NYC’s Weird Shops, Answered
Can we just walk into these shops without an appointment?
Not most of them. Globus Washitsu, High Valley Books, WassonArtistry, Marla Aaron, and the fossil room at Astro Gallery all require booking ahead. The ones that don’t—Economy Candy, Pillow Cat Books, Fishs Eddy, Holographic Studios (call first for hours)—are easier but still worth checking hours online.
Are these shops safe for young kids?
Some are better for older, curious kids. WassonArtistry’s forge is hot and sharp—keep toddlers back. Astro Gallery’s fossil room is fine but fragile. Globus Washitsu is quiet and requires sitting still. For younger kids, stick to Economy Candy, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, and the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co.
How do we fit them into a one-day itinerary?
You can’t do them all. Pick a neighborhood cluster: Union Square/Flatiron for Globus Washitsu and Fishs Eddy, then walk to Strand Books. Or spend a morning in Greenpoint (High Valley Books, Archivio Records) and afternoon in Astoria (Museum of Nostalgia). Use our Brooklyn Bridge walk guide to connect DUMBO with Brooklyn Heights shops.
Are these shops expensive?
Entry is free for most, but activities add up. A full suit of armor at WassonArtistry is $15,000–$50,000—you’re not buying that. The tea ceremony is $50–$60 per person, which is reasonable for a unique experience. Economy Candy and Fishs Eddy have items under $10.
What if we don’t have time to plan?
Then skip the appointment-only spots and hit the walk-in ones: Holographic Studios, Mysterious Bookshop, Pillow Cat Books, Economy Candy, and Fishs Eddy. You’ll still get a weird New York fix without the pre-work.
The Last Word
These shops aren’t for every family—they require patience, planning, and a tolerance for small spaces. But for the ones who love a good secret, they’re the New York you’ll remember long after the Empire State Building photo fades. Pick one, book ahead, and let the kids lead the way. For more offbeat ideas, see our guide to NYC pop-up museums.
Sources
Secret Shops in New York City. The New York Times, 2025.
Shopping Like a Local: Unique Boutiques and Markets. Like a Local Tours, 2025.
Cool Shops in New York. Atlas Obscura, 2025.
16 Quirky and Wonderful New York City Spots. I Know a Guy, 2025.
Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. website.
