'Awesome' Gift Shop Opens In Prospect-Lefferts Gardens

PROSPECT-LEFFERTS GARDENS, BROOKLYN — Prospect-Lefferts Gardens just got a little bit more "awesome."

A new shop has opened on Flatbush Avenue for people in the neighborhood to find the perfect gift or trinket. "Awesome," on Flatbush Avenue between Fennimore and Rutland streets, had a grand opening party on Saturday and has been open to the public since.

"It’s been great so far, everyone’s really psyched that we’re opening in the neighborhood," owner Vanessa Raptopoulos told Patch. "There’s nowhere to shop, except for books," she added, referring to Greenlight Bookstore.

Raptopoulos rattled off a laundry list of things available at Awesome, giving a sample of what her store offers.

"We are selling all kinds of gifts," she said. "We’ve got stuff for the kitchen, living room, pillows, candles, lots of barware, lots of cards, backpacks. We’ve got scarves and bags and little pouches and socks. All of this funny, random stuff — we have those prayers candles, but instead of Jesus they have Beyonce and Michelle Obama and that kind of stuff."

She added: "A lot of hip hop-inspired stuff and pop culture-inspired stuff. We have ornaments that have Biggie and Madonna and Ali and that kind of stuff. It's just a general assortment of random gifts at pretty reasonable price points. Mostly everything is under like $40."

Raptopoulos spent a lot of her career as a buyer at Uncommon Goods, an online marketplace for independent boutiques.

She and her husband moved to Prospect-Lefferts Gardens from Park Slope a year ago. In Park Slope, she said, "there’s like a gift shop on every corner" but in Lefferts, "there was nothing."

"I felt like the time was right and the location was right," she added. "Hopefully this will turn into one of the old stores."

She said the reaction from the community has been good so far, which is not always the new case when an outsider comes in to open a new bar or restaurant.

"All different kinds of people have been coming in and saying they’re really happy that we’re here," she said.

The store is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week, 10 to 8 on Saturdays and 12 to 6 on Sundays.

Photos courtesy Vanessa Raptopoulos