Ultimate guide to last minute gifts on Nassau Street

With the holidays right around the corner and time running short, downtown Princeton’s Nassau Street offers easy, thoughtful, last-minute gift shopping you can get. Whether you’re after a good read for a bookworm, stylish clothes, thrifted finds, or chic home goods, a quick stroll down the street can yield plenty of options. Here are five recommended stops from our community that are worth checking out!

At 122 Nassau Street, Labyrinth Books remains the go-to independent bookstore in town.

Known for a robust mix of scholarly titles, general-interest novels, children’s books, and used copies, it is a strong bet for anyone who appreciates a good read. One shelf is dedicated to work by current faculty if you want to show that special someone that you paid attention to their schedule this semester. Even on a tight budget, shoppers can often find deals, especially among the remainder or discounted stock — ideal for a meaningful gift without splurging. Options even extend to posters, trinkets, and so much more.

Abram Gomez Castro ’29 recommends Urban Outfitters, located at 42 Nassau Street on the corner of Palmer Square. The store offers a mix of contemporary clothing, accessories, and home decor — a tempting spot for anyone looking for a stylish gift at the last minute. From graphic tees and cozy sweaters to dorm-ready rugs, tapestries, or even small home-decor items like mugs, books, and more, Urban Outfitters’ broad inventory means you might walk out with something satisfying for anyone, especially younger recipients or students.

“Temperatures are dropping, and new winter pieces are dropping too. My friend Nico and I recently stopped by Urban Outfitters to buy our friend a scarf, and they had a lot of good options,” Castro-Gomez told the ‘Prince.’

Matthew Phillips ’28 recommends the Princeton Art Museum’s merchandise store. Both the museum location on Elm Drive and the Princeton University Art Museum store offer handcrafted items from diverse artisans, ceramics, glass, jewelry, textiles, and books related to current exhibitions and the museum’s collection. One such book is “The Berlin Painter and His World: Athenian Vase-Painting in the Early Fifth Century B.C.” which relates to the current special exhibition: Toshiko Takaezu: Dialogues in Clay. These two locations are an especially smart stop if you want to give an artsy gift.

“I recently visited the new art museum’s gift shop and saw some cool gift pieces,” Phillips noted.

Personally, my favorite stop to shop for a last-minute gift has been the new Brandy Melville on 11 Hulfish Street. The store is packed to the brim with cute basics and Princeton-themed pieces, perfect additions to the closet. I also like to pair these picks with a sweet treat from Tiger Treats, the Swedish candy shop on 33 Witherspoon Street. You can mix and match a variety of different candies, topping off any gift with deliciousness!

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Nassau Street packs so much variety into just a few walkable blocks that even rushed shoppers can find something that fits their budget and their recipient. With so many thoughtful, local options, from cozy winter accessories to handcrafted art and discounted books, last-minute gifts do not have to feel last-minute at all. They can feel thoughtful, intentional, and uniquely Princeton.

Cynthia Lee is a contributing writer for The Prospect. She is a member of the class of 2028 and can be reached at cl9425[at]princeton.edu.

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