Let’s face it: Many people have procrastinated on gift-giving at some point. Life gets busy with work, family and other responsibilities, and special occasions can slip by. What better way to thank your mama—or someone who raised you like their mama — for giving you life and care, and probably sacrificing a lot to give you everything — than with a more meaningful, locally sourced gift that feels personal, rather than the standard flowers and chocolates. Yup, calling you out.
Echo Park-based startup Gallop offers an alternative to major online retailers that helps you shop local and find thoughtful, unique gifts — even at the last minute.
In the past six months, co-founders Anthony Abaci and Nic Clar have operated Gallop (formerly Giftphoria) a retail delivery platform that connects customers with independent small businesses across Los Angeles. The idea for Gallop stemmed from Abaci’s personal difficulty finding the right gifts, along with a goal to create a one-stop shop that delivers items within hours while supporting local businesses.
“A lot of these store owners, they’re competing with big-box retailers and need help with online sales, so we bring them new customers,” Abaci said.
In the early days, Abaci and Clar handled deliveries themselves, offering two-hour door-to-door service while also managing coding, store onboarding, customer service and marketing. The platform has since expanded to about 50 stores, from northeast Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Valley. It now offers express 3-hour and next-day delivery, employs a team of drivers and recently introduced gift wrapping for an additional fee.
“Moms are one of our biggest customer groups. They like using us as a convenient alternative to Amazon and Target,” Abaci said.
Even Gallop’s Instagram highlights shop owners and showcases their products.
The company recently featured Ibi Yoo, owner of Studio Ko, a Koreatown-based home goods store. Abaci said Yoo holds exclusive U.S. import rights for some of the store’s products.
Gallop’s mission centers on preserving local shopping culture and helping customers discover products not typically found at large retail chains.
But if you need a last-minute Mother’s Day gift and want to shop local, here are six Los Angeles shops that have you covered.
Studio Kō
Koreatown
628 N Avenue 64, Los Angeles
Studio Kō is a Los Angeles-based shop founded by Ibi Yoo in 2018 that showcases high-end Korean home goods, ceramics and artisan-made lifestyle products. The Koreatown showroom highlights both traditional and contemporary Korean craftsmanship, offering a curated selection that brings Korean design and culture to a wider audience.
La Vecina
Northeast LA
628 N Avenue 64, Los Angeles
La Vecina is a women-owned neighborhood shop and community hub in Highland Park. Shoppers can find locally made greeting cards, mini dried floral bouquets, wellness products, coffee and tea bags and handmade candles. Or, create a custom Mother’s Day gift basket with La Vecina’s Mexican and Latin American pantry staples.
Luca Essentials
Downtown
5727 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
Northeast LA
3608 Edenhurst Ave., Los Angeles
Whether you visit Luca Essentials in Atwater Village or downtown Los Angeles, you’ll find a women-owned shop offering a wide range of products, including makeup, skin care, home goods, mother-and-baby items, jewelry and vintage clothing. The store’s plant-based, non-toxic items make it a good fit for moms who prefer natural products.
Burden of Proof
San Gabriel Valley
1012 Mission St. Unit B, South Pasadena
Burden of Proof is a nonalcoholic bottle shop and market in South Pasadena owned by married couple Dean and Obreanna. It offers an eclectic selection of nonalcoholic wine, spirits, beer, snacks, coffee and South Pasadena merchandise, making it a good gift stop for moms who enjoy a well-crafted mocktail or a sweet, fruit-forward wine alternative.
Latinx With Plants
Boyle Heights
2208 Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles
Latinx With Plants is a plant nursery known for its community-focused workshops and selection of plants, pots, soil, decor, Latinx merchandise and more. Just in time for Mother’s Day, the shop is offering two workshops Saturday: Bootquet and Molcajete Mamis.
The Chocolate Dispensary
Echo Park
1605 Grafton St. Los Angeles
The Chocolate Dispensary is a chocolate shop owned by partners Kala and Dale, offering a wide selection of chocolates from around the world, including truffles, cocoa powder, chocolate butter, bars and almonds. For Mother’s Day, the shop has selected a range of chocolates, including a rose petal bar, a wine and fig bar and assorted caramel chocolates.
