local ambassador favorite

Trade Roots Gift Store and Coffee Shop

5852 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22205, USA

Monday-Friday: 8:30am - 7:00pm, Saturday: 9:00am – 7:00pm, Sunday: 9:00am - 5:00pm

$$

local-highlights, restaurants

Swing by Trade Roots, a local treasure, for a cup of coffee or a unique gift!

Trade Roots is a quaint coffee shop that sells trinkets and gifts from all over the world. It's my favorite place to go gift shopping if I'm looking for something small and unique. Not only do they sell coffee and espresso, but beer and wine as well. There is plenty of outdoor seating, decorated with hanging string lights, pillows, colorful tables and a small, free library. There is also plenty of parking to the left and right of the store, and it's easy to walk to from the Westover area.

Inside the coffee shop, the walls are covered in things like jewelry, trinkets, soap, crafts, art, clothes, hats, seasonings, pillows, blankets, and decorations of all sorts. Trade Roots specializes in selling upcycled products from small communities across the globe. The shop has products from countries in Africa, Asia, South America, and Central America. The atmosphere is cozy, colorful and warm, with jazzy music playing and the calm murmur of conversations by the seating area. 

Some areas are rather tight and cluttered, so it's not stroller or wheelchair friendly, but there is covered seating outside as well. It's important to keep an eye on younger kids while traveling through the store, some items are very shiny and easy to pick up, but also easily broken. The price range is rather high, but I consider the price worth the items and service the store sells. There is a bathroom in the back, but it's worth noting that it's relatively small and cramped. I would also suggest avoiding the store on Sunday mornings, during that time the store is often crowded with people ordering coffee and breakfast.

Features

Parking Good for older kids Outdoor Seating Has coffee
Thoughtfully captured by:
Kayla Combs
Kayla Combs is a senior in high school at Washington Liberty, and has lived in Arlington Virginia for the past eleven years. She is the oldest of her five siblings, and spends a lot of time taking them to parks, playgrounds and driving them to various hang out spots after school. She’s a Staff Manager for her high school newspaper, Crossed Sabers, and has written several articles on the students and teachers at her school. She hopes to major in Journalism and Media Communications in college, but also loves to write fantasy and non-fiction on the side. She hopes to publish a novel in the future, but for now she spends her free time biking the trails around Arlington in hopes of spotting and writing about fun activities for kids and teens alike.
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