What Occasionette is known for
Occasionette is an independent gift shop founded by Sara Villari in 2013 on East Passyunk Avenue, now at 1704 East Passyunk Avenue with sister shops in Collingswood and Chestnut Hill. A card wall and candles sit beside kitchen goods and a house line of Philadelphia-designed exclusives. Philadelphia Magazine named it Store for Snail Mail in 2016 after the shop expanded its paper goods.
Occasionette is a gift shop that opened in 2013 on East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia and now trades from three neighborhood shops. The Philadelphia store stands at 1704 East Passyunk Avenue, with a second at 724 Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, New Jersey, and a third at 8521 Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Founder Sara Villari's shop was named Store for Snail Mail in Philadelphia Magazine's 2016 city awards after she expanded to stock more paper goods, and the magazine has called it movie-set cute. A card wall anchors each shop. Around it sit candles and kitchen towels. Coasters and Swedish dishcloths share space with puzzles and games. Art prints hang above tote bags and hats. A house line of Occasionette exclusives is designed in Philadelphia and sold in the shops and online, shipping nationwide. Philadelphia sports fans find Phillies and Eagles goods, and a Garden State range serves the New Jersey side of the river. The shop describes itself as woman-owned and dog friendly. A loyalty card gives a free greeting card for every twelve purchased, and shoppers carrying a reusable Occasionette bag save five percent. The company states a belief in local, independent retail as a force for good in the communities it serves.
In the press
Best for — Gifts, cards, and party supplies from independent makers
USA
Where next
- Moon + Arrow — Philadelphia
- Glottman — United States
- Straight to Ale — United States
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