6. Arka
Opened in 1951 by Ukrainian immigrants, Arka is currently one of the sole remaining stores in New York City for purchasing traditional Ukrainian clothing, folk art, and far more. The shop has been selling its culturally rich stock for over half a century from its shop at 89 E 2nd Street. From vyshyvanka (traditional Ukrainian shirts) and khutska (traditional Ukrainian scarves) to embroidered tapestries and painted ceramics, Arka has every unique Ukrainian gift you could be in search of. Each item has been brought back from Ukraine by the owners and is truly authentically Ukrainian. While the shop had seen decreasing sales numbers in recent years, the war in Ukraine has brought a reminder of the country’s cultural importance to NYC, and Arka has seen a resurgence in customer support from all over the city.