Last-minute holiday shopping? Bearcats have you covered

Where to shop for holiday gifts that matter

University of Cincinnati student-made gifts deliver standout style, sustainability and meaningful community impact, making 2025 holiday presents a win for both the gift-giver and receiver.

This season, UC is spotlighting three unique storefronts, each powered by students and alumni who are redefining what it means to buy local:

ADAAPT
Tuff Cincy
The Shop

Whether you’re hunting for retro streetwear, modern design goods, or handcrafted menswear, UC’s student-driven shops offer something you won’t find online or in big-box stores: authenticity, story, and impact.

Every item represents a student or community member taking a risk, testing an idea and building something real right here in Cincinnati.

Benjamin Booker, UC Lindner College of Business, entrepreneur.

A Bearcat holiday

Benjamin Booker, UC Lindner College of Business graduate, entrepreneur. Photo/Ben Booker

By shopping at ADAAPT, Tuff Cincy and The Shop, holiday customers can support:

Sustainability through vintage and low-impact, locally produced items
Student entrepreneurship and real-world experience
Community-driven creativity from Cincinnati’s next generation of designers

Ben Booker, a UC Carl H. Lindner College of Business graduate with a certificate in urban agriculture, has become a pioneering force behind the initiative. He sits at the crossroads of startups, access and sustainability, leading all three stores to champion student creativity, community impact and environmentally conscious entrepreneurship.

"What makes these spaces special isn’t just the products; it’s the people behind them,” Booker says. “Every item represents a student or community member taking a risk, testing an idea and building something real right here in Cincinnati. When you shop at ADAAPT, Tuff Cincy, or The Shop, you’re not just buying a gift; you’re investing in the next generation of designers, entrepreneurs and community builders who are shaping the future of our city."

From upcycled fashion to handcrafted goods and Midwest-made menswear, these spaces offer gifts with purpose: sustainable, one-of-a-kind items that directly support Cincinnati’s future designers and entrepreneurs.

Tuff Cincy: Vintage, reimagined and built for experimentation

Tuff Cincy storefront. Photo/Ben Booker

Located at 224 Calhoun Street in a former GameStop space, Tuff Cincy is injecting bold energy into the city’s retail scene. Founded by Cincinnati entrepreneur Griffin Mouty, already known for Hometown Vintage and Tuff Vintage, the shop brings a “reduce, reuse, restyle” mindset to holiday shopping.

Here, sustainability meets self-expression. The racks are full of eclectic finds carefully curated with one goal in mind: as much cool stuff as possible. Mouty’s mission is simple: make style accessible, affordable and environmentally conscious.

Just steps away from UC’s campus, Tuff Cincy has become a magnet for students, especially those in UC’s renowned College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP). Mouty encourages students to use the shop for content creation, videos, merchandising experiments and collaborations.

Earlier this month, Tuff Cincy transformed its Calhoun Street storefront into a full-fledged runway, hosting a high-energy streetwear fashion show that drew creators from across the city. The event spotlighted emerging local designers, each debuting original looks that blended vintage inspiration with a modern edge.

The night also doubled as a launchpad for up-and-coming local DJs, who set the tone with fresh mixes that brought the crowd to life and showcased Cincinnati’s musical talent. Beyond the runway, the event served as a powerful networking hub, bringing together designers, stylists, photographers, videographers, students and entrepreneurs shaping the region’s fashion culture.

This holiday season, Tuff Cincy is the go-to spot for unique vintage gifts that tell a story without breaking the bank.

Tuff City Holiday Hours:

Dec.18 – Dec. 19, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
Dec. 20 – 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Dec. 22 – Dec. 31, CLOSED. During this week, the store is shoppable and open for appointments every day except 12/25. Schedule online via Direct Message to @TuffCincy on Instagram.
Jan. 1 – Jan. 2, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
Jan. 3 – 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Jan. 4: Return to regular hours

Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Saturday: 12 p.m. -7 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. -4 p.m.

ADAAPT Holiday Market: DAAP-driven innovation marketplace

ADAAPT storefront. Photo/Ben Booker

· December 19, 20 and 21: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

A few minutes away in the Findlay Market district, ADAAPT is giving shoppers an inside look at the creativity of UC’s globally ranked DAAP program. The storefront at 24 W Elder Street features a rotating lineup of products conceptualized, designed and produced entirely by DAAP students.

This season, ADAAPT is hosting its first Holiday Market, featuring an extracurricular cohort of multidisciplinary student-entrepreneurs and organizations showcasing their newest creations.

With various unique designers, the market will have products ranging from handcrafted homeware to cutting-edge design goods. Each piece reflects the skill, ingenuity and originality for which DAAP is known worldwide. Products are brought to life using the high-tech tools of UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub and entrepreneurial guidance from the UC Center for Entrepreneurship.

The result? A curated, ever-changing shopping experience where every purchase supports students and alumni designers who are building their portfolios and futures.

For gift-givers who love discovering something fresh, thoughtful and hyperlocal, ADAAPT is a holiday essential.

The Shop: Midwest-made menswear with a mission

The Shop storefront. Photo/Ben Booker

Monday – Thursday: Closed
Friday – Sunday: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Also in the Findlay Market district, next door to ADAAPT, is The Shop at 22 W Elder Street.

More than a retail space, it’s a creative studio, community hub and fashion incubator celebrating menswear and fine goods crafted by Midwest designers, including DAAP students and alumni.

As an entrepreneur in residence at UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Booker founded The Shop, which brings together more than 25 designers, artists and makers to sell their goods and elevate Cincinnati’s creative economy. The concept also serves as a supportive ecosystem for small brands, offering wholesale, consignment and shared services.

But The Shop’s mission goes even deeper. Through programming that advocates for men’s mental health and partnerships with local nonprofits, a portion of every sale is reinvested into the community.

By heading to The Shop, customers can enjoy meaningful holiday gifts at the intersection of fashion, culture and purpose.

Cover photo: Tuff Cincy store interior. Photo/Ben Booker

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