Books & local gifts · Court Square and the blocks around it: E and W Ponce de Leon Ave from Commerce Dr to Church St
Downtown Decatur
Around the square.
Downtown Decatur centers on the square around the old DeKalb County courthouse, a walkable small-city downtown with independent bookstores, women’s boutiques, maker-made gift shops and jewelers, plus dozens of restaurants. It suits families, book lovers and gift shoppers who want an easy MARTA trip from Atlanta.
Indie shops · Bookstores · The square
Photo: Marc Merlin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- In our directory
- 18 shopseach one verified
- Where
- Court Square and the blocks around it: E and W Ponce de Leon Ave from Commerce Dr to Church StBooks & local gifts
- Right now
- Typical hours
- Getting here
- ParkingMARTA’s Decatur station sits directly beneath the square, so the train is the easiest way in. On-street meters have a two-hour limit Mon–Sat 8am–6pm and are free after 6pm and all day Sunday; the Town Center Deck at 546 Church St is free for the first hour and $10 maximum for the day. The Decatur Court garage at 315 W Ponce de Leon Ave caps at $8, and the county Courthouse Deck off W Trinity Pl starts at $6 for two hours.
Insider guide
Shopping Decatur.
Books, Boutiques and Gifts
Start on the square. Little Shop of Stories sells books for kids, teens and adults, with signed copies, staff picks and free storytime Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am. Squash Blossom, open seven days, has dresses, jumpsuits, clogs, jewelry and home gifts. Worthmore Jewelers, the original store, does engagement rings, custom design, repairs and Shinola watches. Wild Oats & Billy Goats has sold paintings, pottery, glass and jewelry by local and regional artists since 2010, and Olive Branch Wellness Boutique sells natural skincare and books in-store face mask sessions.
Sycamore St is the second cluster. Très Jolie (145) stocks Wearables by XCVI, THML and Z Supply, Boutique Karma (145, Suite B) sells linen, silk and cotton pieces from small brands, and Hearsay Goods (149), formerly Sq/Ft, stocks candles, stationery, games and Jellycat plush. Around the corner, HomeGrown Decatur sells only goods from Georgia and Southeast makers, from mugs and tees to regional art prints and Southern snacks, and wraps gifts for free.
A few specialists are worth the short walk. Charis Books & More, the feminist and LGBTQ+ bookstore founded in 1974, is now on the Agnes Scott College campus and runs book clubs and readings. Sharian has dealt antique and contemporary Oriental rugs since 1931, in its art deco building since 1946, and does cleaning and repair. Vivid Boutique is a very small two-person shop on Ponce Place, and Trinity sells home furnishings and runs its own design studio. Jenette Bras (307-A E College Ave) does free fittings for D-cup-and-up sizes with no appointment, and its bras aren’t sold online.
Eating Between Shops
Downtown has dozens of restaurants, several within a block of the square. Fawn Wine & Amaro Bar does casual seafood and drinks, and The Deer and the Dove, chef-owner Terry Koval’s Southern-leaning room, serves whole trout and duck. Chai Pani makes South Asian street-style dishes for sharing. Kimball House, in a renovated rail depot, is known for cocktails and more than 20 oyster varieties. For something quick, Kelly’s Market makes sandwiches on local bread, with free parking behind the store, and Revolution Doughnuts makes everything from scratch, with vegan and gluten-sensitive options.
When to Go
Most shops open 10–11am and close 6–8pm Monday to Saturday, with shorter Sunday hours. HomeGrown is open to 9pm Monday to Saturday and Little Shop of Stories to 8pm, so the square works for an evening visit. Worthmore Jewelers is closed Monday and Tuesday, Revolution Doughnuts is closed Monday, and Sharian keeps weekday hours of 9am–4pm and closes at 1:30pm on Saturday. Vivid’s owners suggest calling before a long trip, and Très Jolie, Boutique Karma, Wild Oats & Billy Goats, Olive Branch and Trinity don’t post hours, so call ahead.
The directory
18 shops, all in one place.
Tap a shop or a dot on the map to see it.
Boutiques4 places
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Women’s boutique on the square with dresses, jumpsuits, kimonos and swimwear, plus boots, clogs and sandals, jewelry, handbags, bath and body and home gifts; open seven days.
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Women’s boutique on Sycamore St selling tops, tunics, dresses and pants from Wearables by XCVI, THML, Z Supply and Umgee, plus jewelry, scarves, bags and fair-trade pieces.
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Very small two-person boutique on Ponce Place, between Cafe Lily and Big Tex, open daily into the evening; the owners suggest calling before a long trip.
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Women’s boutique with clothing in linen, silk, tencel and cotton from many small brands, plus handbags, shoes, handmade jewelry, scarves and belts.
Food & drink4 places
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Locally owned wine shop with bottles from around the world, rotating wine growlers, charcuterie and cheese, flowers and local goods, and a monthly wine club.
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Corner market a short walk from the square with made-to-order sandwiches on local bread, groceries, wine and craft beer, and free parking behind the store.
View restaurant page →Website →@kellysmarketdecaturDirections
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Small grocer with organic produce, wine and craft beer, fresh bread and cookies, prepared foods, a butcher case and a different call-ahead dinner each night.
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Doughnut shop making everything from scratch with organic flour, with vegan and gluten-sensitive options plus coffee, tea and juices; closed Mondays.
Books2 places
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Independent bookstore on the square for kids, teens and adults, with signed books, staff picks and local authors, storytime Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am and frequent author events.
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Feminist and LGBTQ+ bookstore, now on the Agnes Scott College campus, with booklists on queer fiction and social justice, gifts, college merchandise and a busy calendar of book clubs and readings.
Gifts2 places
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Gift shop stocked only with goods from Georgia and Southeast makers: candles, mugs, tees and hats, jewelry, regional art prints, Southern snacks, cards and kids’ items, with free gift wrap.
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Home and gift shop on Sycamore St, the renamed Sq/Ft, with candles, cards, stationery, games, puzzles, Jellycat plush, kitchen and bar goods, jewelry and gourmet foods.
Home2 places
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Family rug dealer founded in 1931, in its art deco building on W Ponce de Leon Ave since 1946, selling antique, contemporary and oversized Oriental rugs with cleaning and repair.
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Home furnishings and gift store with its own interior design studio, a short walk from the Decatur square.
Galleries1 place
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Gallery shop on the square since 2010 selling work by local and regional artists: paintings and prints, pottery, glass, jewelry, wood and metal pieces, candles and kids’ items.
Jewelry1 place
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The original Worthmore store, on the square, for engagement rings, custom design, fine jewelry and Shinola watches, with designers like Lika Behar and Michael Jensen, plus repair and appraisals.
Beauty1 place
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Natural skincare and body shop with cleansers, serums, body butters, oils and vegan soaps, plus bookable in-store face mask sessions and hands-on custom-product Glow Socials.
Fashion1 place
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Bra fitting shop for D-cup-and-up sizes, lace lingerie and cup-sized swimwear; fittings are free with no appointment, and the bras are not sold online.
No shops in that category here yet.
This week
In Decatur this week.
Typical hours
Most shops keep the hours below.
Hours vary by individual store. Always check with specific retailers.
Eat, drink, stay
Between shops, close by.
Top restaurants nearby
All of Eat →- Kimball HouseMichelin pickContemporary, Seafood · Renovated rail depot known for cocktails, 20-plus oyster varieties and desserts. MICHELIN Recommended (2026).$$$$
- The Deer and the DoveMichelin pickContemporary, Southern · Chef-owner Terry Koval’s rustic Southern-leaning room; whole trout, duck and playfully named cocktails. MICHELIN Recommended (2026).$$$$
- Fawn Wine & Amaro BarMichelin pickSeafood · Casual seafood and drinks, with the most inventive cooking on the tasting menu. MICHELIN Recommended (2026).$$$$
- Chai PaniMichelin pickIndian, Regional · Colorful spot for seasonal South Asian street-style dishes made with local ingredients; good for sharing. MICHELIN Recommended (2026).$$
Ratings are the scores saved in our directory and are not live. Check the listing for the current score.
Getting here
Parking and transit.
Downtown Decatur centers on Court Square, around the old DeKalb County courthouse. The shops run along E and W Ponce de Leon Ave from Commerce Dr to Church St, up Church St to Sycamore St, and east along Sycamore St, with a few more a short walk out. It suits families, book lovers and gift shoppers.
MARTA’s Decatur station sits directly beneath the square, so the train is the easiest way in: you come up within a block of Little Shop of Stories, Squash Blossom and Worthmore Jewelers. If you drive, on-street meters have a two-hour limit Monday to Saturday 8am–6pm and are free after 6pm and all day Sunday. The Town Center Deck (546 Church St) is free for the first hour with a $10 daily maximum, and the Decatur Court garage (315 W Ponce de Leon Ave) caps at $8.
- PParkingMARTA’s Decatur station sits directly beneath the square, so the train is the easiest way in. On-street meters have a two-hour limit Mon–Sat 8am–6pm and are free after 6pm and all day Sunday; the Town Center Deck at 546 Church St is free for the first hour and $10 maximum for the day. The Decatur Court garage at 315 W Ponce de Leon Ave caps at $8, and the county Courthouse Deck off W Trinity Pl starts at $6 for two hours.
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Guides for Decatur
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