Vermont Gift Barn — Local services in South Burlington

AVOID AT ALL COSTS - Stopped in with the family to buy souveniers to commemorate our Burlington vacation. Selection was decent, seemed a little overpriced, but more importantly, the store owner uncomfortably followed us around like a hawk. He then put his hand on my 6 year old son when my son picked up a $10 decorative ceramic bell. He reached over, grabbed my son's hand, and took the bell from my son and emphatically put it back on the shelf. This is not appropriate behavior during normal times, but we especially did not appreciate this under the current Covid-19 social distancing circumstances that we are dealing with.

I can certainly appreciate being concerned about children touching some of the more fragile items in the store, but this man's overall behavior and attitude was totally unacceptable. If you are that concerned, do not allow children in your store. Or, put up a sign that says do not touch. Not only did they lose out on our business, we will forever encourage people to avoid this place. Other than this, we had a great time in Burlington VT!

*Response to Owner's response

As a former business owner I understand the need to try and defend your actions, but you can clearly see i have never left another negative review before in my life.

But to clarify, there was one other family in the store and they left just behind us. So....not sure what you meant about the applause. And I see you have used the security camera lie before in response to your other negative reviews. I was simply warning others that this is not a family friendly place. We have never before been kicked out of a store for our children's behavior. I am not saying they are angels by any stretch, but your behavior today was unacceptable, and it seems as if you are aware of that by your over the top defensiveness. Maybe you were just having a bad day, or maybe, like other reviews have noted, you are not great with children, but either way, that was not acceptable behavior in...

I had visited the Vermont Gift Barn during a day-trip to Burlington from the Point au Roche area in New York, where I was vacationing with my wife, her parents, and a collection of her aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Despite having visited some of the college bookstores and gift shops in the surrounding area, I had stopped into the Vermont Gift Barn in the hopes of finding the usual suspects of gifting: magnets, t-shirts, key-rings, and any other items of unsuspecting curiosity that would make for suitable presents for friends and family, particularly my parents in the United Kingdom, for whom I attempt to find a souvenir from every state that I visit.

Unfortunately, I found only the typical collection of items that many gift stores have, though nobody seems to want: hand-carved structures of some mythical entity, combination wood chopping boards, comical tea-towels, wine-stoppers, coasters with cheesy slogans, and coffee mugs that make some vague stab at cat-related humor. Of course, there were a small number of the items that I'd hoped to find, but the hats were poorly-designed and of minimal quality, the magnets looked home-made and always seem to have some strange thermometer glued to them, and the jugs of maple syrup that were available in novel glass containers had already been purchased from a genuine sugar house.

Overall, it would seem that the name of the store carries a degree of uncertainty. If you are searching for hand-crafted, though slightly over-priced gifts, and you are in Vermont, the Vermont Gift Barn could offer several unique opportunities. Doubtless, it would be the place to search for someone that has everything, an arts-and-crafts oriented person, or at the very least the one individual that you feel obligated to purchase gifts for despite not wanting to, or knowing very well.

However, if you are searching for gifts that could make for positive proofs of tourism and adventure that clearly depict Vermont, then a university bookstore would better...

Interesting but expensive collection, not as accessible as it should be

My friend uses a wheelchair, but the handicap parking was on the other side of the store from their "ramp", (the back entrance of the store, which was blocked by boxes during our visit) and no public restrooms. Luckily he could use his cane, but be wary if you need accessibility!

Be prepared to spend a lot if you want to shop here - not the best budget friendly place. Or child friendly. A lot of expensive valuables were in a child's range - I can easily see a child destroying some $50+ glass piece just by walking through the store.

The items are of quality! Seems like a lot of different sellers. Beautiful wind chimes and sleigh bells, striking visual pieces of all kinds, quite a...