J & S Imports

I just love this place! It is a hidden gem, it really is, and frankly I don’t know why it doesn’t have many more reviews. Are you into the cultural? Do you like African and Indian ‘stuff’? Incense, jewelry, and gifts? This is your place. There are two brothers in charge, but I personally LOVE Jaime! He’s awesome and super personable.
There is no parking there unless you are willing to pay, and they moved to some other floor above — so just be on the lookout for signs so that you can go to the right place. Awesome place!

I love this little Mom & Pop. It’s got an old school New York small business atmosphere. They are upstairs now, you have to take the service elevator to get in. The entrance is wedged in and a bit hard to find. I buy dried lavender and cedar to make bath salts there and shea butter and figurines and!!!

An increasingly hidden away gem of a shop that sells oils, incense, African masks, carvings & beads. As rents increase in NYC — shops like this are squeezed out of existence. Sadly.
Recommend this shop highly. The owner is a wonderful, kind hearted man. old school trader.

looking for african handmade crafts, masks, figurines, and pottery then look no further. this place has been providing for the union square area for 36 years. mostly items from congo area, ivory coast, west africa, and kenya.
very popular are the nkissi (fetishes) of which i own several. these are wood carved figures that are covered with nails or metalic objects or appear anthropomorphic with horns or feathers. after they are carved the nganga (fetishist) performs rituals that give the figurines the supernatural powers to transform negativity and illness into healing energy. they are very auspicious and make great gifts.
there are also some baule female figurines which are meant to improve fertility. the couple, especially the woman, can touch the belly of the figurine daily to increase fertility. in this day of $ 10K IVF treatments, can’t hurt to add this ritual to improve the odds.
if you decide to go in a few months and don’t see the store front, it is because they moved to the 4^th floor because like most businesses in union square that are getting squeezed for premium rents, they are in the transition process. i still miss zen palate, no veg place in union square compares. the space where zen palate was, is still vacant after a year (serves you right, you greedy landlord!). too bad tisserie is also moving to the otherside of town. enjoy everything while it lasts!