1. St. Joe Antiques & Gift Mall
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 341-1073
Address: 615 St. Joseph St.
Description: This massive downtown Rapid City fixture displays items from an eclectic array of dealers. On the bottom floor you might run across vintage Star Wars toys or comic books, while a search through the upper floor might yield weathered ranching tools or an alligator-skin purse. Of course, there is plenty of antique furniture, and much of it can be seen displayed in front of the glass windows that surround the main entry. The stock of merchandise is substantial, but it’s well organized and less cluttered than in many of the smaller antiques stores you’ll find in less-populated towns. You can drop by the antiques mall, which is across the street from the imposing Alex Johnson Hotel, any day of the week except Sun.
2. Borders Books
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 394-5334, (800) 770-7811
Address: 2130 Haines Ave.
Description: We don’t generally list chains, but this bookstore is the place for lovers of books, coffee, magazines, music, and more, and frequently hosts Black Hills–area writers for book signings.
3. Everybody’S Bookstore
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 341-3224
Address: 3321 West Main St.
Description: Bargain-hunting bookworms can have a field day in this used-book store, which has “previously read” books, mostly in paperback editions, in just about any category you can name: arts and crafts, how-to, religion, history, romance, biography, travel, and literature. You’ll find French, German, Spanish, and Norwegian titles. If you’re looking for an out-of-print title and it’s not on the shelves, the staff will conduct a search (ask about fees). The only new items regularly in stock are books of regional, Native American, and western interest, plus maps, including topographic maps and globes. If you don’t want to pay for your purchases, you might be able to trade for some of your old books. The store is closed on Sun.
4. The Storyteller
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 348-7242
Address: 520 6th St.
Description: Comic books rule at this storehouse of fantasy. Look for entertaining books, games, and other items with a sci-fi or comic-related focus plus nonsport trading cards and collections of old and new comic-book series. The clientele is mostly between the ages of 14 and 25, but it also includes college professors and doctors. You can shop at the Storyteller every day except Sun.
5. Star Of The West Hat Company
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 343-7345
Address: 2255 North Haines Ave.
Description: Brad Montague makes custom hats with varying percentages of beaver fur and trimmings as plain or fancy as you like—and in just about any color, too. One time his stock included a dainty bone-colored bonnet shaped with a women’s dress crease and adorned with a cascading ivory veil trimmed with ribbons and roses. He offers reconditioning services for hats that have been in service for a while. The average wait for a beautiful custom hat of your own is six to eight weeks. The shop is closed on Sun.
6. Rushmore Mall
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 348-3378
Address: 2200 North Maple Ave.
Description: When Black Hills locals talk about “the mall,” it used to be a safe bet that they were referring to Rapid City’s Rushmore Mall (www.rushmoremall.com), the area’s first fully enclosed shopping center. But, no more. An explosion in Rapid City’s retail sector in 2008 resulted in massive new mall developments just off I-90 on the city’s northeast side and expansion was still in progress in 2011. Anchor stores at the Rushmore Mall still include national giants: Herberger’s, Sears, and JCPenney. There are lots of specialty stores, too, including casual clothing stores that cater to a youthful clientele. Among them are the Buckle, Pac-Sun, Maurice’s, and the Gap. Rushmore Mall is open seven days a week.
7. Rushmore Crossing
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 348-4480
Address: 1601 Eglin St.
Description: Across I-90, construction continues at this writing on the massive new Rushmore Crossing shopping center, which developers say will eventually have 900,000 square feet of retail space. Rushmore Crossing’s big anchors are Scheels, a 100,000-square-foot sporting goods superstore, Wal-Mart, Target, and a 240,000-square-foot Furniture Row, with four individual stores—Sofa Mart, Oak Express, Denver Mattress, and Bedroom Expressions. Other stores are Shoe Carnival, Gordman’s, T.J. Maxx, David’s Bridal, Petco, Michaels Hobby, Gordman’s, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Dress Barn.
8. Global Market
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 343-4051
Address: 617 Main St.
Description: It’s said that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren’t part of it. Well, Global Market will transport you back to those days of head shops and clothes from the India Imports of Rhode Island catalog. This is the place to find imported hand-batiked clothing, garments woven from flax and other natural fibers, incense, candles, silver-filigree jewelry, South American wool sweaters, bongo and conga drums (made in New Jersey), kilim rugs, carved masks, handmade soap, baskets, books, tapes, CDs, and more. A second location is in Spearfish at 617 Main St. (605-642-9014). By the way, that’s not a typo in the listing—the identical street numbers for the two stores were a cosmic coincidence. (We’re convinced the owner has good karma.) Both are open daily.
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Address: 13774 US 16
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Address: 606 Main St.
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Address: 1441 East St. Joseph St.
12. Main Street Market
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 341-9099
Address: 512 Main St.
Description: The shelves in Main Street Market are well stocked with nutritional supplements, herbs, personal-care products, books, pasta, tea, soups, condiments, and lots of other tasty, tempting goods for wholesome meals and nutritious snacks. Add the personal service and attention on which the owners pride themselves, and you will come away with a warm feeling as well as a filled market basket.
13. Staple & Spice Market
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 343-3900
Address: 601 Mount Rushmore Rd.
Description: Since 1921 this tried-and-true market has been able to boast the largest selection of bulk herbs and spices in South Dakota. The current confines are bursting with nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, personal-care products, teas, and staples for wholesome eating. Special items include free-range buffalo, chicken, turkey, and beef, whole-bean coffee, organic fruits and vegetables, and bulk honey. If the item you want isn’t in stock, the staff will bend over backward to try to get it for you.
14. Cabela’s
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 388-5600
Address: 3231 East Mall Dr.
Description: This place bills itself as the “world’s foremost outfitter.” A small herd of stampeding American bison realistically mounted and arranged in a prairie diorama greets guests near the 80,000-square-foot store’s entrance. The bison are among the more than 350 mounted fish, elk, moose, antelope and other critters elaborately displayed inside the store. Most are arranged on Cabela’s trademark “Conservation Mountain” display that dominates Cabela’s indoor landscape. The Nebraska-based hunting, fishing and outdoors retailer turns each of its outlets into a wildlife museum. Cabela’s is the first store of the new retail power center called The Gateway at Rapid City.
15. Dakota Angler & Outfitter
City: Rapid City, SD
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (605) 341-2450
Address: 513 7th St.
Insider Pick:
Description: When you think about it, an entire store devoted to fly fishing makes sense in the Black Hills. Just ask any local fly fisher (and there are plenty of women among them). Need a float boat? No problem. Looking for fly-tying supplies? There’s a whole wall full. In addition to all the practical items like rods, reels, books, magazines, and maps, there are items to keep you in the spirit even when you can’t be streamside: jewelry, watches, artwork, T-shirts, dishes, and even wild rice to serve alongside your catch. For information about Dakota Angler’s guide service and lessons, see the listing in the Fishing section of the Recreation chapter. The store, which is an authorized Orvis dealer, is closed on Sun all year and on Mon during Jan and Feb.