No journey is complete without scouring the local stores for unique trinkets or picking up a gift or two for friends and family back home. Today, get out and explore the unique local stores and all they have to offer.

On Centre

Five years ago, Philip Celeste decided to take a chance on Centre Street. Both an artist and lover of the retail industry, he wanted to open a fun store where he could work with customers, and be part of the community. A friend suggested he open in Jamaica Plain. Celeste, who had lived in JP for eight years prior to a move closer to his South End studio, was unsure.

"I said, 'I don’t know, there aren’t that many stores.' That was then, you know," said Celeste. "And then I wondered, 'Are there not many stores because JP won't support them, or because people just haven’t opened there–because you normally think of Newbury Street, South End, Harvard Square, that kind of stuff–so I decide to take a chance and try it."

This year Celeste will celebrate five successful years at his "On Centre" store. Customers will find a surprisingly wide selection of books, clothing, accessories, jewelry, home decor, stationary, art -and more- nestled in his colorful store displays. On Centre receives new products on a daily basis, and is a hot spot for creative gifts with a JP flair.

Celeste, also a painter and jewelry-maker, is glad he set up shop in JP. "I feel like it’s a great way to be in the community and part of the community as well. For me, that’s important."