Objects to Crave isn’t your average North Shore gift shop. You won’t find a store filled with “Lake Superior” and “North Shore” merchandise here. Instead, Objects to Crave is a one-of-a-kind eclectic mix of fun and interesting found items curated by owners Shel and Bob. From unique old-timey photographs to mossariums to incense to handmade soaps to record albums, this unique gift shop has them all and more!
Located in Hovland, Objects to Crave also stands out in its unique location between Grand Marais and Grand Portage.
From the Past to the Present
The story of Objects to Crave also stands out amongst other gift shops in the area. The cabin itself is believed to have been built in the 1940s. While we don’t know the early history of the building, in the 1980s the little log cabin was owned by Darold and Janet Larson who ran another unique gift shop- featuring mostly antiques- out of the cabin. 40 years later, their Granddaughter Shel jumped at the opportunity to buy the building back when it came up for sale. Now back in the family, there was a lot of work to do to get it back to its former state.
Between Darold and Janet selling the property and Shel and Bob buying it, the home was owned by another party and not maintained well in recent years as the previous owner closed their business in the mid-2010s. Frequent visitors to the North Shore may remember the building. It was a white cabin covered in animal skulls and antlers on the outside. It would greet you as you entered Hovland from the Grand Marais side and became an eyesore in recent years.
After purchasing the building in 2023, Shel, Bob, and their family spent months fixing up the cabin to get it ready to return to its former glory as an operating business. They painted the outside to better reflect the new store’s vibe and added a front deck. They also started fixing up the smaller cabin on the property to eventually add on to the store. Shel and Bob were able to open the doors of Objects to Crave later in the summer of 2023. 2024 marked their first full season in operation.
Today, visitors can stop into Objects to Crave and browse their unique offerings from May until Halloween. The latter date is a fitting end of the season for this particular gift shop.
Not Your Average Gift Shop
While we are calling Objects to Crave a gift shop, it is not your average gift shop! You won’t find walls lined with normal, kitschy souvenirs. Instead, Shel and Bob have curated an eclectic mix of unique vintage and antique finds. Browse the selection of vintage record albums, find your favorite scent amongst the handmade soaps, and find a unique piece for your home. Have a crow-loving friend back home? There are plenty of crow-related items in the store including cigarette smoke crows and bags of “Crow’s Curiosities”.
Plus, they have a wide variety of incense, sage, essential oils, and handmade jewelry by Shel’s niece, Jade. Plus, peruse the Lake Superior agates, gemstones, and sea glass! They even have cracking kits to discover your own treasures inside seemingly normal-looking rocks.
Don’t forget to look outside! The smaller cabin next to the main cabin is also part of the gift shop. The smaller cabin holds household goods, camping gear, and gardening supplies. Still mostly unique vintage and antique finds you won’t see in any other gift shop on the North Shore.
If a unique, personal gift is what you crave, Objects to Crave is your place to find it! Not to mention, you can usually find a treasure for yourself, as well.
Getting There and Learn More
Objects to Crave is located at 4907 East Highway 61, Hovland, Minnesota. Located right on Highway 61 across from Lake Superior, you cannot miss it! The once-white building is now darker colored and has a large front porch to greet visitors on the hunt for some fun merchandise to help them remember their North Shore vacation. They are open Friday-Sundays from Memorial Day to Halloween.
Head on over to the Objects to Crave website for more information. Also, sure to keep an eye on their Facebook page for news, updates, and upcoming events. They are also on Pinterest with lots of their products and ideas.
We hear they are planning something great for Halloween, so if you can’t make your way up in the summer, consider a trek to have a spooky Halloween!
Listen In!
Shortly after their seasonal opening in June 2024, Jaye and Martha went up to Hovland to meet Shel and take a look around Objects to Crave for the Exploring the North Shore podcast. Listen in on their interview with Shel and the unique finds that caught their eye.
See More
More photos from inside the store!
