Last-minute Mother’s Day shopping? Check out these Sacramento hidden gems

Poppy and Pot is a Black and queer-owned Franklin Boulevard shop specializing in flowers and ceramics. Wife and husband Da’Reen and Kevin Reichenberg co-own the business.

“It’s a common misconception that we’re a dispensary, and we’re not,” Da’Reen said. “I’m doing the flower side, so I’m the poppy, and he does pottery, so he’s the pot side.”

Da’Reen said it’s not common to see Black women, particularly Black queer women, in the floral industry. 

“We get great business because of who we are and being loud and proud about who we are, and it’s even more important in today’s climate to support Black and queer-owned businesses,” she said. 

On top of selling flowers, pottery, chocolates and seeds in their Curtis Park shop, she explained that they also offer pottery classes that have become increasingly popular. 

“We thought, coming in here, that people would want flower arranging classes,” she said. “People don’t care about flowers. When they walk in, they’re like, ‘Wait, you do pottery classes?’ It’s the perfect gift.”

According to Da’Reen, Throwing with Kev classes are sold out through June, but gift cards are available for future classes. 

Her business delivers on Mother’s Day and delivery is free for anyone living in the Curtis Park or East Sacramento area. However, she warned people not to wait too long before ordering.

“Try not to wait too last minute because a lot of shops, us included, will cut deliveries off at a certain time,” she said. “But you can always walk in and grab something wrapped on Mother’s Day too, so we do still have the last-minute gifts.” 

The Kitchen Table

Tucked away on the corner of Alhambra Boulevard and H Street in East Sacramento, The Kitchen Table has something for everyone, whether they like to cook or not. 

Judith Ragland has been a sales associate for the business since 2019. She said they’re a “kitchen store first,” so they have everything from cookbooks and bread baking tools to local olive oils, balsamics and honeys. 

“We always laugh that we have the tool you never knew you needed until you saw it,” she said. 

As Ragland walked around the store, she pointed out unique items and gadgets including Mason and Cash mixing bowls and servers, which she noted are used in The Great British Bake Off, aprons and a Snoop Dogg Cookbook.

“It’s actually a pretty good cookbook,” she said. 

A Snoop Dogg cookbook Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at The Kitchen Table in Sacramento.(Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio)

For moms who don’t like cooking, Ragland recommended self-care items they sell, like lavender eye pillows.

“[These] are crazy popular this time of year,” she said. “You microwave them, get them hot, come home from a stressful day, throw that on, grab a glass of wine [and] you’re good.” 

Although the business has been around for several years, it recently moved to its current location and has a second space in Land Park, where Ragland noted workshops and classes are held. 

“If your mom's interested in doing some kind of an experience with you as a gift, then we have a lot of workshops if you look at our class website,” she said. 

The business will be closed on Mother’s Day, so Ragland recommended people stop by soon to get the perfect gift for mom.

“We’re a pretty small staff and most of us are moms,” she added. “My daughter actually works with us, so it’s nice that she’ll be home and we can go to brunch.” 

Café Xocolatl

The walls of Café Xocolatl are filled with hundreds of what owner Ariel Wolansky calls “exotic and hard-to-find” chocolate bars from dozens of brands. 

“It’s much appreciated if you do want to come in to do some Mother’s Day shopping,” Wolansky said. “It really helps a lot of small businesses in the area and we’ll make sure to spoil your mom on that day if you do bring her.” 

The cafe will offer several specials during the annual holiday, including specialty truffles, most of which are from local vendors, and a Mayan Rose candy bar from Wolansky’s business, Choquiero Chocolate. 

“If you do bring your mom, I recommend the rose goddess chocolate drink or xocolatada, our most popular drink,” he said. 

When asked what he’ll be getting his mom, he said he already gets her something from his store every week.

“But right now we have a really cool chocolate that is all the way from Finland by a brand called Goodio called cherry pie, and we’re pretty excited to carry it,” he noted. “I would like to get her that because I haven’t given my mom that yet.” 

Café Xocolatl owner Ariel Wolansky Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, at 1607 10th St in downtown Sacramento.(Gerardo Zavala/CapRadio)

The cafe also offers ceremonial cacao tastings during regular business hours, which Wolansky noted uses cacao often made by small communities in Latin America. 

“If it is a little too bitter, we like to sweeten it with a little honey or maple, and perhaps a splash of our homemade cashew milk,” he said. “We can adapt it to meet everyone’s taste.” 

The cafe will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mother’s Day, but Wolansky encouraged people to visit soon because items might sell out.

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