Whimsical both in its shops and décor, Chelsea Market is one of New York’s most noteworthy oddities.

Housed in the former National Biscuit Company (better known as Nabisco) factory, Chelsea Market retains the remnants of its old industrial ambiance—relics of the old Highline freight railway loom over the 10th Avenue entrance. Chelsea Market also possesses an air of otherworldliness, perhaps caused by the paleolithic stone benches scattered along the market’s corridor.

The market is arranged around one corridor between 9th and 10th Avenues. On the upper floors, Chelsea Market houses the headquarters of numerous well-known companies, including NY1, Food Network, MLB.com and the Oxygen Network. The market’s new “Morimoto” Japanese restaurant is the creation of “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto.

Yet Chelsea Market’s shops are its most fanciful and unique features. Offering unusual imports and fresh-baked goods, the quirkiness seen in Chelsea Market’s 20 plus shops is perhaps unmatched by any other stores in the city.

Buon Italia

“Everybody likes Italian food,” said Buon Italia manager Antonio Magliulo, when asked why people continue to flock to the family-run Italian market. Owned by Magliulo’s father Domenico Magliulo, the unique store imports a diverse range of (mainly Italian) products.

Perhaps Buon Italia’s greatest attraction is its avoidance of large, industrial food companies, preferring lesser known, though more expensive, brands. “The companies that we usually use to bring over are small companies and so the quality is better,” Antonio Magliulo said.

“It’s the real authentic Italian experience,” said Chelsea Market frequenter Rob Mounsey, who’s been eating at Buon Italia for years. “It’s owned and operated by real Italians who’ve gradually learned to speak English as we’ve come here.”

The sheer strangeness of some of Buon Italia’s products strikes one as soon as one enters the store. The Himalayan Pink Salt (7.95 dollars per pound) seems more like a Neopets item than an edible spice, while elegant fish-shaped marzipan (26.95 dollars per pound) comes in just about every phylum (including mollusk).

Buon Italia also offers a number of products fit solely for connoisseurs. Exotic fig, pear and orange mustards (5.45 dollars each) provide a break from the conventional Dijon. The bazaar also offers noodles made with saffron and truffles (17.95 dollars) and, for the truly adventurous eater, “radice grossa,” or licorice roots (2.95 dollars).

Simply said, “you’re going to find products here that you’re not going to find anywhere else,” Antonio Magliulo said.

Fat Witch Bakery

There’s a reason why the “one sample per person” sign hangs from the Fat Witch Bakery’s brownie tray.

Probably the most frequented of Chelsea Market’s attractions, the Fat Witch Bakery offers as many variations of brownies (or “witches,” as they are referred to) as can be conceived. All of the wrapped brownies are placed next to a small sign with a quick pun. “This witch is nuts,” reads the sign adjacent to the “Walnut Witch” tray (2.50 dollars), while a sign reading “This witch is theatrical” is posted next to the “Wicked Witch” (2.50 dollars), colored green with peppermints in imitation of the Broadway show’s trademark color.

The Fat Witch Bakery is owned by Patricia Helding, who conceived the theme of the store. “I like witches and have always baked brownies, so I combined the two,” Helding said.

If you’re on a budget, you’ll want to stop by the store during “Witching Hour,” 5 to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. All unwrapped witches, which are normally priced at either 2.00 (for the original plain chocolate brownie) or 2.25 dollars (for the variations), are sold for 1.50 dollars. The wrapped witches are more expensive than the unwrapped witches and do not come at a discount during Witching Hour.

“[Fat Witch Bakery] is why I come to Chelsea Market,” Chelsea Market veteran Kara Brotman said.

Chelsea Market Baskets

Evoking any passerby’s curiosity, Chelsea Market Baskets offers queer and exciting foods and baskets that seem suited for the pages of a fairy tale.

Chelsea Market Baskets’ unique products can be attributed to owner David Porat’s unique taste. “We find [goods] locally and I do travel around the world,” Porat said. “I go to Europe a few times a year.” The store sells both individual goods and meticulously arranged gift baskets, containing a number of imports arranged around a certain theme (such as “Retro Candy” and “New York Nostalgia”).

Porat has been importing goods for gift baskets like those sold at his Chelsea Market store since before the market opened. The seasoned importer had only planned on having an office at Chelsea Market, “but the developer talked me into renting space,” Porat said.

The treats offered at Baskets range from the bright orange Pumpkin Spice Malt Balls (12.00 dollars per pound) to the adequately named Nirvana Chocolate Bars (1.00). To ensure that your conventional utensils don’t detract from the ambiance, Chelsea Market Baskets also offers Melville’s Candy Flavoring Spoons (1.50) in flavors such as clover honey.

“It’s stuff you wouldn’t ordinarily see,” said Audrey Lebeuf, a first-timer to Chelsea Market Baskets. “It’s really entertaining.”

Ronnybrook Farm Dairy

Part throwback to the days of “milkmen” and part trendy “bar,” Ronnybrook Farm Dairy seems to be having some identity problems.

Owned by Mark Sarosi, Ronnybrook used to be a milk store, but was converted about 10 months ago into what they themselves now refer to as a “milk bar.” The “milk bar” offers exotic drinks such as the Blueberry-Pomegranate Shake (3.00 dollars) and the Lavender Milk (4.00 dollars), as well as Ginger Crème Butter ice cream (2.50 dollars).

Chalkboards reading “There will be milk” adorn walls made of faux milk cartons—on the weekends, the store’s whimsical, yet rustic, ambiance succeeds in attracting many tourists.

Yet Ronnybrook isn’t a regular tourist attraction—the store also “lends” milk bottles to thirsty customers in a manner not seen since the early 60s. “Around five, people pick up milk to take home, and return bottles every day,” cashier Gavin Cady said.