San Diego Info
Joined: 05 Jan 2007
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 Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:09 am Post subject: SHOPPING IN SAN DIEGO / SAN DIEGO SHOPPING GUIDE |
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SHOPPING IN SAN DIEGO
Whether you're looking for a souvenir, a gift, or a quick replacement for an item inadvertently left at home, you'll find no shortage of stores in San Diego. This is, after all, Southern California, where looking good is a high priority and shopping in sunny outdoor malls is a way of life.
Many San Diegans do the bulk of their shopping at two massive complexes in Mission Valley where every possible need is represented. Downtown has even adopted the mall concept at whimsical Horton Plaza, and historic Old Town features textiles with great flair and colour from south-of-the-border lands.
Local neighbourhoods, on the other hand, offer specialty shopping that meets the needs -- and mirrors the personality -- of that part of town. For example, modish Hillcrest is the place to go for cutting-edge boutiques, while conservative La Jolla offers many upscale traditional shops, especially jewelers. And don't forget that Mexico is only 40 minutes away; tiendas (stores) in Tijuana, Rosarito Beach, and Ensenada stock colourful crafts perfectly suited to the California lifestyle. Visitors head across the border each weekend in search of bargains and cheap margaritas.
If you want to dedicate a day to shopping but let someone else do the driving, the new outfit The Shopping Tour offers a variety of full- and half-day tours, taking in San Diego malls, outlet malls, and destinations ranging from Palm Springs to Tijuana. Full-day tours range $48-59; half-day tours are $25. For more information call tel. 877/TOUR-411, or see www.theshoppingtour.com.
Shops tend to stay open late, particularly in malls like Horton Plaza and Fashion Valley, tourist destinations like Seaport Village, and areas like the Gaslamp Quarter and Hillcrest that see a lot of evening foot traffic. Places like these keep the welcome mat out until 9pm on weeknights and at least 6pm on weekends. Individual stores elsewhere generally close by 5 or 6pm.
Sales tax in San Diego is 7.75%, and savvy out-of-state shoppers have larger items shipped directly home at the point of purchase, avoiding the tax.
Shopping Areas
Downtown, the Gaslamp & Little Italy
Space is at a premium in the Gaslamp Quarter, and although only a few intrepid shops made the initial commitment to open among the area's multitudinous eateries, in the past few years a number of wonderfully individualistic stores have opened on lower Fourth and Fifth avenues.
A few standouts include Splash, 226 Fifth Ave. (tel. 619/236-9003), where you'll find all manner of handmade soap products, from Mary Jane hemp and Adam and (st)Eve fig oil and brown-sugar soap bars to Almond Joy massage bars and banana shake-flavoured bath "bombs." Almost next door is La Fragance, 236 Fifth Ave. (tel. 619/236-8236), where you can create your own perfume ($59 for 2 oz.) or other fragrance products ranging from exfoliants to bubble bath to body lotions ($13 each).
At Lucky Dog Pet Boutique, 557 Fourth Ave. (tel. 619/696-0364), you'll find supplies swank or chic: collars, snacks, soaps, bowls -- everything to pamper your pooch. Kita Ceramics & Glassware, 517 Fourth Ave. (tel. 619/231-9902), stocks fine Japanese pottery and colourful Italian glass products. Just north of Broadway is City Centre Sports Collectibles, 1045 Sixth Ave. (tel. 619/338-0007), where memorabilia from all types of sports is found, including autographs, pennants, apparel, and programs.
Seekers of serious art, design, and home furnishings should head to Little Italy. The conglomeration of hip stores and galleries along Kettner Boulevard, from Laurel to Date Streets, has become known as the Kettner Art and Design District. Among the highlights are Vetro (tel. 619/546-5120) for vintage glass art; Mixture (tel. 619/239-4788) for modern furniture and accessories; and David Zapf Gallery (tel. 619/232-5004) and Scott White Contemporary Art (tel. 619/501-5689), two of the city's most prominent galleries.
As the number of downtown condos multiplies, watch for shopping to diversify. Otherwise, browsing is primarily concentrated in two destination malls.
Hillcrest & Uptown
Compact Hillcrest is an ideal shopping destination. As the hub of San Diego's gay and lesbian community, swank inspiration and chic housewares rule. There are plenty of establishments selling cool trinkets, used books, vintage clothing, and memorabilia, and of course, bakeries and cafes. You'll also find a panoply of modestly priced globe-hopping dining options, too.
There's no defined zone in which shops are found, so you may as well start at the neighbourhood's axis, the overrun intersection of University and Fifth avenues. From this corner the greatest concentration of boutiques spreads for 1 or 2 blocks in each direction, but farther east on University -- between 10th Avenue and Vermont Street -- you'll find good options (like the fun Ace Hardware store) along the south side of the street, and on the north side a small shopping complex with several choice bets. Street parking is available; most meters run 2 hours and devour quarters at a rate of one every 12 minutes, so be armed with plenty of change. You can also park in a lot -- rates vary, but you'll come out ahead if you're planning to stroll for several hours.
If you're looking for postcards or provocative gifts, step into wacky Babette Schwartz, 421 University Ave. (tel. 619/220-7048), a pop-culture emporium named for a local drag queen, and located under the can't-miss HILLCREST street sign. You'll find books, clothing, and accessories that follow current kitsch trends. A couple of doors away, Cathedral, 435 University Ave. (tel. 619/296-4046), is dark and heady, filled with candles of all scents and shapes, plus unusual holders.
Around the corner, Circa a.d., 3867 Fourth Ave. (tel. 619/293-3328), is a floral design shop with splendid gift items; at holiday time it has the most extravagant Christmas ornaments in the area. Headgear -- from straw hats to knit caps to classy fedoras -- fills the Village Hat Shop, 3821 Fourth Ave. (tel. 619/683-5533; www.villagehatshop.com), whose best feature may be its mini-museum of stylishly displayed vintage hats. Also on this street is Plasticland, 3940 Fourth Ave. (tel. 619/692-3291), with edgy "fashion forward" clothing for women and juniors, including shoes, handbags, and accessories.
Lovers of rare and used books will want to poke around the used bookstores on Fifth Avenue, between University and Robinson avenues. Though their number has decreased with the advent of online shopping, you can always find something to pique your interest. This block is also home to Shwoomp!, 3827 Fifth Ave. (tel. 619/574-2535), which looks like a deli but in fact provides "adventures in bathing" -- apricot-and-oat face masks, tomato-mint foot scrub, shea-butter products for dry-weather skin, all made in the on-premises kitchen, and of course, yellow rubber duckies. A few doors down is Wear It Again Sam, 3823 Fifth Ave., south of Robinson (tel. 619/299-0185; www.wearitagainsamvintage.com). It's a classy step back in time, with vintage clothing -- for both females and males -- in styles from the first half of the 20th century.
A half-mile east of Hillcrest is the start of the Adams Avenue Antique Row. It lies north of Balboa Park, along Park Boulevard (beginning at Robinson Ave.) and on Adams Avenue (extending from Park east to around 40th St. in Normal Heights). Antique and collectible stores, vintage-clothing boutiques, and dusty used book and record stores line this L-shaped district, providing many hours of happy browsing and treasure hunting. There are plenty of coffeehouses, pubs, and small restaurants to break up the excursion. For more information and an area brochure with a map, contact the Adams Avenue Business Association (tel. 619/282-7329; www.gothere.com/adamsave).
Old Town & Mission Valley
Old Town Historic Park is a restoration of some of San Diego's historic sites and adobe structures, a number of which now house shops that cater to tourists. Many have a "general-store" theme and carry gourmet treats and inexpensive Mexican crafts alongside the obligatory T-shirts, baseball caps, and other San Diego-emblazoned souvenirs. New, but maintaining the park's old Californio theme, is Plaza del Pasado, 2754 Calhoun St. (tel. 619/297-3100; www.plazadelpasado.com), which incorporates 11 specialty shops, three restaurants, and a boutique hotel. Costumed employees, special events and activities, and strolling musicians add to the festive flavour.
Mission Valley is home to two giant malls (Fashion Valley and Mission Valley), with more than enough stores to satisfy any shopper, and free parking -- both can be reached via San Diego Trolley from downtown. Book lovers will find local outposts of Barnes & Noble. 7610 Hazard Center Dr. (tel. 619/220-0175), and Borders, 1072 Camino del Rio N. (tel. 619/295-2201).
Mission Bay & the Beaches
The beach communities offer laid-back shopping in typical California fashion, with plenty of surf shops, recreational gear, casual garb, and college-oriented music stores. If you're looking for something more distinctive than T-shirts and shorts, you'd best head east to Mission Valley.
For women in need of a new bikini, the best selection is at Pilar's, 3745 Mission Blvd., Pacific Beach (tel. 858/488-3056), where choices range from stylish designer suits to hot trends like suits inspired by surf- and skate-wear. There's a smaller selection of one-piece suits, too. Across the street is Liquid Foundation Surf Shop, 3731 Mission Blvd. (tel. 858/488-3260), which specializes in board shorts for guys. For affordable shoewear, there's a Skechers Footwear Outlet at 4475 Mission Blvd. (tel. 858/581-6010), at the corner of Garnet Ave.
San Diego's greatest concentration of antiques stores is found in the Ocean Beach Antique District, along the 4800 block of Newport Avenue, the community's main drag. Several of the stores are mall-style, featuring multiple dealers under one roof. The hundreds of individual sellers cover the gamut -- everything from Asian antiquities to vintage watches to mid-20th-century collectibles. Although you won't find a horde of pricey, centuries-old European antiques, the overall quality is high enough to make it interesting for any collector. Highlights include Newport Avenue Antiques, 4836 Newport Ave. (tel. 619/224-1994), which offers the most diversity: Its wares range from Native American crafts to Victorian furniture and delicate accessories, from Mighty Mouse collectibles to carved Asian furniture. Ocean Beach Antique Mall, 4847 Newport Ave. (tel. 619/223-6170), has a more elegant setting and glass display cases filled with superb American art pottery and china. Names like Roseville, McCoy, and Royal Copenhagen abound, and there's a fine selection of quality majolica and Japanese tea sets. The 600-pound gorilla of the bunch is the Newport Ave. Antique Center, 4864 Newport Ave. (tel. 619/222-8686), with 18,000 square feet of retail, and even a small espresso bar. One corner is a haven for collectors of 1940s and 1950s kitchenware (Fire King, Bauer, melamine); there's a fine selection of vintage linens and chinoiserie. This is also where you'll find Quakehold Gel, to hold your crystal in place in the event of a rumble (only in California, right?). Most of the O.B. antiques stores are open daily from 10am to 6pm, with somewhat reduced hours Sunday.
La Jolla
It's clear from the look of La Jolla's village that shopping is a major pastime in this upscale community. Women's clothing boutiques tend to be conservative and costly, like those lining Girard and Prospect streets (Ann Taylor, Armani Exchange, Polo Ralph Lauren, Talbots, and Sigi's Boutique). But you'll also find less pricey venues like Banana Republic and Dansk.
Recommended stores include Island Hoppers, 7844 Girard Ave. (tel. 858/459-6055), for colorful Hawaiian-print clothing from makers like Tommy Bahama; the venerable Ascot Shop, 7750 Girard Ave. (tel. 858/454-4222), for conservative men's apparel and accessories; and La Jolla Shoe Gallery, 7852 Girard Ave. (tel. 858/551-9985), for an outstanding selection of Echo, Clark's, Birkenstock, Mephisto, Naot, Dansko, Josef Siebel, and other shoes built for walking.
Even if you're not in the market for furnishings and accessories, La Jolla's many home-decor boutiques make for great window shopping, as do its ubiquitous jewelers: Swiss watches, tennis bracelets, precious gems, and pearl necklaces sparkle in windows along every street.
A unique experience awaits at the Cave Store, 1325 Coast Blvd., just off Prospect Street (tel. 858/459-0746). This clifftop shop is equal parts art gallery and antiques store, but the main attraction is Sunny Jim Cave, a large and naturally occurring sea cave reached by a steep and narrow staircase through the rock (admission $3 for adults, $2 for kids 16 and under). The Crescent Café -- not much more than a coffee cart today -- is a local institution that has stood on this site for decades. Black-and-white photo enlargements line the walls, depicting this quirky corner of La Jolla through the years, and making the store well worth a stop for history buffs and collectors. The Coast Walk extends here along the coastline into a posh neighbourhood.
Coronado
This rather insular, conservative navy community doesn't have a great many shopping opportunities; the best of the lot line Orange Avenue at the western end of the island. You'll find some scattered housewares and home-decor boutiques, several small women's boutiques, and the gift shops at Coronado's major resorts.
Coronado has an excellent independent bookshop, Bay Books, 1029 Orange Ave. (tel. 619/435-0070). It carries a nice selection in many categories, plus volumes of local historical interest, books on tape, and Mexican and European magazines. La Provençale, 1122 Orange Ave. (tel. 619/437-8881), is a little shop stocked with fabric, tablecloths, pottery, and tableware items from the French countryside; nearby In Good Taste, 1146 Orange Ave. (tel. 619/435-8356), has a small but choice selection of gourmet and food gift items -- in addition to a tempting display of luscious truffles and sweets. And, if you're in pursuit of swimwear, poke your head into Dale's Swim Shop, 1150 Orange Ave. (tel. 619/435-7301), a tiny boutique jam-packed with suits to fit all bodies, including rare European makers seldom available in this country.
Elsewhere in San Diego County
The Cedros Design District, along the 100 and 200 blocks of South Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach, is an outstanding place for designer interior decorating goods. Many of the shops are housed in a row of Quonset huts that were constructed for a company that made spy plane photographic equipment. Today, you can find more than two dozen chic shops selling furniture, original art, imported goods, home decor, antiques, and clothing, plus a couple good cafes. The strip is located just northwest of the Del Mar racetrack; reach it by taking the Via de la Valle exit off I-5 and going right on Cedros Avenue. The Coaster commuter train stops at the Solana Beach station next to the district.
Garden fanciers will find North County the best hunting grounds for bulbs, seeds, and starter cuttings. North County nurseries are known throughout the state for rare and hard-to-find plants -- notably begonias, orchids, bromeliads, succulents, ranunculus, and unusual herbs. |
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