Shop Talk
Promises kept
Tiburon’s meandering “retail row” on Main Street has an intimate feel, beckoning passers-by to duck inside the shops with the promise of myriad treasures. A sampling: ~ By Jennifer Shaw; photos by Nikki Ritcher. Christopher Home Perfect for: Those in search of laid-back, Hamptons-inspired home décor and furnishings Vibe: Christopher Downs, Marin’s self-described “celebrity stylist,” [...]
Villa Rouge
Fulfilling dreams ~ By Crystal Chow; photos by Thu Ly. First-time shop owner Alicia Takahara has a secret weapon for luring customers into her side-street business in Mountain View: scented candles. Passers-by are led in literally by the nose, attracted by the heady fragrance of Aloha Orchid that wafts out whenever the door opens. More [...]
Prim
Your best friend’s closet ~ By Rebecca Hall Lucero. According to Merriam-Webster, the word prim means “stiffly formal and proper.” But the Prim boutiques in the East Bay are not your grandmother’s linen closet. The shops are filled with feminine and flowing fashions that are thoroughly modern, while giving nod to nostalgia and vintage design. [...]
Esqueleto
Boutique with good bones Esqueleto (Spanish for “skeleton” ) feels like a darling desert bungalow, with its whitewashed interiors, cacti and skeletal accoutrements. The stable-turned-store, nestled in Oakland’s up-and-coming Temescal Alley, opened in August at the helm of jewelry designer Lauren Wolf, a Brooklyn transplant and avid world traveler. Wolf’s forte is cast-silver skeletal forms [...]
The butter paddle
The Butter Paddle in Los Gatos is filled with delightful gift items. Inventory changes daily, so each visit yields new finds. And the best part: All proceeds go to the nonprofit EMQ FamiliesFirst, serving children and families in need. 33 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos 408.395.1678, butterpaddle.com Shopping to help others [...]
Glamora by Sadia
Brentwood’s fashion oasis. Loyal clientele at Glamora by Sadia usually say that they’re drawn to the Brentwood boutique’s customer service and welcoming staff. Of course, the merchandise is also appealing – especially the designer…
Scotts Valley artisans
For the love of art. To talk with Dawn Teall about her business, Scotts Valley Artisans, is to witness passion in action. The boutique owner helps craftspeople and artists sell their work, but for her the goal is not about making money…
The Pickled Hutch
A treasure trove in Pacifica By Jasmine Duarte; photos by Jasmin Duarte On her days off, Lisa Wilson scours estate sales, flea markets and antique shops, hunting for one-of-a-kind items for her eclectic shop. Since moving the Pickled Hutch from San Francisco to Pacifica in 2008, she has added gift items such as cards and [...]
Souvenir
Lafayette’s Parisian flat By Crystal Chow; photos by Nikki Ritcher Owner Donna Johnson, right in center photo, and manager Meredith Bartoletti like to surprise their guests with one-of-a-kind jewelry, hats and clothes. Owner Donna Johnson, right in center photo, and manager Meredith Bartoletti like to surprise their guests with one-of-a-kind jewelry, hats and clothes. Souvenir [...]
Place Bellecour
Vintage décor for the connoisseur By Crystal Chow; photos by Nikki Ritcher Chantal Couturier, proprietor of Place Bellecour, has but one criterion for what she sells in this 6,400-square-foot showroom: It must be well-balanced and easy on the eye. In other words, if your taste runs to exquisite vintage home décor, you will get an [...]
