You in all probability already know this historic district as a enjoyable vacation spot for day journeys and culturally immersive experiences. Nonetheless, should you haven’t but explored the eclectic assortment Outdated City San Diego outlets, you’re in for a deal with.
Distinctive presents with fashion. Meals gadgets to fulfill any palate. Youngsters’s toys, house decor, blown glass, and colourful, one-of-a-kind presents to deliver somebody cheer. Books that deliver historical past alive. Attire that’s as elegant as it’s comfy. You’ll discover this stuff and extra once you spend time sightseeing and purchasing in what’s considered California’s birthplace.
Many of the Outdated City San Diego shops listed beneath have concession agreements with the state-run Outdated City State Historic Park. This implies you would possibly see employees members wearing interval clothes and making concerted efforts to present consumers a glimpse of life within the Mexican and early American intervals of 1821 – 1872.
For this reason purchasing in Outdated City San Diego generally is a enjoyable a journey—a visit throughout cultures and time—and a possibility to seek out the proper treasures you’ll cherish properly into the long run.
1. Trustworthy Thrift Studio
- 2609 Congress St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 485-4674
- Wednesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m
- Closed Sunday via Tuesday
- honestthrift.com
The store’s tagline, “Boutique finds at thrift store costs,” describes this place completely. Trustworthy Thrift Studio brings you stunning antiques and different nice finds inside a beautiful little nook that’s alive with an abundance of indoor crops, making a welcoming area.
To maximise the searching expertise, only some clients can are available at one time. Inside, you’ll discover plant equipment (most of the vibrant crops surrounding you might be additionally on the market), furnishings, décor, and extra. You’ll by no means know precisely what you’ll discover, however that’s simply a part of the enjoyable of this store.
Trustworthy Thrift Studio stands out as the coziest, cutest, and most eclectic thrift store ever. Cease in for a singular, intimate purchasing expertise and chat with homeowners who love what they do. While you’re finished purchasing, go across the nook to the store homeowners’ sister enterprise, Backyard Espresso, which is simply as vibrant.
2. Cousin’s Sweet Store
- 2711 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 297-2000
- Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Friday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- cousinscandyshop.com
Housed inside considered one of Outdated City’s many historic buildings, Cousin’s Sweet Store is a paradise for each candy tooth in your loved ones. Inside you’ll discover candies of all shapes and flavors piled excessive in barrels, baskets, jars, bins, and circumstances. Strolling in, it feels such as you’ve stepped again in time to the 1800s, with workers wearing clothes typical of that period.
Should you love mushy, creamy fudge, you’ll discover scrumptious varieties right here. Craving jelly beans? A self-serve station helps you to take pleasure in 49 totally different flavors.
Different tasty delights embrace saltwater taffy, licorice, sweets, rock sweet, and nostalgic specialty candies you’ll be able to’t discover in common shops. Sugar-free candies are additionally offered, and the store focuses on huckleberry merchandise, together with jams, syrups, fudge, and taffy.
The treats at Cousin’s Sweet Store are high-quality, with contemporary batches made each day. Baskets can be found for gift-giving, or you’ll be able to create your personal.
3. Toby’s Candles
- 2645 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 297-5426
- Monday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- tobyscandles.com
Greater than a candle store, Toby’s Candles is a sensory expertise providing fragrant candles and scented soaps. This family-owned and operated store sells high quality candles handmade with love. The unique enterprise co-owner, Toby, was a college professor when she started practising the artwork of candle carving. This new ardour grew right into a full-time enterprise for her, with the remainder of the household becoming a member of in.
As one of many Outdated City San Diego shops since 1992, Toby’s Candles immerses you in a peaceable, artistic ambiance as quickly as you enter. The employees is welcoming and useful whereas letting you browse freely at your personal tempo.
The store focuses on kaleidoscope candle kits you’ll be able to take house to make your self and handcrafted specialty candles that make great presents. Their bathe steamers are fashionable options to bathtub bombs, offering an at-home spa expertise everytime you take a bathe.
4. El Centro Artesano
As Outdated City’s largest pottery store, El Centro Artesano brings you nice concepts for including vibrant colours to your yard areas. With nice indoor and out of doors areas to browse, this store consists of a big out of doors courtyard with rows upon rows of Mexican pots of various sizes.
This stuff have distinctive, eye-catching designs painted by hand. To personalize your yard, you’ll additionally discover terracotta pots and numerous décor, together with solar faces, wind chimes, and eccentric sculptures.
Inside, the massive present store is brimming with worldwide merchandise for all ages. You’ll discover Día de los Muertos collectible figurines, wall décor, colourful gems, hanging chimes and suncatchers, jewellery, magnets, and extra. It’s an incredible place to seek out distinctive, themed presents for mates and relations.
El Centro Artesano gives a singular purchasing expertise for the entire household. Simply preserve little ones from operating via the courtyard and present store to keep away from breaking any fragile gadgets.
5. Rust Common Retailer
- 2720 Calhoun St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 295-7878
- Monday and Thursday: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Friday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
- fb.com/RustGeneral
Rust Common Retailer is a quaint, one-of-a-kind store with an old school really feel. Promoting gourmand meals and specialty gadgets, it serves as a common retailer and a espresso store with an 1860s ambiance. I like this retailer for presents.
Along with searching for distinctive merchandise, you’ll be able to seize a cup of espresso or tea plus a chew to eat whereas taking a break within the enclosed out of doors seating space beneath massive shade bushes.
It’s a enjoyable place to buy should you take pleasure in discovering hard-to-locate meals stuff you ate once you had been a child, plus belongings you’ve by no means heard of however are recreation to strive not less than as soon as—every little thing from lavender sweet to pickled quail eggs.
From the bistro part of Rust Common Retailer, you’ll be able to order a beverage of your selection—sizzling, iced, or bottled—together with a snack or a candy deal with. Menu gadgets embrace café mocha, chai latte, iced tea, Bavarian pretzel, mini panini sandwich, fresh-baked pastries, and ice cream.
6. Miner’s Gems and Minerals
- State Historic Park, 2616 San Diego Ave, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 688-1178
- Monday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- minersgemsandminerals.com
Whether or not you’re visiting this historic district only for enjoyable otherwise you’re right here to do some bona fide Outdated City, San Diego purchasing, Miner’s Gems and Minerals is a must-see. This geological treasure home comes with a extremely skilled employees that is aware of its stuff in gemology and mineralogy. It’s a museum and a store multi function.
Should you’re prepared to purchase a gem, you’ll discover top-quality specimens on the market right here. The shop sells polished gem stones, together with items that may be fitted into jewellery, together with crystals, tough stones, and even fossils.
A visit to Miner’s Gems and Minerals may be academic for the entire household. Whereas the youngsters take a look at wooly mammoth hair and fragments of raptor eggs, the adults can admire stunning bicolor tourmaline extracted from San Diego’s personal Himalaya Mine—do you know our county has a number of energetic gem mines? You’ll be taught much more once you go to this store.
7. Kosay Kumeyaay Market
- 85472 Calhoun St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (442) 899-8051
- Friday – Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Closed Monday – Thursday
- kumeyaaymarket.com
Lengthy earlier than the Spaniards got here to the area, the Kumeyaay lived right here. They had been the primary folks to settle in what’s now San Diego, masking a large space from Ensenada to Oceanside.
Kosay Kumeyaay Market pays tribute to the unique folks of this space by that includes conventional art work created by expert artists. Kosay Village was the title of what’s now often called Outdated City, San Diego.
Purchasing right here, you’ll discover genuine arts and crafts made by members of the Yuman teams of Native American origin, together with numerous communities of the Kumeyaay, Cucapah, Kiliwa, Pai Pai, and Cochimi Nations.
Buying from this market helps assist artisans in Mexico and the U.S. and teaches you one thing in regards to the cultures that lived right here way back—and proceed to dwell within the area right now.
Carry house an genuine, handmade masterpiece from Kosay Kumeyaay Market—it should add a lot to your residing areas whereas serving as a reminder of the cultures which have been right here since lengthy earlier than San Diego was included.
8. Fiesta de Reyes
- 2754 Calhoun St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 297-3100
- Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Friday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- fiestadereyes.com
Outdated City, San Diego additionally has a number of bigger purchasing zones, every with its personal assortment of retailers price visiting. With 19 regionally owned outlets, Fiesta de Reyes is considered one of these marketplaces. Whereas perusing right here, you should definitely cease in these nice shops.
Geppetto’s Toys
Discover basic toys that encourage creativity: puppets, puzzles, video games, building units, arts and crafts, books, and far more. Geppetto’s is a high quality toy retailer that’s been in San Diego for over 40 years.
Tienda de Reyes
That includes Mexican people artwork and Day of the Useless merchandise, this thrilling present store affords a big choice of enjoyable souvenirs, festive housewares, and colourful clothes.
The Loopy Pepper
Whether or not you want your salsa sizzling or delicate, step into this store for among the most flavorful condiments round. Browse the large choice of salsas, sizzling sauces, BBQ sauces, and extra.
9. Outdated City Market
With over 40 outlets and eating places in a single place, Outdated City Market is a historic indoor and out of doors market that may draw you in with its colourful choices and vibrant ambiance. Take a look at these outlets.
Better of Outdated City
You’ll discover fantastically crafted wares and clothes from Ecuador, Peru, and Guatemala, together with ponchos, blankets, sandals, and purses.
D&O Imports
See the genuine Vietnamese souvenirs offered right here, together with stunning metallic artwork designs, different handmade items, and all kinds of Asian imports.
Mi Casa Es Mi Casa
It’s a veritable fiesta with all of the colourful, genuine Mexican gadgets on show, from maracas and piñatas to festive margarita glasses. Seize a scrumptious Mexican soda when you’re right here.
10. Bazaar del Mundo
- 4133 Taylor St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 296-3161
- Monday – Sunday: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- bazaardelmundoshops.com
No Outdated City, San Diego purchasing expertise is full and not using a go to to the Bazaar del Mundo. Right here’s the place you’ll discover among the greatest one-of-a-kind presents for your self and others. Benefit from the vivid, cheerful setting and nice locations to buy, like these.
Artes de Mexico
Fastidiously chosen gadgets make this retailer a pleasure to buy in. You’ll discover Oaxacan hand-carved picket animals, Huichol beaded artwork, hand-painted Talavera ceramics, and far more.
Guatemala Store
Uncover treasures and exquisite textiles from Guatemala. This store brings you conventional Latin American crafts, together with ceramic figures, rain sticks, Peruvian artwork, Guatemalan materials, and distinctive toys.
Kitchen Store
Should you’re prepared to show your kitchen into the colourful coronary heart of your own home, cease by the Kitchen Store for stunning dishware and kitchen décor. You’ll additionally discover an incredible choice of cookbooks and mouthwatering Mexican spices, soup mixes, and preserves.
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