HotspotsAptos Village
Soquel Drive in Aptos
Thing To Know: Cool portal for antiques and more.
Capitola Mall
On 41st Avenue, 831-476-9749, ShopCapitolaMall.com
Thing To Know: Has it all—Mervyns, Gottschalks Sam Goody Music, Macy’s, Sears, The Limited and more.
Capitola Village
Thing To Know: Great boutiques right by the sea.
Downtown Felton
Thing To Know: Charming array of locally owned shops and boutiques lining a small section of Highway 9.
Downtown Santa Cruz
Downtown Association located at 1347 Pacific Ave. Ste 201831-429-8433, Fax: 831-429-1512 or downtownsantacruz.com
You can find plenty of “Santa Cruz” paraphernalia downtown—form the iconic emblems found on clothing at Pacific Wave (pictured) to riveting surf-theme attire at O’Neill’s. There’s terrific variety in many of the locally owned shops in town. Indulge. 
Soquel Village
Thing To Know: One of the best places to nab antiques.
Watsonville
Thing To Know: Main Street is host to a wide range of locally owned specialty shops. (Take 152 off Highway 1, it turns into Main Street.)
Antiques, Boutiques, Shopping & MoreAbacus Antiques & Quality Used Furniture
413 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831-457-1012
The Lowdown: It’s never too late to toss out the old beanbags, cement brick bookshelves or inflatable couch and get some real grown-up furniture. When looking for quality wood furniture at a lower price, Abacus is the place to go.
Bottom Line: Its gentle prices won’t intimidate, but you may be blown away by the great selection of wooden furniture.
Aptos Gardens
5870 Soquel Dr., Soquel, 831-462-3859
The Lowdown: Sidled up next to Wisteria Antiques, on the same property, is Aptos Gardens. While the “inside” houses luscious antiques, outside are the delicate gardens, where visitors are known to mill about as long as they possibly can.
Bottom Line Pure romanticism exists here.
After Effects
4920 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 831-475-5991
The Lowdown: Anyone who appreciates beauty can treat themselves to paintings and prints, while bookworms can indulge their thirst for knowledge. Collectors of kitchenware won’t want to leave without adding a new dish to their collection.
Bottom Line: A new look for any room of the house is just one piece of furniture away.
Amoureuse
1119 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-423-7363
The Lowdown: If you’re looking for a stylish boutique with nourishing body products, accessories, elegant lingerie, classic perfumes, artistic jewelry and unique gifts, this is the place to shop. Stop in and say hello to Concha, the owner. She’ll make you feel at home and you will never want to leave.
Bottom Line: Take vintage shopping to the next level.
Arbor Antiques and Garden Shop
2650 17th Ave., Santa Cruz (behind Toys R Us and Circuit City), 831-479-9271
The Lowdown: Located on half an acre of land, the grounds of Arbor Antiques and Garden Shop might provide inspiration to create a mini-paradise. Luckily, their garden shop is well-equipped with antique garden furniture, statuary, pots and accessories. For those without green thumbs, there are plenty of indoor decorations to bring home, including fine furniture, crystal and dishes.
Bottom Line: Great pieces for the great outdoors.
Attilia’s Antiques
2630 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, 831-475-6920
The Lowdown: Attilia’s has a little bit of everything, including an abundant garden shop with impressive antique pots.
Bottom Line: A terrific cooperative filled with gems collected from 38 antique and collectible dealers.
Center Street Antiques and Interiors
3010 Center St., Soquel 477-9211
The Lowdown: In this interior decorator’s haven, you’ll find everything from vintage furniture, to cozy cottage wares, to something you might put in your French countryside abode.
Bottom Line: Chic not shabby. Expect an organized, put-together antique store that will win you over in minutes.
Chairish the Thought
2131 1/2 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz
831-465-0630
The Lowdown: Everyone enjoys a good sit, and of course this store has an array of chairs. But this store couldn’t resist the charms of all the other furniture and thus squeezes in kitchenware and a variety of other items. If your head starts to spin from it all, you’ll always have a chair to collapse in.
Bottom Line: The cutest name in the county has the stock to back it up.
Crawford Antiques
4401 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 831-462-1528
The Lowdown: If you find yourself unsettled by trendy “distressed” furniture, you’ll be relieved to find the real thing here. Crawford specializes in primitive country furniture from Pennsylvania, which has been preserved in its original condition. These painted pieces are the real thing and have years of stories to tell.
Bottom Line: Finally, an antique store that actually stocks antiques!
ETC ETC ETC
1900 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, 831-462-8282
The Lowdown: Pottery, glass, books and other small items refuse to give up the spotlight here. Old issues of Life magazine may seem trivial, but no one can belittle this store’s selection of cowboy collectibles.
Bottom Line: So much stuff they couldn’t fit it all in the name.
Frank’s Antiques
4900 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 831-462-3953
The Lowdown: Some people dearly love their concrete jungles, but for those who dream of spotted cows, red checkered tablecloths and rolling hills of green grass, adding a touch of country style to life is the way to go.
Bottom Line: Frank’s country collectibles please the eye and the soul.
Gravago Gallery
111 Cooper St., Santa Cruz, 831-427-2667
The Lowdown: Now you can indulge your lifelong dream of living like a pharaoh simply by checking out Gravago Gallery’s selection of exotic home furnishings. Egyptian and Moroccan items as well as lighting and art fill this shop in downtown Santa Cruz.
Bottom Line: Cross tomb raiding off your schedule.
The Garden Company
2218 Mission St., Santa Cruz
831-429-8424
The Lowdown: This locally owned nursery and gift shop has been thriving since 1986. From wonderful perennials, tropicals, houseplants, orchids, bulbs and succulents that are easy to travel with to its gift shop filled with ceramics, candles, books, soaps, lotions, hats and more, The Garden Company has much to offer.
Bottom Line: This nursery and gift shop is a local favorite and easy to find.
Ironwood/Black China Cafe
1121 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz
471-9771 www.shopironwood.net
The Lowdown: Black China Bakery, famous for its out-of-this-world desserts, is considered one of Santa Cruz’s best. Plenty of free parking next to the fire station.
Bottom Line: This combination outdoor cafe/home furnishings/accessories and gift store is exciting and full of flair.
LH Selman Ltd.
123 Locust St., 103 Locust St., Santa Cruz
831-427-1177 or 800-538-0766
The Lowdown: This company has been a jewel in the area for more than 30 years, and it’s easy to see why. The gallery is dedicated to glass art and specializes in antique and modern paperweights. But there’s also much to marvel at here, from sculptures and vessels to goblets and glassware and murrine, marbles and striking glass jewelry. One of its stores (123 Locust St.) boasts an International Paperweight Museum.
Bottom Line: This is truly a unique, captivating experience that features the creative works of internationally and nationally recognized artists.
Miss Jessie May’s Antiques and Collectibles
1533 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831-458-9131
The Lowdown: Miss Jessie May’s buys and sells quality antiques instead of reproductions. Their unique and eclectic mix of furniture and home decor items contain only the best. European furniture, French antiques, paintings and vintage jewelry round out their selection.
Bottom Line: A refuge of authenticity on the main drag.
Monterey Bay Estate Jewelry and Antiques
7765-D Soquel Dr., Aptos, 831-662-8560
The Lowdown: Theoretically, if you have enough clocks in your house and set them all to different times, you’ll always be early according to one of them. Then again, maybe it’s better just to have one really good watch and learn to run fast. In either case, antique timepieces and Rolex watches of all sorts can be found here, as well as estate jewelry, silver and general antiques and collectibles.
Bottom Line: A great place to go if your wrist needs decorating.
Mr. Goodie’s Antiques and Collectibles
Variety is the key word here. There’s no need to pillage the high seas when everything your treasure-hunting heart desires is under one roof. As for peg legs and parrots, you’re just as likely to find them here as anywhere else on land. Specializing in mid-century ephemera and rockabilly attitude, this isn’t your grandmother’s antique store (even though it stocks her stuff). 1541 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831-427-9997 
The Perfumer’s Apprentice
1319 Pacific Ave. (upstairs), Santa Cruz
831-466-0288
The Lowdown: On the second floor near the middle of Pacific Avenue, you can relax, sip tea, watch the world go by and create your own special fragrance. Choose from more than 300 oils and experience the joy of creation that master perfumers have long kept to themselves. The store also has a large selection of perfume bottles and oils for sale as well as aromatherapy blends.
Bottom Line: Create your own custom perfume over a snack of cookies and tea.
Soquel Village Antiques
4700 Soquel Drive, Soquel
831-476-4747
The Lowdown: There’s nothing quite like finding the perfect new/old treasure. You might not even know how incomplete your life is without it until you come here and fall in love. This store’s wide variety is the work of 30 antique dealers, filling the large shop with something that appeals to everyone.
Bottom Line: A shopping mall for people who hate tawdry stuff from shopping malls.
Super Silver
108 Lincoln St, Santa Cruz, 831-460-9696
The Lowdown: Shop at the hottest sterling silver store in Santa Cruz. This hip hot spot is full of 25,000 sterling silver chains, rings, earrings, charms, stone necklaces, hoops and body jewelry. It boasts some of the best prices in town.
Bottom Line: If you don’t run into someone handing you a coupon for the store, you’re not walking around Santa Cruz enough.
Towne and Country Antiques
9280 Highway 9, Ben Lomond
831-336-5993
The Lowdown: Take a look at their selection of lovely stained glass lamps, become an expert on ephemera by examining their antique documents of all sorts, including pictures, ads and stock certificates. You can also pick up some wrought iron yard furniture or patio furniture to lounge in.
Bottom Line: This 5,000-square-foot shop doesn’t just have something for everyone, but prices for everyone.
Wisteria Antiques and Design
5870 Soquel Drive, Soquel
831-462-2900
The Lowdown: Wisteria is a direct importer of French antiques and accessories, and is located on the acre of land that is Aptos Gardens. Here, it is possible to believe that you’ve escaped to the French countryside. Feel foreign and sophisticated while eyeing their paintings, then motor away with some antique furniture to turn your house into a cottage.
Bottom Line: An oasis of international sophistication.
BookshopsBookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-423-0900
The Lowdown: Without a doubt one of the area’s best book stores, BSSC was birthed in 1966, and has survived an earthquake and mega chain stores to become a pillar of the community. Famous for political antics, and it’s surprising selection, book-signings and other community events.
Bottom Line: You won’t understand Santa Cruz natives without stopping in here.
Bookworks
36 Rancho Del Mar Center, Aptos
831-688-4554
The Lowdown: Wonderful little bookstore with great service defines this spot. Open since 1976, it’s become a hot bed of local activity and features one of the friendliest atmospheres in town.
Bottom Line: The heart and soul of the Aptos literary scene.
Borders Books, Music and Cafe
1200 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
831-466-9644
The Lowdown: More than 200,000 titles are featured in the popular chain store that also has an extensive list of magazines and newspapers on hand. Great espresso café, book signings and live music on some nights.
Bottom Line: Yep, it’s a Borders.
Capitola Book Café
1475 41st Ave., Capitola
831-462-4415
The Lowdown: Located between a drug store and a movie theater, the Book Café is a great independent bookstore with an equally great selection. They also attract the attention of major name authors who often read between the stacks. And they have a great cafe, as the name would suggest, that caters to every appetite much in the same way that the bookstore does so well.
Bottom Line: Capitola’s answer to Bookshop Santa Cruz.
Frenchy’s Cruzin Books & Video
3960 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz
831-475-9221
The Lowdown: Frothy meets frisky at Frenchy’s. When two consenting adults decide to walk on the wild side, this may be the place for all the bare essentials—literally. Friendly atmosphere, welcoming, and not too over-the-top.
Bottom Line: A surprisingly lively if not sophisticated array of frivolous fare.
Gateways Books
1126 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-429-9600.
The Lowdown: The quintessential New Age Santa Cruz bookstore features a vast selection of spiritual and philosophical fare. Books, gifts, music, special events—everything to help you tap into your inner self or get in touch with things karmic. Also features author events nearly every week. Tarot and psychic readers are often on hand—they already know you’re coming.
The Bottom Line: With all these ooks, crystals and the occult … the truth is out there.
Literary Guillotine
204 Locust St., Santa Cruz, 831-457-1195
The Lowdown: It may be a hole in the wall but Literary Guillotine is a great place to find those rare and out-of-print scholarly books. It also serves as a local printer for poetry chapbooks and area writers.
Bottom Line: A throwback to the earliest days of bookselling, in a good way.
Logos
1117 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 831-427-5100
The Lowdown: Boasting a whopping 150,000 titles of used and new books, Logos is easy on the pocket book. Nearly all the used books, records and CDs are so refreshingly low-priced it makes it difficult to leave without a heavy bag of goodies in your arms. Two storeys of selection make finding that perfect book—and the one you didn’t intend to get—that much more enjoyable.
Bottom Line: If you can’t find an awesome hardback for under $10, you haven’t looked long enough.
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