San Diego
1. Ransack
Oceanside

Look out for: Turquoise jewelry, pre-owned cowboy boots, and vintage Levi’s 501s
Thrifting is RANSACK owner Scout Frank’s passion—she honed her skills on outings with her mother as a youngster and sold shopping finds online to help finance her way through college before opening RANSACK in 2019. The extremely well-stocked shop specializes in vintage western wear for men, women and children, beautiful, gently worn cowboy boots, silver and turquoise jewelry and belt buckles and boasts an impressive collection of vintage 501 Levis. But western wear isn’t the only draw; there’s also groovy, mid 1900s swimsuits and sexy retro sunglasses, sweet cotton dresses and cozy flannel shirts, and artisan home goods.

2. Local Scoop
Encinitas

Look out for: Trail mix, energy chews, and superfood jelly beans
Have you ever looked at your grocery cart and realized that a significant percentage of its contents are wrapped in single-use plastics, probably destined for a landfill? Encinitas’ Local Scoop is combatting this issue by being North County’s first zero-waste, packaging-free bulk grocery store. How does that work, you ask? You bring your own clean containers that you usually use for food storage and fill them with as much or as little as you need. Local Scoop does have sanitized glass containers or paper bags for free if you’ve forgotten your own. More than three hundred different items are available, like pantry and baking items, nuts and seeds, spices, herbs and salts, and plenty of candy and chocolate.

3. Solana Succulents
Solana Beach
Look out for: Handmade pottery, collector plants, and solid advice
Inspired by a succulent display at the Del Mar Fair nearly 40 years ago, Jeff Moore grew from a casual hobbyist to owner of Solana Succulents. He says that even after three decades in the same location, he still truly loves coming to work every day. Known throughout the horticultural community, Solana Succulents is a destination stop for collectors from all over the state. Plan to spend some time here because although the space seems small, Jeff has filled every nook and cranny with specimens of the succulent and cactus world, including common species, rare variants, and just about every imaginable shape and color in between. Be sure to check out Jeff’s gorgeously photographed and painstakingly detailed self-published books.
4. Pigment
Carmel Valley

Look out for: Air plants, color-coordinated jelly beans, and sequined babydoll rompers
Pigment is best known for its diverse selection of plants, minimalist pots, and all the accouterments to keep your thumb green and happy, but don’t sleep on their collection of fun lifestyle items, wellness goods, and apparel. The store’s wares are arranged roughly along the color spectrum, which gives it a soothing, zen-like feel despite the sheer number of wildly diverse products.

5. Continent Delicatessen
La Jolla
Look out for: Russian piroshkis, stuffed pelmeni, and an extensive variety of tinned fish
Continental Delicatessen has been bringing the finest of Eastern European delicacies to San Diegans since 1995. Sourced from countries across the Eastern Bloc and Balkan Peninsula, you’ll find a wide selection of prepared dishes like piroshkis, stuffed eggplant, homemade gefilte fish, and pelmeni by the pound. There’s a minimum of 90 different sausages available at any given time and an abundance of sweets that would make Willy Wonka jealous. Cakes by the pound, Ukrainian Marmalade Azovski, and Belarusian coconut and hazelnut candy will satisfy your most hardcore sugar cravings.
6. Warwick's
La Jolla

Look out for: Beautiful leather goods, elegant stationery, and statement jewelry
Warwick’s is famously the country’s oldest continuously family-owned and operated bookstore, with a
history dating back to 1896. Browse to see what clicks from the exceptionally curated book section, but plan enough time to poke around the outer walls for leather bags and book covers, office and art supplies, artisan jewelry, and refined stationery. Known for supporting local authors, the shop hosts well-attended weekly book signings.

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