The Curiosity Shoppe

We love online shopping, but adorable stores like The Curiosity Shoppe make us want to step away from the computer and run out with credit card in hand. Owners Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom launched the store as an e-commerce site last year and, earlier this month, they went brick-and-mortar on us.
The couple managed to [...]

Barneys

Finally! San Francisco is now home to Barneys, a must-visit every time I’m in New York City. But now I don’t have to fly thousands of mile to see what’s new at the Co-Op.
The Union Square location is the old FAO Schwarz. Remember that building? It’s not super-big, but it’s better than nothing. On the [...]

Salt

On a stroll through downtown Los Gatos last week, I was shocked to see how many charming new shops had recently opened. The most surprising was Salt, a cool women’s boutique that resembles something you might find on Union or Fillmore Streets in San Francisco — not in the suburbs.
Salt has only been open for [...]

Egg and Urban Mercantile

Parking in Cole Valley is tough. Really tough. But it’s worth it in order to pay a visit to wonderful shops like Egg & Urban Mercantile. (Public transportation takes you practically to their door as well.)
This is the perfect place to go when you’re trying to find a gift for hard-to-shop-for friends. (And don’t we [...]

Sports Basement

No matter how many times this store moves around or where its current lease takes it, sports enthusiasts will follow. Originally located near AT&T Park (or whatever they’re calling the Giants’ ballpark these days!), the sports emporium moved to Potrero when rents got to high in their old neighborhood. Now, they’ve crossed over to the [...]

Romi, Palo Alto

Eden and Eden

Okay, I have a new favorite store. And I’m almost afraid to share it with you, because shop-owner Rachel Eden doesn’t really maintain any backstock. So, if you see a dress in your size, you need to snap it up because it’s probably the only one available — not just in this store, in [...]

Rose and Radish

Once upon a time, Rose and Radish was a shop devoted entirely to floral arrangements. But we are so glad that owner Cate Kellison decided to expand the storefront, creating a gallery-like space for modern pieces.
Rose and Radish stocks lamps, tabletop accessories, adorable knick-knacks such as little animal bobbleheads, and even large-scale furniture (I love [...]

Peace Industry

After repeated trips to Iran, husband and wife team Melina and Dodd Raissnia developed an interest in hand-made felt rugs. In 2005, they opened a rug shop in San Francisco — offering modern yet organic designs. The name? It’s rooted in the couple’s previous work, which involved making peace flags.
Any of Peace Industry’s designs can [...]

Daiso

A few weeks ago, I was driving through Daly City, along 280, when there — at Serramonte Shopping Center, glowing in the fog — was the word “Daiso.” Big and red, on the side of a building that used to be a Good Guys.
It was already past nine o’clock, so the store was already closed [...]