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Book Stores
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.0900.
An integral part of the Santa Cruz community for 40 years, the inside of Bookshop Santa Cruz is plastered with signs urging a browser to – what else? – read! Staff favorites, handpicked recommendations, and enticing miniature reviews taped to the shelves make the palpable enthusiasm for literature contagious. Regulars will have gotten used to leaving the store with a sore neck from having become absorbed in some great new tome.
Bookworks
36 Rancho Del Mar Center, Aptos. 831.688.4554
Locally owned and managed, Bookworks was established over 30 years ago in Aptos. The highly treasured bookstore is the site of events such as ‘The Princess and the Pea,’ a live reading of the storybook hosted by members of the Shakespeare Santa Cruz production of the same name, as well as containing a wide variety of works by local and acclaimed authors. Bookworks is also a member of the American Booksellers Association, the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, and the Aptos Chamber of Commerce.
Borders Books and Music Cafe
1200 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.466.9644
The size of the local Santa Cruz Borders and the quantity of books there can be a little intimidating at first, but fear not—the help desk is situated prominently at the very center of the place, and an in-house cafe (Seattle’s Best Coffee) overlooks the shelves from upstairs. Borders boasts an extensive CD and DVD selection as well as just about any every book currently in print – and if it isn’t in the store, it will happily be ordered.
Capitola Book Cafe
1475 41st Ave, Capitola. 831.462.4415.
Perhaps the best thing about the Capitola Book Café is its frequent and fascinating reading events, which feature local and guest authors such as Barbara Ehrenreich, Daniel Levitin, and Douglas Abrams. The Café hosts 12 to 15 events per month, with audiences of 50 or more. There is also, of course, a cozy in-house café for working or reading or just sitting and enjoying the day.
Logos Books and Records
1117 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.427.5100.
Logos is probably the only bookstore on Pacific Avenue that can boast its own elevator. Or perhaps the only store that can do that, period. Full of dusty paperbacks and records, the store appears small until the large sunken underground area comes into view. The lower level can be reached by a flight of stairs or the aforementioned elevator, and every available space is packed with new and used books. This is the place to find a bargain on classic records, pulp fiction, sci-fi and fantasy favorites, as well as to sell or trade books.
Gift Shops
Artisans Gallery
1368 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.423.8183
This combination art gallery/gift store has walls covered with vibrant watercolors of local vistas and display cases filled with handmade jewelry, leatherwork, pottery and sculpture. The gallery sells both local and non-local artwork with a wide variety of unique and gorgeous items, from polished wooden boxes to airy leaf mobiles.
Best of Everything
1540 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.423.3005
Who knew a store full of tchotchkes could be so addicting? This temple to good taste has all the things you wish were in your home and on your person: Botanicus candles, French linens, Santa Cruz-made Mackerilla handbags, wooden (and lead paint-free) Melissa & Doug toys, shower curtains from some exotic land where all the citizens are stylish, and hand-woven scarves of shocking beauty.
Bunny’s Too
1349 Pacific Ave., anta Cruz. 831.426.2926
The sweet smell of myriad bath products immediately envelops anyone entering Bunny’s gift shop, but fragrant stuff is only a fraction of what the place has to offer. Just about anything in possession of a girly vibe can be found, including hand-sewn frilly aprons, cocktail party supplies, candles, and flip-flops. The store is also conveniently located across from the equally fabulous Bunny’s Shoes—perhaps a new pair of heels will match that frilly apron!
Graphfix
1229 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.425.8086
Home to all things funky, Graphfix features a floor painted purple and display cases stuffed with everything from hand-painted parasols and vintage jewelry to fuzzy statuary and metalwork from Haiti. There are also giant poster prints available, as well as original paintings, and both can be framed on the spot. Sweet.
Paper Vision
1345 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz. 831.458.1345
This is the go-to place in Santa Cruz for stationery, journals, posters, postcards, prints... if it’s paper-related, it’s here. Original artwork, kites, kitschy toys and children’s craft books can also be found among all the papery glory. Truly a vision in paper.
Men's Clothing
Cognito
821 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.426.5414.
The classiest vintage shop in town has a good selection of brocade lounge jackets, bowling shirts, panel shirts and Western wear—not to mention disco and Hawaiian shirts and kimonos. No wonder word has gotten around in the musicians’ community that Cognito is the go-to place when you gotta look flash on a budget.
Men’s Wearhouse
2145 41st Ave, Capitola. 831.429.3204.
Acres of quality suits, slacks and dress shirts, all at reasonable prices, guarantee that no Santa Cruz man need ever walk the streets in a bad suit again.
O’Neill
1115 41st Ave, Capitola. 831.475.4151.
110 Cooper St, Santa Cruz. 831.469.4377.
400 Beach St, Santa Cruz. 831.459.9230.
Santa Cruz style may have gone global via O’Neill’s vast surfwear empire, but it’s still Santa Cruz style, and for that reason the legendary surf shop remains one of the prime local spots to buy men’s togs. Jeans, cords, fleece jackets, casual sport shirts and of course the all-important surf shorts-T-shirt-and-hat combo make up O’Neill’s stock in trade—and the official uniform of beach rats everywhere who can’t be bothered with starched shirts.
Patrick James
7538 Soquel Dr, Aptos. 831.688.2105.
They’ve got your linen pants needs covered at Patrick James. The regional clothier’s Aptos outlet has all the quality brands that have put Patrick James on the fashionisto’s map: Nat Nast, Ibiza, Tommy Bahama, Scott Barber and, of course, Patrick James.
Urban Outfitters
1401 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.9357.
Running low on BDG skinny jeans or snap-front Western shirts, gentlemen? No need to fret. Urban Outfitters’ downtown Santa Cruz store is open til 9pm every night except Sunday for sartorial emergencies. Stay hip, stay happy.
Women's Clothing
Bunny’s Too
1349 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.426.2926
This ultimate girlie store manages to be frilly and fun without being fussy—and it’s distinctly affordable. A great selection of suits and winter coats help sassy girls spiff it up.
Crossroads Trading Co.
811 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.458.0555
They sell new clothes here, but it’s the high-quality “recycled fashions” that draw in hordes of shoppers on weekends and afternoons. See, the tastemakers at Crossroads weed out all the gross stuff ahead of time. All that’s left are cute, stylish, nice-fitting clothes for a song.
Jade
1128 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.425.2244
Not your mother’s boutique. Jade trades in fun, casual togs for the young and slender set. Labels include Gentle Fawn, Prairie Underground, Joe’s Jeans and Generra.
Pacific Trading Co.
1224 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.3349
504 Bay Ave, Capitola. 831.476.6109
Many of the women we know start salivating when the name “Pacific Trading Co.” comes up. Specializing in clothes that feel as good as they look, this boutique is the go-to place for casual chic. Weston Wear, Seven for all Mankind, Carolyn Vaile, Michael Stars and Kenzie are just a few of the labels available at these two popular stores.
Pretty Mama
1501 41st Ave, Capitola. 831.464.3700
No, it’s not maternity wear, and it’s not plus sizes either. Pretty Mama is about uber cute fashions at an unbelievable discount. DKNY and Guess are among the labels one will find here for a fraction of the usual price. There’s also an extensive selection of tank tops.
