The place to Go & What to Purchase

You most likely already know this historic district as a enjoyable vacation spot for day journeys and culturally immersive experiences. Nonetheless, for those who haven’t but explored the eclectic assortment Outdated City San Diego outlets, you’re in for a deal with.
Distinctive items with model. Meals gadgets to fulfill any palate. Kids’s toys, dwelling decor, blown glass, and colourful, one-of-a-kind presents to carry somebody cheer. Books that carry historical past alive. Attire that’s as elegant as it’s snug. You’ll discover these things and extra if you spend time sightseeing and purchasing in what’s thought to be California’s birthplace.
Many of the Outdated City San Diego shops listed under have concession agreements with the state-run Outdated City State Historic Park. This implies you may see workers members wearing interval clothes and making concerted efforts to offer customers a glimpse of life within the Mexican and early American durations of 1821 – 1872.
This is the reason purchasing in Outdated City San Diego generally is a enjoyable a journey—a visit throughout cultures and time—and a chance to seek out the proper treasures you’ll cherish effectively into the longer term.
1. Trustworthy Thrift Studio
- 2609 Congress St, San Diego, CA 92110
- (619) 485-4674
- Wednesday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m
- Closed Sunday by means of Tuesday
- honestthrift.com
The store’s tagline, “Boutique finds at thrift store costs,” describes this place completely. Trustworthy Thrift Studio brings you lovely antiques and different nice finds inside a beautiful little nook that’s alive with an abundance of indoor vegetation, making a welcoming house.
To maximise the searching expertise, just a few clients can are available in at one time. Inside, you’ll discover plant equipment (most of the vibrant vegetation 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 would be 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. Whenever you’re achieved 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 one among 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 staff wearing clothes typical of that period.
When you love tender, creamy fudge, you’ll discover scrumptious varieties right here. Craving jelly beans? A self-serve station enables you to bask in 49 completely different flavors.
Different tasty delights embody saltwater taffy, licorice, goodies, rock sweet, and nostalgic specialty candies you possibly can’t discover in common shops. Sugar-free candies are additionally bought, 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 every day. Baskets can be found for gift-giving, or you possibly can 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 training 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 workers is welcoming and useful whereas letting you browse freely at your personal tempo.
The store focuses on kaleidoscope candle kits you possibly can take dwelling to make your self and handcrafted specialty candles that make fantastic items. Their bathe steamers are in style 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.
These things have distinctive, eye-catching designs painted by hand. To personalize your yard, you’ll additionally discover terracotta pots and varied décor, together with solar faces, wind chimes, and eccentric sculptures.
Inside, the big 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 important place to seek out distinctive, themed items for associates and relations.
El Centro Artesano offers a singular purchasing expertise for the entire household. Simply preserve little ones from operating by means of the courtyard and present store to keep away from breaking any fragile gadgets.
5. Rust Basic 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
- facebook.com/RustGeneral

Rust Basic 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 basic retailer and a espresso store with an 1860s ambiance. I like this retailer for items.
Along with purchasing for distinctive merchandise, you possibly can seize a cup of espresso or tea plus a chew to eat whereas taking a break within the enclosed out of doors seating space underneath giant shade bushes.
It’s a enjoyable place to buy for those who get pleasure from discovering hard-to-locate meals stuff you ate if you had been a child, plus stuff you’ve by no means heard of however are sport to attempt no less than as soon as—every part from lavender sweet to pickled quail eggs.
From the bistro part of Rust Basic Retailer, you possibly can order a beverage of your selection—scorching, iced, or bottled—together with a snack or a candy deal with. Menu gadgets embody 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 educated workers that is aware of its stuff in gemology and mineralogy. It’s a museum and a store multi functional.
When you’re prepared to purchase a gem, you’ll discover top-quality specimens on the market right here. The shop sells polished gems, 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 will 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 lovely bicolor tourmaline extracted from San Diego’s personal Himalaya Mine—do you know our county has a number of lively gem mines? You’ll study much more if 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, protecting 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 referred to as 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 varied 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 concerning the cultures that lived right here way back—and proceed to stay within the area immediately.
Deliver dwelling an genuine, handmade masterpiece from Kosay Kumeyaay Market—it’ll add a lot to your dwelling areas whereas serving as a reminder of the cultures which have been right here since lengthy earlier than San Diego was integrated.
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 outlets value visiting. With 19 regionally owned outlets, Fiesta de Reyes is one among these marketplaces. Whereas perusing right here, make sure to cease in these nice shops.
Geppetto’s Toys
Discover traditional toys that encourage creativity: puppets, puzzles, video games, development units, arts and crafts, books, and rather 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 folks artwork and Day of the Useless merchandise, this thrilling present store presents a big choice of enjoyable souvenirs, festive housewares, and colourful clothes.
The Loopy Pepper
Whether or not you want your salsa scorching or gentle, step into this store for a number of the most flavorful condiments round. Browse the large choice of salsas, scorching 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 bought right here, together with lovely steel 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 whilst 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 with no go to to the Bazaar del Mundo. Right here’s the place you’ll discover a number of the greatest one-of-a-kind items for your self and others. Benefit from the brilliant, 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 wood animals, Huichol beaded artwork, hand-painted Talavera ceramics, and rather more.
Guatemala Store
Uncover treasures and delightful 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
When you’re prepared to show your kitchen into the colourful coronary heart of your own home, cease by the Kitchen Store for lovely dishware and kitchen décor. You’ll additionally discover an important choice of cookbooks and mouthwatering Mexican spices, soup mixes, and preserves.
The place do you wish to buy groceries in Outdated City San Diego?