Check out these local thrift stores for holiday gifts this season
BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
Instead of hopping onto that laptop and typing in amazon.com—or any other online retailer—this holiday season, try buying secondhand at a thrift store for a more affordable and eco-friendly option.
Our clothes account for an average of 80 pounds of waste per person every year, and the fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, right next to the oil industry, according to Thrift World—an organization that promotes buying reused clothing.
By buying secondhand, consumers reduce demand and waste impacts. Shopping at thrift stores is like giving the environment (and your wallet) a gift, too.
Check out these local thrift stores for gifts for friends and family.
New Image Thrift Store
New Image Thrift Store has been serving the Central Coast for more than a decade with a goal of providing the community with quality, pre-owned merchandise with fast, friendly, and fair service. The store carries everything from clothes, blankets, jewelry, and toys, to kitchenware, tools, and decorations.
To give back, New Image partners with Domestic Violence Solutions (DVS) to provide furniture, clothing, and other household goods to their clients as well as furnish its shelter. A portion of the store’s proceeds is also given to DVS each month.
Any clothes or textiles that cannot be sold are brought to a textile recycling company, which ships items overseas to be sold and given away in other countries.
Different discounts are offered each day of the week, and the New Image’s holiday store is now open.
2512 S. Broadway, Santa Maria; (805) 922-9668; newimagethrift.com.
Central Coast Rescue Mission Super Thrift Store
In 1999 Central Coast Rescue Mission was founded by Santa Maria residents to tackle homelessness, hunger, and addiction. By 2008, the Central Coast Super Thrift Store opened in order to pursue the nonprofit’s mission.
Aside from buying name-brand clothes, appliances, and household items, shoppers at Rescue Mission’s Super Thrift store make a direct impact on their local community as all net proceeds from sales are spent on shelters, food, and clothes for the homeless in the area.
If you have a bookworm at home and need some books as presents, the thrift store has an Amazon Marketplace page with many of the donated books on sale now. See the store’s website for details.
306 N. Broadway, Santa Maria; (805) 357-1214; ccrescuemission.org/thrift.
The Gettin’ Spot Junk and Swap
The Gettin’ Spot Junk and Swap is no longer solely online or just a pop-up shop, with its new permanent location selling premium, rustic vintage, refurbished decor, and handcrafted items.
The store sells crystals and rocks for all your hippie friends looking for a greater connection to the Earth, as well as cotton throws for those looking to get cozy for winter.
Vendors are able to bring forward their own crafts, designs, and clothes to sell at the spot during flea markets and continued pop-ups. Follow its Facebook page for events and vendor information.
188 W. Tefft St., Nipomo; (805) 619-7751; thegettinspotjunkandswap.com.
Nipomo Swapmeet
The largest outdoor swap meet on the Central Coast may be a great stop to get some holiday shopping done. This Nipomo market’s old-school swap meet atmosphere combines garage sales, food trucks, fresh local produce, and retail shops all in one place. The meet has more than 300 vendors with antiques, collectibles, and thrifted items as options.
Make your shopping experience an event with classic Mexican street tacos and tortas, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, elote (grilled corn on the cob), shaved ice, and quesadillas all while sipping on horchata, aguas frescas, and diablitos.
The market opens up every Sunday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and office hours run Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking costs $4 on Sundays.
263 N. Frontage Road, Nipomo; (805) 929-7000; nipomo-swapmeet.com.
Goodwill
We all know about Goodwill. It’s a classic thrifting stop for those looking to be the next trend-setter, someone looking for a steal, or someone who needs a little extra help. Not only do Goodwill stores have quality prices, they are conveniently scattered throughout the Central Coast.
Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston by Rev. Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister who collected household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city, then trained people of lower incomes to sell and repair used goods.
Now, the store’s mission is to provide vocational and educational opportunities to limit barriers to employment, strengthen communities, and help people in need reach their full potential through the power of work.
1844 N. Broadway, Santa Maria; (805) 287-9612; gwvsb.org.
Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor can be reached at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
Local record stores dish out used music, movies, memorabilia, and other giftable merchandise
BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
Sometimes the best thing about walking into a record shop isn’t browsing through the store’s music selection, it’s stumbling upon the wacky pop culture artifacts you’re likely to find.
Some of this stuff goes even beyond that designation, into the realm of vintage Happy Meal toys and other niche commodities outside the collective zeitgeist. What makes the purveyors of such items so great for holiday shopping is you come in to find a gift for the music aficionado in your family, and end up multitasking in the process—picking out an extra present or two for your Hamburglar-loving uncle.
You can find a plethora of these kinds of shops all along the Central Coast, but here’s a small handful of local gems to consider if you can’t decide where to start. Happy hunting!
Paradise Records and Trading Post
When I found out that Paradise Records (Orcutt) recently opened a sister store in the Santa Maria Town Center, I assumed it was their second location, not their third. Little did I know they’ve got one in Santa Barbara, too, which kind of blew my mind.
I just can’t imagine the amount of inventory stockpiling it takes to maintain three separate versions of Paradise Records—a seemingly endless warehouse of used records, magazines, comic books, collectibles, and more. When it comes to inexpensive, last-minute holiday gifting, I recommend heading to the specially marked sections for $1 LPs, $1 CDs, and $1 DVDs. If you’re willing to spend a bit more though, there’s a wild variety of memorabilia to peruse.
1157 E. Clark Ave., suite D, Orcutt, and 371 Town Center E, Santa Maria; (805) 727-3141; paradiserecordsandtradingpost.com.
Mike’s Record Rack
Located just a few blocks away from the coastline, Mike’s Record Rack (Grover Beach) is a solid spot to find records, cassette tapes, and CDs just in time for the gift-giving season. According to the store’s website, owner Mike Leming is always on the prowl for large music collections on the market, which keeps the store’s selection consistently stocked and diverse (with genres ranging from 1950s jazz to hardcore metal).
But music is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to potential holiday gifts you can find at the Record Rack, which also boasts a variety of T-shirts, posters, and other items to browse through.
201 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach; (805) 202-8027; mikesrecordrackgb.com.
Cheap Thrills
Not to be confused with the Sia song, Cheap Thrills (San Luis Obispo) appropriately offers exactly what its no-nonsense name implies.
The shop does have its fair share of pricey exceptions (rare collectibles, etc.), but there’s always some cheap offers to find in every section of the store—whether it’s the “bargain movies” ranging from $1.98 to $4.98, or the “vinyl dep’t,” which includes thousands of LPs for just $1.98 per record (according to the quirky arrow signs that lead patrons upstairs to the department on the second floor).
Other sections to check out at Cheap Thrills include the local artists rack, dedicated to albums (mostly CDs) from musicians and bands based on the Central Coast.
563 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo; (805) 544-0686; cheapthrills.biz.
Traffic Records
If you’re looking to shop for gifts locally, but without having to leave your house, Traffic Records (Atascadero) offers free shipping on LP deliveries (with purchases of more than $50).
Although Cyber Monday is behind us, patrons can browse for special deals (a list of Black Friday-priced offerings remains up) and look up the store’s eclectic inventory online, which was revamped to include an even broader music selection than ever before (the store’s operators spent a lot of time during the pandemic closure adding hundreds of new and used records, audio equipment, and other items, according to the shop’s website).
5850 Traffic Way, Atascadero; (805) 464-2994; trafficrecordstore.com.
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood can be reached at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
Olive oil is the eleventh-hour gift that’ll get taste buds rejoicing
BY BULBUL RAJAGOPAL
Olive oil may seem like an unusual holiday gift, but in California’s Mediterranean climate, it’s right at home. New Times curated a sample of liquid gold gifting options from around San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. Our list is in no way exhaustive but can point you in the right direction for the slickest last-minute present.
We Olive San Luis Obispo
Run by owner Ray Russell on Higuera Street, the 14-year-old We Olive SLO is a downtown staple offering a buttery variety of flavored and classic olive oils. Fan favorites include the organic Meyer lemon olive oil from the San Joaquin Valley, the fresh garlic olive oil from Sutter, and a fruity Arbequina oil from Capay Valley. Their balsamic vinegar straight from Italy seals the deal.
Customers can purchase an olive oil and balsamic vinegar combination gift set as well as tapenades, jams, spices, and kitchenware. But the store’s refillable bottle policy for a lower price is a crowd pleaser, saving olive oil aficionados roughly $4 to $6 depending on the size of the container.
We Olive SLO is a true local stop, according to Russell, because the only way to get your hands on their bottles is by picking up the phone or by strolling right into the shop.
958 Higuera St., SLO; (805) 595-1376; weolive.com.
Pasolivo
Located in the heart of Paso Robles wine country, Pasolivo has “something for everybody,” said General Manager Marisa Bloch. Their extra virgin olive oil tasting experience will bring interested customers to 140 acres of rolling hills once owned by Hollywood director King Vidor. But Pasolivo’s slew of gift sets ranging from $25 to $200 and nationwide shipping (even to Canada) ensures that no one feels left out.
Bloch said that their most popular gift set is called the Entertainer, which is brimming with olive oils, vinegars, mustards, and tapenades.
“It’s a good variety for the ultimate foodie,” she said.
The gift sets are also customizable, and Pasolivo is currently offering a holiday promotion until Dec. 14 where customers can get free products after spending a certain amount.
8530 Vineyard Drive and 1229 Park St., Paso Robles; (805) 227-0186; pasolivo.com.
Santa Maria Olive Co.
Family run on a 6 1/2 acre olive ranch in Santa Barbara County, the Santa Maria Olive Co. is a cornucopia of Arbequina, Picudo, Koroneiki, Arbosana, Mission, and Manzanillo olives, which get blended to create premium extra virgin olive oils.
The company promotes buying its oil online in order to ensure peak quality. Santa Maria Olive Co. has a meticulous production process. Water from the Clayton Ranch’s sulfur spring well nourishes the olives. Each bottle is maintained and stored at 64 degrees Fahrenheit and kept away from direct sunlight. These exacting standards elevate their liquid gold to a gourmet-level gift.
400 E. Orange St., Santa Maria; (805) 896-1575; santamariaoliveco.com.
Rancho Olivos
Owned and run by rancher couple Shannon Casey and John Copeland, Rancho Olivos has been producing fresh estate artisan extra virgin olive oil out of the Santa Ynez Valley for more than a decade.
“Rancho Olivos is the only olive oil producer in the valley that offers tastings on the farm next to our orchards of beautiful olive trees,” according to its website.
They have a variety of holiday gift sets, too. The Dipping Gift Box lets olive oil lovers mix and match any two bottles of Rancho Olivos oils and vinegars. If you still can’t make up your mind, the Ultimate Sampler Box—a collection of all 12 oils and vinegars in 60 ml bottles—can save the day. Their other gift sets also include accessories like cloth gift bags.
While the Santa Ynez location is the company’s primary home, Rancho Olivos opened a second location in Morro Bay in 2019.
2390 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez; 699 Embarcadero, No. 4, Morro Bay; (805) 686-9653; ranchoolivos.com.
Olea Farm
Olea Farm claims to bring European quality to California’s olive oil industry. Tucked just outside Templeton, the farm specializes in Arbequina olive oil.
“The flavor of the Arbequina is like putting ‘spring into a bottle,’ which is why so many restaurant chefs from the area insist on using it to highlight their Central Coast cuisine,” according Olea Farm’s website.
Their gift boxes for all occasions include a five-set olive oil collection, a premium two-bottle selection, and an olive oil and balsamic vinegar quintet. Olea Farm also offers flat-rate shipping of $12, no matter how many gift boxes ordered.
2985 Templeton Road, Templeton; (805) 610-2258; oleafarm.com.
New Times Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal, from the Sun’s sister paper, can be reached at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Dec 9-16, 2021.
