Where can you find dragons, chain mail, and idols of ancient gods all in one place? At CovenTree Books and Gifts, which recently opened a location in the La Brea Plaza at 722 E. Main in Santa Maria.
CovenTree is an obligatory stop for anyone who has an affinity for the mythological and the metaphysical. Among the various statues adorning store shelves, there’s incense, jewelry, woodwork, toys, and even handmade soaps.
Co-owner Elizabeth Acosta, who can also be found at Renaissance-era festivals throughout California and Nevada, found a market for the goods among people who attend the festivals and finally decided to set up shop in Santa Maria, opening on Jan. 5.
CovenTree should be a familiar name for Santa Maria Town Center mall shoppers. For the last four holiday seasons, Acosta and her business partner Darren Colton opened a temporary shop—CovenTree Olde World Market—in the mall.
In 2009, Acosta pursued her interest in old world cultures after working at Walden Books for 11 years. Although Acosta admits that she and Colton aren’t formal experts, they both have extensive knowledge of the religions and mythologies of ancient cultures and the history behind them. Memorabilia—and lots of statues—depicting ancient cultures across the world, including Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, Celtic, and others, are a regular part of her inventory.
“That’s the kind of stuff we like to do,” Acosta said. “We like to find out the cultural history behind the stories.”
She also sells books (both new and used, fiction and non-fiction) with genres that include romance, mystery, and especially fantasy. Her collection includes manga, which is a style of Japanese animation in the form of graphic novels, or comic books.
Acosta encourages local artists and authors to sell their products in her store on consignment. She prefers to sell items by artists she knows personally. The more local stuff, the better, she said. Some of the most prominently displayed items in the store are small, toy-like statues known as Furrybones made by Los Angeles-based artist Misaki Sawada. Acosta described Furrybones as small skeleton children dressed as animals.
On Feb. 7, a local artist will be teaching a course in the store on how to make chainmail. Due to product supply limitations, there’s only room for nine people. The class costs $30, and each person will get enough material to make two chainmail bracelets. The class starts at 3 p.m.
As she gets more established, Acosta wants to turn CovenTree into more than just a store, but a cultural center as well.
“It’s an open door at this point,” Acosta said. “I have thousands of ideas.”
The store is open every day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information about the store call 481-6559, or visit the store’s website, coventreemarket.com.
Biz highlights
• The Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc chambers of commerce are sponsoring a joint luncheon on Feb. 18 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base Pacific Coast Club. Col. Keith W. Balts, commander of VAFB’s 30th Space Wing, will deliver the State of Vandenberg address from 12 to 1 p.m. The event is open to the public at $16 per person. Reservations must be made by Feb. 6. For more information call Jennifer Harrison at 925-2403.
• The first ever Los Olivos Wine Fest will be held on Feb. 28. More than 50 wineries, along with restaurants and retailers, will be featured at the festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Austrian glass company Riedel will be on hand offer its Master Glass seminar. Advanced general admission tickets are $65 ($75 day-of purchase) with fees included. The Riedel course costs extra. For more information, call Beate Halligan at (312) 927-3230.
• Dignity Health Centers of the Central Coast opened a new Dignity Health Laboratories Patient Services Center in Nipomo on Jan. 19. There are no appointments necessary for laboratory services, and it’s located at 622 W. Tefft St. The center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and closed for lunch from 12 to 1 p.m. Contact the lab center via phone at (855) 586-7660.
Staff Writer David Minsky wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 5, 2015.