Beyond Santa Cruz’s endless beaches and magnificent redwood forests, another kind of treasure trove awaits: antique shops! Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a casual shopper, the thrill of the hunt can be found from the Santa Cruz Mountains to historic Watsonville and everywhere in between. This coastal county is also home to a few antique fairs, where vendors share a variety of vintage goods that you might not otherwise discover. The best treasures are sometimes hidden, so come prepared to search high and low through antique furniture, vintage jewelry, and collectibles until you find just the thing you were hoping for. Wear comfortable shoes, keep your eyes peeled, and have cash on hand, because you never know what future heirlooms you may stumble upon in the delightful variety of antique shops and markets Santa Cruz County has to offer!
Soquel & Capitola
The beating heart of the antique shopping scene in Santa Cruz County is the town of Soquel, where plenty of collectors’ shops line the streets to create a charming vintage district right in the center of downtown. Located in a 1940s Quonset hut is the Salvage Hut, a boutique shop specializing in antique and vintage finds, home decor, mineral paint, garden goods, and gifts galore. Down the road, Center Street Antiques boasts more than 5,000 square feet of space to explore, filled with merchandise from 25 dealers, ensuring an assortment of antique and vintage goods to discover. Each booth is styled with flair to leave a lasting impression! Across the street is the Trader’s Emporium, a multi-dealer store with an eclectic collection that ranges from vintage toys, posters, and books to ceramic ware and home goods. After Effects, The Vintage Pick, and Hall’s Surrey House Antiques round out the quaint assortment of shops in downtown Soquel, each of which is filled to the brim with vintage picks and timeless pieces! If all of the shopping has you feeling famished, stop in at one of these buzzworthy Soquel restaurants to fuel up before you continue your treasure hunt!
Venture beyond downtown for a wider variety of heirloom-quality pieces! A mere mile south of downtown Soquel is Wisteria Antiques & Design, an antiquarian’s delight, located within a 100-year-old home with more than an acre to explore. The shop features a diverse collection of artwork, furniture, chandeliers, and more, all with a distinctly French flair. Head in the opposite direction to inspect the goods at Attilia’s Antiques. It’s a multi-dealer venue with an extensive collection to peruse, with offerings such as delicate porcelain, furniture, vintage clothing, toys, books, and so much more. Wander the aisles at Attilia’s until that one unforgettable piece finds you!
Conveniently situated in the heart of Pleasure Point is Patine, a thoughtfully curated shop featuring European textiles, ceramics, glassware, and more. Be sure to check out their container sale events, when they offload a shipping container of European antiques for your perusal and purchase! Soquel, with its downtown antiquing district and hidden gems in Pleasure Point beyond, is well worth a stop on the hunt for vintage gold.
Santa Cruz Mountains
Venture into the forested mountain towns of the San Lorenzo Valley to discover the aged curiosities of the Santa Cruz Mountains! Right along Highway 9, you’ll find Boulder Creek Antiques at Mac’s Place, which has been serving the area for over 20 years. Their whimsical collection includes vintage toys, gems and minerals, antique homewares, and more. There’s a variety of rooms stuffed to the brim with unique finds, and even two outdoor patios to peruse! Also in Boulder Creek, Treasures from the Attic features a selection of western memorabilia, kitchen items, mid-century furniture, linens, and even vintage clothing. You never know what you’ll find when you step inside!
In Ben Lomond, Towne & Country Antiques & Uniques is a sweet, family-owned shop carrying a whimsical collection of items ranging from rustic garden antiques to glassware, home furnishings, books, and other quirky collectibles. Further down Highway 9 in the redwood-lined mountain town of Felton, The Abbot’s Thrift is the spot to check out! This non-profit technically counts as thrifting rather than antiquing, but the selection here makes it well worth a visit. The ever-changing array of items at The Abbot includes affordable home goods, clothing, antiques, and collectibles.
Downtown Santa Cruz
Amidst the buzz of Downtown Santa Cruz, you’ll find antique hideaways filled with character and charm! Take your time browsing the curated collection of curiosities, found objects, antiques, art, and consigned vintage at Tumbleweed Found, an estate consignment boutique tucked away on Center Street. Listen to the stories behind your most coveted items and add a piece of history to your home! An iconic shop situated along historic Pacific Avenue, Shen’s Gallery is a cornerstone for collectors and interior design lovers in the area. Celebrating more than 40 years in business, they specialize in Chinese antiques, furniture, art, rare relics, and collectibles. Wander through the store, where displays of delicate porcelain, tea sets from a bygone time, and fine art adorning the walls make it feel as if you’re strolling through a museum. Another essential stop downtown is Miss Jessie May’s, known for its eclectic mix of antiques, ephemera, jewelry, collectibles, and other distinctive finds! Filled with vintage paper goods and antique keepsakes, be sure to explore every corner of this curiosity shop.
Pacific Avenue is also home to the highest concentration of vintage clothing shops in the county. Discover classics like Cognito Clothing and Moon Zoom, as well as fresh-on-the-scene shops like Virgo, Motherlode, and Oasis on Pacific. It’s a vintage hunter’s dream!
On the second Sunday of every month from 8 am – 5 pm, Santa Cruz Downtown hosts its monthly Antique Faire! Located at Lincoln and Cedar Street, vendors take over the road with their wares from years gone by. Scour the selection for that one-of-a-kind gem that you just have to bring home!
Watsonville & Corralitos
Continue your hunt for relics in Watsonville and Corralitos, where even more vintage delights await. Watsonville’s Carriage House Collectibles is packed to the rafters with antique finds and period pieces. Pore over the shelves of kitchenware, ceramics, and tchotchkes, aisles lined with furniture awaiting a fresh space, and walls bedecked with old-fashioned art, signage, and photography. In small-town Corralitos, Found It! is a tiny shop with a big personality, brimming with antiques and garden goods. Open on the weekend, its furniture, ephemera, garden wares, and uncommon commodities make Found It! worth the trek. Let your eyes wander—you’re bound to stumble upon a gem too good to leave behind!
Scout out a one-of-a-kind prize to bring home at the Goat Hill Fair, a bi-annual antique festival hosted at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. At this curated vintage market, you’ll come across amazing heirloom pieces, upcycled and artisan goods, with each booth styled to stop you in your tracks. Goat Hill Fair is an antique connoisseur’s dream!
Hot Tips for Antiquing in Santa Cruz County
- Allot extra time for multi-dealer stores. Each one is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered, and it takes a keen eye to sift through all of the collectibles!
- Be prepared to dig. Some of the best treasures are well-hidden, and you may need to – gently – move things around on your search.
- Have cash on hand, especially at fairs. Most sellers take cards or online payments, but you don’t want to miss out on a one-of-a-kind treasure if the seller only takes cash.
- Negotiate – politely! Most stores will have firm prices, but as long as you’re kind about it, haggling is part of the fun, especially at fairs and markets.
- Plan to arrive early, especially at fairs. Some of the best items sell quickly!
Whether you’re a longtime collector or just browsing for fun, the joy of the hunt stretches from the Santa Cruz Mountains all the way to historic Watsonville – and everywhere in between. With its quaint shops and bustling fairs, Santa Cruz County is the perfect place to discover that one-of-a-kind piece you didn’t even know you were looking for.