Shopping in Watsonville

An ornate chandelier floods Threads Consignment Boutique's soft-pink walls with light, illuminating racks of fine consignment apparel. The store draws business from mothers, daughters, and grandmothers alike, with designer clothing available in a wide range of sizes and styles. Guests can try on clothing, purses, and handbags behind the billowing curtains of spacious changing rooms, and the boutique also offers a selection of uncommon items from both local and international female artisans, along with handmade greeting cards from Fairest LJ and 316 Greetings. The shop is often the site of special events, such as fashion shows, jewelry workshops, private shopping parties, and timed cannon-loading competitions.

Paula Gauthier loved working at Yesterday’s Books through high school and college so much that she ended up there, years later, as a manager. When the owners retired, she and her husband, Phillip, decided to buy the store and continue its more than three-decade run as a repository of new, used, rare, candy-coated, and out-of-print books. Today, the Gauthiers continually update a collection of more than 100,000 titles, all categorized into sections such as general fiction, classics, theology, and children's books stacked on floor-to-ceiling bookcases. They also stock eight always-unlocked display cases with rare books, such as a first edition of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin that would buckle the knees of any bibliophile, history buff, or person named Tom. Other collectibles range from a specially bound copy of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six to a signed volume by Edgar Rice Burroughs, author of the Tarzan and John Carter series.

The Gauthiers have also brought modern updates to the shop, such as replacing the paper-based store-credit system with an electronic one, which even gives members an online account to track available funds. Phillip observes that some regulars swap out up to 50 books per visit. In addition to book collections, the Gauthiers maintain a catalog of CDs, DVDs, and sheet music.

Harland Watch & Diamond's cases glint and glitter with shafts of prismatic light bouncing off skillfully cut gems. Working closely with patrons, staff members help match each customer with pieces that suit their tastes and fall within their budget, from pearl and diamond bracelets and earrings to designer watches to Montblanc pens perfect for forging presidential directives.

Bouquets bursting with Ecuadorian roses and purple azaleas tug at olfactory heartstrings as Flower Studio owner and expert designer Jorge Ortega nips, clips, and arranges flowers to spruce up homes or celebrate special occasions. The studio’s gift shop delights planners and brides-to-be with its stock of cakes, bouquets, and professional snapshots courtesy of an in-house photographer. Hand-selected bunches of daisies and chrysanthemums send hearts aflutter on holidays and anniversaries, and colorful arrangements of man-eating flytraps commemorate Boss Appreciation Day. Plush white furniture lines the studio’s interior, where a complimentary dessert bar pacifies taste buds jealous of their fellow sensory receptors.

After honing his metalworking skills as a Marine blacksmith during WWII, founder Milton Williams opened The Shop in the Garden in 1958, filling a tucked-away courtyard with his original sculptures, whimsical metal decorations, and stunning fountains. In 1967, he hired Michael Largent, who continues Williams’ work as the current owner. Today, the shop bears the name of Aslan, a dearly departed golden retriever who, like his brother Murray, served as the shop’s in-house greeter and chief accounting officer. As visitors enter past handmade chimes, stone decorations, and fountains, they are greeted by the stunning view of a Spanish-style arcade and the warm canine smile of Aslan's successor, Yater. In addition to browsing inspirational knickknacks and outdoor furnishings, visitors can wander through the artists' garden, inspecting copper fountains, hand-cut glass, and original sculptures crafted by Largent and resident glass and metal workers.