One of the benefits of the gentrification of Little Italy is that the neighborhood is attracting a clientele that seeks out unique retail experiences, especially home decor and antique stores. Mix that in with longtime neighborhood businesses and Little Italy becomes a pleasant excursion for San Diego shoppers.
Photo buffs throughout San Diego swear by Nelson Photo Supplies. And a big reason is the knowledgeable and friendly staff. Beginner or pro - it doesn't matter, the staff at Nelson will help you without making you feel dumb. Nelson Photo Supplies was founded in 1950 by Al Nelson. The family owned and operated company began as a photographic supplier to industrial users in San Diego. In the mid 1950s the company expanded into the retail photographic business and relocated to its current location in Little Italy. 1909 India St. (between Fir St & Grape St), San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 234-6621.
Little Italy has become the home for a number of cool interior and furniture shops, and if you dig the cool, sleek lines of mid-century modern furniture and decor, then Boomerang for Modern is a must for you. Since 1985, San Diego's Boomerang for modern has represented the best in well-designed furnishings from the mid 20th Century, featuring an ever-changing selection of quality vintage pieces from America, Scandinavia and Europe. Looking for that Eames chair? This is the place to start. 2475 Kettner Boulevard (between Kalmia St & Laurel St), San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 239-2040.
Architectural Salvage is a cool store, especially if you have an older home and you're looking for stuff to replace that is of the original era and Home Depot just won't do. Everything from doors to door knobs, windows, lighting, and just interesting pieces salvage from the junk yards and cleaned up and ready for re-use. It's what you call making your house green. 2401 Kettner Blvd. (between Kalmia St & Laurel St), San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 696-1313.
It's fitting that artistically inclined Little Italy has a decent art supply store, and that is Blick Art Materials. Forget your local Michael's or Aaron Brothers, Blick is where you want to go for real art supplies. Two levels full of things to get your creativity going. 1844 India St. (between Date St & Fir St), San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 687-0050.
Subtext is a gallery & bookstore located in Little Italy that showcases urban contemporary, pop surrealist, and lowbrow artists from all around the globe. As a one stop shop for design, art, architecture, photography and illustration, Subtext provides an environment dedicated to high design intended to nourish creative spirits for years to come. 2479 Kettner Blvd. (between Kalmia St & Laurel St), San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 546-8800.
So you've checked out Boomerang and Architectural Salvage, but you still haven't found that perfect piece for your home. Well, then head on over to Antiques on Kettner, where you're bound to spend longer than intended browsing the collection. 2400 Kettner Blvd. (between Kalmia St & Laurel St),San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 234-3332.
If you're looking for modern furnishings for your place, Mixture is a good place to start. Located in a 1940s brick warehouse in Little Italy, mixture is a modern and contemporary home furnishings and accessories store that blends playful accent pieces with high-style design elements. Many of the products carried are hard-to-find lines, exclusive to mixture. They offer interior design services, custom furniture, original art, Scavolini kitchens and baths, furniture, accessories, and gifts. 2210 Kettner Blvd. (between Ivy St & Juniper St) San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 239-4788.
Along with Antiques on Kettner, India Street Antiques is the other must-stop if you're looking for something for the home. India Street Antiques imports furnishings from 14 different European countries and specializes in affordable pieces from the 1840s to the 1940s. Within the large store, you'll find such treasures as dining room sets, beautifully carved cabinets, beds, claw-foot tubs and club sets chairs. 2361 India St. (between Juniper St & Kalmia St) San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 231-3004.
Igloo Shop is a cool store that sells hip, edgy casual apparel and skateboard supplies. The items are the type of things that are designed by local artists and designers, so they aren't the stuff you'll find at most stores. And word is the owner is a pretty nice dude, too. 640 W Beech St Unit 1A (between 6th Ave & 7th Ave), San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 234-5855.
Klassik is another furniture store that specializes in mid-century furnishings. Between Boomerang and Klassilk, you are bound to find that cool retro piece you've been looking for. 989 W Kalmia St. San Diego, CA 92102, (619) 640-6995.
So, if you're going to go shopping in Little Italy, you've got to go looking for something that is authentically Italian, and Bella Stanza Elegant Italian Gifts is a place to stop into. Glass and ceramic pieces - not cheap - but very Italian. 1501 India Street Suite 120, San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 239-2929.
