From Gilroy’s Guitar Gallery to DeBrito’s Chocolates, local
merchants have unique ideas
By Julie Englehardt
Special to South Valley Newspapers
If you’ve completed your holiday shopping, then bravo for you! But there are scores of others who are scratching their heads, still in a quandary as to what they’re going to give their friends and family for Christmas or Hanukkah.
Making the trek to a local mall to shop may seem like the only solution to your dilemma, but they can be quite crowded this time of year, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll find what you want after you’ve made the trip. Many South Valley residents have stopped making the hour-long trip up to San Jose and discovered the joy of shopping in their own town. There are dozens of clothing, gift and food stores in Hollister, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, San Juan Bautista and surrounding communities that have something for practically everyone.
Food items are always a popular way to go when buying present, something that Trisha Ames of Hollister has discovered.
“I just bought twelve apples from DeBrito’s (Chocolate Factory in Hollister) for Christmas gifts,” said Ames. “I know it’s not a big secret around here, but when I give them to people up in San Jose, they’re always amazed at what wonderful products these are!”
Hollister resident Jennifer Ostenson also likes to find unique gifts for her friends and family, and is pleased when she can stay in town to do so.
“I decided to give everyone gift certificates for things they use throughout the year – like hair cuts and manicures. The gift would be used in a couple of months but still be remembered,” Ostenson said.
She also shops at Ranchers Feed in Hollister. Besides selling food for livestock, the store actually carries many decorative items – clothes, hats, books and toys for children.
“We even have a kit that lets you make a picture blanket,” said Mike O’Connell, owner of Ranchers Feed. “You purchase a paperwork kit, and then you send that into the company with a photo you choose. The company prints the photo onto an afghan, and sends it back to you. It’s a great gift for grandmas.”
LeeAnna Brothers likes to shop in local stores in her hometown of San Juan Bautista. One of her favorite shops is ‘Charmed’ at the Pepper Tree Corner.
“I just stumbled in there one day with my son, Luke,” Brothers said. “He wanted to buy plastic beads out of a treasure chest to make me a bracelet.
“Just recently, I made a mother’s bracelet for my mom for Christmas with pearls and crystals. It was fun and my friends thought it looked great. So far I’ve made four bracelets for various people for Christmas presents. Ashley, the owner, and her mother Linda, the co-owner, are extremely helpful when getting started. They offer classes by appointment but are always there to help.”
If you feel like designing other presents to give to your friends, then places such as Glazed Creations in Morgan Hill fit the bill.
The store offers you the opportunity to choose a piece of bisque and paint it any way you like, any color your choose.
The store carries dozens of items, including pitchers, plant pots, light switch plates, wall hangings, bowls, salt and peppershakers, and decorative items.
Prices are quite reasonable – $6 per child and $8 for adults for studio time, plus the price of the item you’re going to paint.
Finally, there’s always the gift of music. You could run over to one of the big-box stores and pick up your spouse’s favorite CD to play in his car while he commutes to work, but why not get creative and encourage him to learn how to play an instrument?
The Gilroy Guitar Gallery is labeled as the “ultimate acoustic guitar shop.”
Not only will you find guitars made by Breedlove, Santa Cruz, Taylor, Larrivee, R. Taylor, Hill, Cordoba, Atlas by Breedlove, Alvarez, Greg Bennett Design by Samick, and Kremona, but you can also give that loved one a certificate for guitar lessons, too.
