Shopping
San Antonio Shopping Guide
The Alamo City offers some of the best crafts, food and merchandise in America. Here's how to find them.
Luciano says: Yup! I wanna go to San Atonio, Public Market, and have my self a wonderful shopping. What shall I bring a paper bag or a woven bag? And in case I need a money I’ll have my payday loans. (February 20th, 2009 at 4:47am)
GET YOUR BEST FRIEND, GO to the west side of downtown San Antonio where you'll find the Public Market located on a street named Produce Row. Buy yourselves a shopping bag—not a paper one, but one made of woven hemp. They sell for about a dollar and you ask for a morral de malba; if they don't understand you, ask for a shopping bag outlining an appropriate size with your hands. In this bag you will be able to tote all your treasures from a varied and interesting shopping trek in this colorful bi-cultural community called San Antonio. While you are in the Market, take advantage of the fruit and vegetables, all fresh daily, that you can purchase from individual farmers at wholesale prices. You can buy your produce in the block-long, sky-lighted, stuccoed building called "The Farmer's Market." Then wander across the street into the large tin-shedded structure, where vendors in stalls offer an array of clay pots, piñatas, and border-quality Mexican craft work.
Across Produce Row from the Market is Mi Tierra, a Mexican restaurant and panaderia (bakery) that never closes its doors. Everything is baked daily on the premises, and they feature a rich assortment of Mexican breads, rolls and pastries, with delightful names such as campechenas, cuernos de mantaquilla, pan de huevo or pano, or their specialty, semirtas de nuez.
At the opposite end of the block from Mi Tierra visit Los Cocos for an aromatic and visual treat. This small shop carries an endless variety of spices from around the world. To please the nose, the eye, the taste, there are literally barrels of everyday spices such as lavender, sweet basil, oregano, and borage. They also market their own chili powder (Mole Poblano), their own chocolate (Cercaled), along with jellies from Cuba, fresh cod from Canada, and Jamaican drinks.
Within walking distance from the Market district or a short ride on the Shopper's Special bus, you'll find one of the most environmentally unique places in this country. For shopping, dining, and entertainment, it's a pleasure. It's the area called Paseo del Rio (The Riverwalk) and La Villita (The Little Village), with nearby HemisFair Plaza thrown in as a bonus. The heart of the Riverwalk area (between Commerce and Crockett Sts.) is the best place to start. Located here is a building complex called River Square. There are two restaurants on the river level of the building with the large Mexican brick columns. But on the second level, (Presa Street level) there is an outstanding shop called La Sirena (the Mermaid).
The proprietor of this shop is Allen Stehling, who personally buys all the merchandise sold in his store. This merchandise is international in scope, but featured are many of the finest folk art and crafts of Mexico, Middle and South America. Weavings and fabrics from Oaxaca, native dresses of Guatemala and Tehuantepec, ceramic masterpieces from Peru, antique Mexican jewelry, lacquer wear of Olinalá and Theodora Blanco dolls are but a few of the quality items available here, all selected with a knowledgeable and discerning eye. Except for some of the larger or more intricate items, prices are generally moderate. This is the best shop of its kind in the United States, so don't miss it.
Next door is a recent addition for pure fun and enjoyment dining or shopping. It is called The Greenhouse, a combination antique shop, plant shop and natural food restaurant. If you like the table and chair you are using while having your meal, then you can buy them; likewise for all the hanging plants and potted succulents that justify the establishment's name. In case the diversity of merchandise is insufficient, there are also available some genuine World War I recruiting posters, all framed, wired and ready to hang. Right prices--and have a smoothie while you look around.
In the same building, but facing Presa Street instead of the River, is The Spanish Door. This small shop is the major local retail outlet for Kerrville's James Avery jewelry, both silver and gold. Mr. Avery's work is exceptional and is available in a wide range of prices. As you leave the Spanish Door look to your left: on the ground floor of the large building diagonally across Commerce Street is Viva. Owners Mona and Gene Fogt operate this contemporary religious art store in the original home of one of San Antonio's major banks. Now instead of money in the bank, they feature the "Gallery-In-The-Vault," which contains changing exhibits of contemporary religious sculpture, painting, or prints. The old banking room walls now host a myriad of religious posters, serigraphs, and prints, and where the banking platform used to be their gift cards are located.
Now, just in case you are in the market for an Oriental rug or two, you happen to be close to two places that have the best selections in town. The first is one-half block on Commerce Street toward the river from Viva. The name of the shop is Farris. The other place is the fourth floor of Joske's, the large department store, one block on the other side of the River. Both have stacks of new and antique rugs in a wide variety of sizes. At Farris' you might run across a surprise if you have enough time to search through all the piles. One day I uncovered the most beautiful antique Navaho rug East of the Pecos. Farris' also carries other Oriental objets d'art, and some fine Spanish shawls (woven in China, where, I was informed, all fine Spanish shawls are woven). As at most rug merchants, the prices at both places match the size and quality.
If you were not looking for a rug, go past Farris' on your way to one of the two Kerr's stores, both located on the River. The first one has been in the same location for years and is next to the Commerce Street bridge; the second is located one-half block up the River on the east side, directly across from the River Square Complex. Both stores carry essentially the same line of merchandise: inexpensive Mexican arts and crafts, along with some Mexican-made household staples, such as large straw baskets, glassware, dishes, and assorted utensils like monillas (those wooden rattle-looking devices you twirl between your hands to stir and foam hot Mexican chocolate). This might be a good place to interject a note about shopping for Mexican crafts. Mexicans are usually not content to produce a craft object that is strictly decorative but insist that it also satisfy some function as well. It may serve as a top or only as a votive candle holder, but chances are that the object is not only beautiful but useful as well. Besides the texture and color appeal of Mexican arts and crafts, this extra dimension enhances the joy, surprise and discovery of shopping in San Antonio.
The next step is a leisurely stroll down the River, past the Hilton, slightly around the bend to the Arneson River Theatre. Now up those rather imposing steps, past the historic General Cos house, and you find yourself in La Villita, a restored village, reminiscent of this city's early history and lifestyle. It is a nice, shady, cool place just to wander in, dotted with art galleries, restaurants, and shops. There are three places here you should not miss.
One is the Southwest Craft Center, and it is, as the sign claims, a Gallery of Fine Arts. San Antonio has a large population of excellent craftspeople, producing just about every craft. This store is their major outlet. Here you may select from an interesting and impressive group of excellent craftwork. You will find ceramic pots of all sizes, shapes, and glazes, macrame handbags and hangings, original toys of wood fabric, batiked pillows and banners, and some original and distinctive jewelry. Frequently there are changing exhibits featuring the work of individual craftsmen, some of whom will do commissioned work. Caroline Adams, who directs the gallery, can steer you to a craftsman's studio if you like.
Just across the way, overlooking Juarez Plaza in La Villita, is Angelita's, a shop in a restored adobe-type Mexican period house. This marvelous and intimate shop specializes in hand-crafted ladies clothes from Mexico, India, Africa, and Peru. There is also a unique assortment of jewelry, both antique Mexican and some contemporary designs made with African trade beads. Perhaps the most unique are the pieces made from pre-Columbian artifacts. You will also find antique Spanish shawls, American patchwork in the form of quilts, pillows and handbags, Panamanian mollas, and a small but very nice selection of children's clothes from Mexico. Some really great buys here at moderate prices.
Adding new dimension to the quality of hand-crafted jewelry in San Antonio is a new and small shop located in an obscure corner of La Villita called La Chamade (the sign may still just say Silversmith). The newly arrived French owners create excellently designed and executed silver rings, bracelets, necklaces, and accessory pieces, with and without unusual polished stones. Many craftsmen are only craftsmen because they lack the ability to design well, so they depend a great deal on traditional forms or motifs. Not so here. Raymonde and Berenger produce contemporary and original work based on a knowledge of design, executed sensitively. The designs, ranging from bold and simple to intricate and delicate, are offered at very fair prices.
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