Judaica/Books
Don’t have a gift to bring to the bar or bat mitzvah this Saturday? No need to panic. These Judaica shops have been recommended by readers for their selection of sacred objects, special books and Jewish gifts.
Dayenu is conveniently located inside the JCC of San Francisco. The store, in business more than 10 years, understands its customers’ needs and offers a variety of Jewish ritual and holiday items made by Israeli and American artists. The staff strives to find a balance between artistry and affordability. In addition, “we offer freshly baked challahs every Friday and on the eve of Jewish holidays, as well as lulav-etrog sets,” says CEO Hiroko Nogami-Rosen.
Afikomen Judaica is Berkeley’s one-stop Jewish shop, with everything from toys that teach children how to live Jewishly, to candles used to commemorate lifecycle events. “We are proudest of our capacity to educate and support customers from all across the spectrum of Jewish life in making purchases that are meaningful to them,” co-owner Nell Mahgel-Friedman says. Works by local and Israeli artists, Fair Trade Judaica items and more than 100 tallits all bring to life the store’s motto: “Live. Shop. Shmooze.”
Alef Bet Judaica in Los Gatos has been meeting the Judaica needs of the Silicon Valley since 1993. The store represents more than 45 artists from Israel and the United States, with 85 percent of the merchandise handcrafted, according to the store website. The collection of modern and traditional items, along with Jewish books and toys for kids, makes it easy to find gifts for friends and family, as well as items for the home.
San Francisco
Dayenu Gifts and Books
JCC of San Francisco
(415) 563-6563
www.dayenu.com
East Bay
Afikomen Judaica
Berkeley
(510) 655-1977
www.afikomen.com
South Bay/Peninsula
Alef Bet Judaica
Los Gatos
(408) 370-1818
www.alefbetjudaica.com
Jewelry
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then these Bay Area jewelers must be her favorite place to hang out. From custom designs to vintage finds, these jewelers bring the sparkle.
Ben Shemano is a San Francisco estate and custom jewelry dealer, specializing in buying and selling jewelry, watches, diamonds and other precious stones. His training in gemology covering diamonds, gold, precious and semiprecious stones allows him to help clients in their decisions on what to buy and when to sell. “That happens when they are well-informed, treated respectfully, and provided with honest options and choices,” his website says.
Jeweler Michael Endlich, founder of Pavé Fine Jewelry, specializes in creating custom pieces at his two East Bay locations. He and his team use recycled metals and ethically sourced gems to create original pieces of jewelry. The stores are family-owned and the staff of six works with clients from start to finish to ensure a process that is mutually rewarding. “We are most proud of our ability to create custom jewelry from pencil sketch to finished product. Bringing to life a piece of jewelry at first only imagined by a client is an intimate process that is so rewarding and deeply satisfying, both for our clients and for us,” Endlich says.
Since 1931, the Gleim family has been buying and consigning jewelry from private collections on the Peninsula. The store also has its own line of fine diamond and gemstone jewelry. Gleim will help customers find unusual pieces of vintage jewelry and new pieces to last decades. The Palo Alto store also values giving back to the community. “As much as possible, we will donate to fundraisers of local educational and charitable institutions,” the website says.
Yifat Bareket is an Israeli jewelry designer who sells to Bay Area clients exclusively through her website. A graduate of Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, she has participated in exhibitions all over Israel and sold her jewelry in her home country and abroad. “The jewelry I create is meant to embrace a woman’s strength and femininity, along with her beauty,” Bareket says on her website.
San Francisco
Ben Shemano Jewelry
(415) 362-7777
www.benshemano.com
East Bay
Pavé Fine Jewelry Design
Berkeley • (510) 547-7000
Oakland • (510) 528-7300
www.pavefinejewelry.com
South Bay/Peninsula
Gleim the Jeweler
Palo Alto
(650) 325-3533
www.gleimjewelers.com
North Bay
Yifat Bareket Designs
www.yifat-bareket.com
Shoe Store
It’s been said that with the right pair of shoes you can conquer the world. But it isn’t always easy to find the perfect shoes — a pair that combines comfort, style and convenience. Readers say these stores help customers look and feel great.
Footwear enthusiasts have been going to the “foot health store” On the Run in San Francisco since the late ’70s. “We want every customer to leave the store with happy feet,” the website says. Instead of customers picking shoes to try on, staff will evaluate an individual’s feet and recommend shoes to suit his or her lifestyle. The store seeks to reduce foot pain by selling orthotics and otherwise meeting specific footwear needs. “Ailments such as plantar fasciitis, hallux rigidus or metatarsalgia can typically be accommodated with an orthotic device and a good pair of shoes,” floor manager Ben Collison says.
Shoes on Solano “offers quality fashion shoes that feel as good as they look,” says president and owner Carol Fabretti. The Berkeley store strives to carry brands that have “a philanthropic or ecofriendly philosophy in their own business and products,” meaning customers can wear their shoes pain- and guilt-free. The decision to sell only women’s shoes grew out of a frustration the owners experienced when shopping at other women’s stores that had male shoe buyers.
The Walk Shop has been an institution in Berkeley since 1978, offering a wide selection of European- and American-made shoes for women and men. Brands featured include Ecco, Clarks, Merrell, New Balance and more. Walk Shop staff first measure for length and width, then examine feet for any problems that need to be taken into account when finding the right pair of shoes to suit an individual’s lifestyle.
Footwear etc.’s website puts the company’s philosophy plainly: “If it’s uncomfortable, we simply don’t sell it.” With a focus on remedying foot and leg problems in customers, the staff at the store’s many Peninsula locations will fit customers with fashionable and comfortable shoes. The selection at Footwear etc. ranges from outdoor shoes to slippers and everything in between for men, women and children.
San Francisco
On the Run
(415) 665-5311
www.ontherunshoes.com
East Bay
Shoes on Solano
Berkeley
(510) 525-3832
www.shoesonsolano.com
The Walk Shop
Berkeley
(510) 849-3628
www.walkshop.com
Peninsula/South Bay
Footwear etc.
Various locations
(800) 720-0572
www.footwearetc.com
Toy Store
Toys are an essential part of childhood, helping kids to learn while they play, nurturing their brain development and social skills, too. Puzzles, dolls, balls and more all have a place on the shelves of these Bay Area toy stores.
The Ark has two locations in San Francisco, plus one in Berkeley. The store opened to provide toys and games that met Waldorf School standards but has since expanded. With everything from outdoor games to wooden toys, musical instruments and construction sets, it now specializes in “all-around fun toys that challenge our imaginations and expand our capacity to think and grow,” the website says.
“We are a children’s toy store that specializes in toys that promote open-ended, creative play,” says the co-owner of Mr. Mopps’, Devin McDonald. The Berkeley store carries specialty toys at all price points that serve as an alternative to mass-produced toys found in large chain stores. McDonald hopes to expand in the fall to include a children’s book store a few doors down from the shop in Berkeley.
A collection of more than 1,000 items at Palo Alto Sport Shop and Toy World means that classic, educational and active toys will always be in stock. The store has been serving Palo Alto since 1930, providing educational and fun toys to children of all ages. A new website makes it even easier to shop for toys and sporting goods, which can be shipped directly to the buyer’s home.
San Francisco
The Ark
(415) 440-8697
(415) 821-1257
www.thearktoys.com
East Bay
Mr. Mopps’
Berkeley
(510) 525-9633
www.mrmopps.net
Peninsula/South Bay
Palo Alto Sport Shop & Toy World
(650) 328-8555
www.toyandsport.com
Department Store
Nordstrom swept this category for two main reasons: high-quality merchandise and stellar customer service.
Bay Area shoppers trust Nordstrom to provide a positive shopping experience, with its well maintained and appealingly laid out stores. Everything from formal to casual wear is available for men, women and children, with designer products displayed alongside moderately priced items. Nordstrom also boasts a relaxed return policy, taking the stress off buying.
Bay Area
Nordstrom
Various locations
(888) 282-6060
http://shop.nordstrom.com
Boutique
As the Billy Crystal character Fernando once said, “You look mah-velous.” But that look has to start somewhere. These Bay Area boutiques have the clothes and accessories to help you look great so you can feel great, too. Make that marvelous.
Ambiance has four San Francisco locations, and while each is tailored to the aesthetic of its neighborhood, the boutique continues to be the city’s “famously romantic store with a modern edge,” owner Donna O’Leary says. Customers can make appointments with stylists to receive wardrobe advice for no charge. The store is known for its vintage dresses, premium denim and pieces from brands hard to find anywhere else.
At Urbanity, an upscale consignment boutique on Berkeley’s Solano Avenue, customers can enjoy a sustainable shopping experience while browsing the store’s collection of designer consignment clothes, shoes and accessories. Resale merchandise is available in the store, online and at Urbanity’s eBay store.
Readers recommend Francesca’s, with several locations in the Peninsula/South Bay, for its variety of clothing, accessories and trinkets. The inventory is restocked regularly so customers can expect to see new, fashion-forward items each time they visit.
San Francisco
Ambiance
Various locations
www.ambiancesf.com
East Bay
Urbanity
Berkeley
(510) 524-7467
www.shopurbanity.com
Peninsula/South Bay
Francesca’s
Various locations
www.francescas.com
Record Store
iPods, iTunes and other music delivery systems may become obsolete sooner rather than later, but Amoeba isn’t going anywhere. This funky Bay Area retail record store draws customers who still savor the experience of browsing through vinyl LPs, CDs and more in the company of fellow music lovers.
Amoeba opened its first store in Berkeley in 1990. The San Francisco location opened in 1997 on Haight Street, and the Hollywood store opened in 2001. Each has grown to accommodate Amoeba’s collection of rare vinyl. The store also sells 78s, 45s and turntables, as well as “everything from DVDs, Blu-rays, LPs, CDs, posters, pop culture books and music books,” partner Joe Goldmark says. All are available in the store and on the website.
Amoeba prides itself on supporting the local and global community, raising money for a variety of causes. It also sponsors several free in-store concerts a year, Goldmark says, featuring such artists as Tenacious D, Elvis Costello and Steve Earle.
The store is known for its customer service and dog-friendly vibe. “We’re the counterculture megastore,” Goldmark says.
San Francisco & East Bay
Amoeba
San Francisco • (415) 831-1200
Berkeley • (510) 549-1125
www.amoeba.com