Shopping Santa Paula for the holidays can save you time, money, and not only supports local businesses but also provides tax revenue for vital local public services.
“You save time because it’s close by,” said Debbie Johnson, president of the Santa Paula Downtown Merchants Association. “You save money two ways: one is because you won’t be needing gas to drive to a crowded mall and two is that the time you save does have a value.”
But the most important reason to Shop Santa Paula, said Johnson, “is there are a lot of great things to buy in Downtown Santa Paula.... Every place you go you can find everything from stocking stuffers to major gifts.”
There are antique and collectible stores, and for the new and unique The Best of VC Marketplace on North 10th Street. Owner Talia Wunder “not only showcases Santa Paula artists, writers and artisans, but offers items made only in Ventura County,” from furniture to stylish accessories to Wunder’s own Devon Design jewelry.
Red Hot Foods on Railroad Avenue offers hundreds of tasty treats - from salsas and BBQ sauces and mustards to spices and pickles and marinades and everything in between. “They even have salsas that benefit our Santa Paula Police K-9 program... and Red Hot Foods always has wonderful kitchen accessories. They’ll even help you create a gift bag!”
Johnson said the company, owned by Burma and Butch Baselice, has also added something new to its inventory: “Burma now carries jewelry and purses... and they’re beautiful!”
Have someone that’s hard to buy for? No problem! “You can never go wrong with gift cards to our wonderful Main Street area restaurants and our beauty boutiques,” including Tisa’s Salon and Vanity on Main, and even health spa memberships such as aPaula Fitness and Curves.
Need wrapping paper and fun little stocking stuffers? Try Santa Paula Super Store, which, Johnson said, “has everything! And if you want something really unusual try the California Oil Museum and the Santa Paula Art Museum gift shops... there’s no admission for those that just want to buy something!”
The Chamber of Commerce is also urging “Shop Santa Paula and save!” Their campaign to keep local dollars local notes that shoppers can “make the holiday season easy by staying close to home” to shop throughout the city, “while purchasing goods or gift certificates for massages, restaurants, oil changes, hair cuts, new tires, gift shops, facials, museum passes, hotel stays, theater passes, tools, videos, pet exams, dental exams, gym memberships, tanning sessions, ice cream, frozen yogurt and more!”
The Chamber wants Santa Paulans to know: “Keep your gas in your tank and your tax dollars in town!” is their motto this holiday season.
