Buying goods online might be convenient, but it can be so impersonal and isolating. You can’t beat the personalized shopping experience you get shopping in local small businesses. The shop owners are passionate about the service and products they provide, and they go the extra mile for you.
San Marcos, Texas, offers a wide variety of small shops and boutiques selling jewelry, books, clothes, accessories, vintage goods, unique gifts, and more. You’ll have fun browsing for a treat for yourself or your loved ones, and supporting these local businesses helps keep downtown San Marcos alive and thriving.
Everyday Zen
Stepping into Everyday Zen is like entering an oasis of peace away from the city streets. This cozy store is calm, clean, and relaxing, and the scent in the shop alone makes it worth a visit here. For the husband-and-wife owners, this is more than just a business, it’s their passion and lifestyle. Their philosophy is to help people to connect to the spiritual life and find happiness and calmness.
You can find body and spa products, crystals, meditation kits, jewelry, clothing, books, and cards. For your home, it offers candles, wind chimes, and kitchen and dining goods. A whole section is devoted to tea, with beautiful teapots, teacups, tea plates, tea accessories, and a variety of loose-leaf teas. You can even relax with some freshly made tea in the peaceful garden patio area.
Location: 165 S. Guadalupe St., Suite 112, San Marcos.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Vagabond Vintage Clothing
At Vagabond Vintage Clothing, you’ll discover one-of-a-kind and retro clothing and accessories, from sportswear to western gear, including blue jeans and boots. Choose vintage jerseys from your favorite sports teams, cutoff jeans shorts, unique patched jeans, dresses, woolens, T-shirts, sweatshirts, old-style sunglasses, and more.
Modern trends are continuously changing, and it can be hard to keep up. Vintage clothing never goes out of style. You can create your own unique look by mixing, matching, and adapting to give old clothes a new life. You could spend hours browsing the goods in this store and enjoying the cool artwork and murals.
Location: 320 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos.
Hours: Daily from noon to 7 p.m.
Herbs & Oddities
Having started as a wandering market business, Herbs & Oddities has evolved into a small brick-and-mortar shop that’s full of wonders, specializing in metaphysical and spiritual wellness. As you enter the tiny shop, take in a deep breath, and relax as the peace and calm that flows in the space wash over you, and you take in the wonderful aromas.
The warm-hearted, welcoming, and knowledgeable staff are on hand to help guide you through the products. You can take your time browsing the candles, incense, jewelry, stones, and CBD products. They offer a wide selection of herbs, smudging supplies, essential oils, and local art. A range of unique relaxing chocolate and teas are also available. Book a tarot card or palm reading to find out what the future has in store.
Location: 300 S. C.M. Allen Parkway, Suite 212A, San Marcos.
Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sundance Record Lagoon
If you prefer your favorite music with the rich, warm tones of vinyl rather than the clinical sound of modern digital formats, Sundance Record Lagoon is the place for you. This shop has a very friendly atmosphere and knowledgeable staff. The walls and ceilings are covered in retro music and cultural memorabilia.
You can choose from thousands of new and pre-owned vinyl records, with genres from rock, pop, rap, and hip hop to R&B, jazz, country, and more. You’ll also find many used CDs if you prefer. A wide range of merchandise and collectibles is available, such as T-shirts and posters. They even have the latest turntables for sale to get the best from your vinyl collection.
Location: 241 N. LBJ Drive, San Marcos.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Alpha Strike Games
Founded in San Marcos in 2011, Alpha Strike Games is your one-stop shop for all your gaming needs. You’ll find your favorite games here, such as Lord of the Rings, the Battle Spirits Saga, March of the Machine, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, and more.
This store also has vintage video games, board games, game cards, collectors’ items, and all the gaming supplies you need. Alpha Strike Games offers pickup, delivery, and online services. They also host weekly tournaments where you can compete against other enthusiasts.
Location: 408 S. LBJ Drive, San Marcos.
Hours: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Daughter of the Wild
Daughter of the Wild is a unique boutique that blends the best of nature with handmade creations. The shop is a peaceful haven filled with an abundance of plants surrounding beautifully designed products. Owner Nikkye puts a lot of time, effort, and consideration into every piece she creates. She says her mission is “to stay local and to stay wild.” All curious souls are welcome in this store.
In the shop, you’ll find lush houseplants, succulent arrangements, antiques, vintage clothing, and handmade jewelry sourced from natural materials. You can even buy unique greeting cards for all your funky friends and family. Everything is one-of-a-kind and beautifully crafted. Products include vintage posters, face and body items, hair accessories, woven art, floating stones, stone and resin keychains, and so much more.
Location: 218 N. Guadalupe St., San Marcos.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Are You Ready To Shop Till You Drop?
At Case J. Darwin Law Office, we know that small businesses in San Marcos, Texas, are important to the city, and they offer a unique service. So, start shopping and show your support for local shops in San Marcos this summer.
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