1. The Library Shop

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San Diego, CA

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The Library Shop

4.6 (25 reviews)
Closed • 10:30 am - 5:30 pm

The Library Shop Photos

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Faith H.

The best little book shop! Everything was so unique and made for book lovers! The staff were very friendly and helpful. I got many stickers, pins, bookmarks and more!

Globes!
Marie B.

Catching up on Yelp reviews. This is for a visit back on 7/20/18 while randomly wandering the East Village neighborhood in San Diego. I love indie bookstores and public libraries, but stumbling upon their gift shop was a delightful find. So many things to admire and purchase, all made from local artists. The proceeds goes back to the library fund and programs. How cool is that?! I'd love a store like this to find unique gifts for friends and family. Like having it specially curated and nicely arranged in one centralized spot without having to wander an art or street festival. Highly recommended!

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4 years ago

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5 months ago

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7 months ago

Very tiny area by the library but pack full of super cute and original works. Very kawaii and bookish.

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4 years ago

Helpful 1
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8 years ago

Helpful 5
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2 years ago

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3 years ago

My favorite place for gifts! Guilt free shopping as all the proceeds benefit the library. Queer friendly.

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9 years ago

Helpful 3
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7 years ago

Helpful 1
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6 years ago

I have bought the vest gifts for my daughter here. Always fun and meaningful with a well-curated eye for design

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13 years ago

Helpful 2
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12 years ago

Helpful 2
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8 years ago

Helpful 1
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13 years ago

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9 years ago

Great selection of literary-themed gifts, located next to the beautiful San Diego library in the gaslamp quarter!

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8 years ago

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10 years ago

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9 years ago

Adorable tiny little gift shop with fun and funky items! Shop for a great cause!

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9 years ago

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11 years ago

Helpful 1
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12 years ago

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7 years ago

Absolutely loved this little bookstore! Used library books for just $2 (hard cover) or $1 (paperback). Highly recommend!

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13 years ago

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9 years ago

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11 years ago

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The Library Shop S.

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Review Highlights - The Library Shop

“The shop is small but aesthetically pleasing with lots of unique and special items ranging from books to jewelry to toys.”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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General Store - LOVE IT HERE!

General Store

4.0(3 reviews)
1.9 mi•Balboa Park
•$$

The Zoo General Store is where you go for all things you may have forgotten at home, or forgotten…read moreyou may need for a wonderful day at the Zoo. The General Store has sunglasses for the whole family. Literally. They sell baby sunglasses in addition to adult sunglasses. There are hats of all shapes and sizes, along with ones with straps for the little ones. There is sunscreen, medicine, baby wipes, chapstick, hand sanitizer and so much more! It's a small little store, but you should be able to find all you need in here.

This is your general tchotchkes store located in the zoo. When you go away, you have to buy the…read moreobligatory crap for your kids' friends so I went in here to look for cheap crap. I found snow globes and faux Limoges boxes for $10 each. The faux Limoges were actually painted a lot nicer than the snow globes. Some of the globes looked like they were painted by people who hate art. They were that bad looking. After I picked through and found the best of the litter, I went and paid. The clerk threw all the boxed tchotchkes into a non gusset end bag that are used to store magazines. When I asked whether they had a handle bag, she said yes they are running low so they are saving it for customers who buy bigger things (e.g. More expensive things). WTF, I just spent $40+ on junk and it wasn't big enough?!? How rude!

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General Store - Sunscreen, water, sunglasses, etc. All found here!

Sunscreen, water, sunglasses, etc. All found here!

General Store - All your essentials you may have forgotten are here!

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All your essentials you may have forgotten are here!

Gold Leaf - Herbal tokes...$25 for 4. Different blends containing a mixture of various herbs such as lavender and blue lotus.

Gold Leaf

4.9(47 reviews)
2.0 mi•South Park, Golden Hill, North Park
•$$

Gold Leaf is one of my absolute favorite small‑business shops -- the kind of place where you can…read moretruly find something for everyone. It's perfect for gifting: they carry a wide range of cookbooks, jewelry, home and kitchen items, candles, perfumes, cards, and tons more. Whether it's a housewarming, birthday, or a "just because" moment, this is always one of my go‑to spots. I love that they wrap purchases in pretty tissue paper, making every gift feel intentional and ready to give. The store is full of little treasures, so take your time -- there's a lot to explore. Gold Leaf is also part of a small cluster of connected shops right in the heart of South Park, which makes it even more fun to wander around and browse. A charming, thoughtful, beautifully curated shop that never disappoints.

Cute, cute little shop!…read more My FAVORITE thing about this small shop is the worker doesn't harass you the whole time. (Thank the lord!) I love boutique stores but hate when they follow you around/pressure you to buy. A hello, asked if we need anything, and friendly service on the way out. Service 5/5. Simple yet effective. Select is adorable. Some expensive but they do have quite a few reasonably priced items. I originally went for a journal and really love the selection of everything they had. Fun artsy items. Also seemed to carry alot of smaller business (which I love!) If are looking for cute niche items -this is your place. I will be back! :)

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Gold Leaf - Books

Books

Gold Leaf
Gold Leaf - Cute Store

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Cute Store

Thread + Seed - South Park

Thread + Seed - South Park

4.7(14 reviews)
2.0 mi•South Park
•$$

Fantastic store in the heart of South Park. Cute clothes and the staff is always so kind, helpful,…read moreand courteous.

I had an absolutely lovely experience today at Thread and Seed. I live in the South Park…read moreneighborhood, but this was my first time coming into the store. Upon first entry, the store was clean and well lit, staff were very friendly but not overbearing, and clothes were well displayed. I'm in my early thirties and personally, I struggle SO hard with fashion. I never quite know what looks good on my body, I have no clue what the latest fashion trends are, and I generally feel self conscious about sizing and trying on clothes. Without the help of a stylist or exceptionally kind and fashion forward friend I'd probably always be stuck in the skinny jeans and workout attire life. When I browsed the store, there were a few small pieces that caught my eye and didn't see terribly far outside my comfort zone, so I grabbed those for a fitting room and Ashley, one of the team members, approached me and offered to start me for a room. While I finished my browsing, she guessed a couple of my sizes and added some pieces that she thought I should try. I absolutely LOVE when boutiques do this, as again I struggle so much with fashion and knowing what would look good on me. Ironically she guessed my sizes better than I did, which also helped immensely with the experience. I loved some of the picks that she made, and she also helped get me out of my comfort zone into trying a wide leg pant that didn't make me feel like a box and like I was losing my figure/shape. She checked on me frequently, brought additional sizes as needed, and helped me better understand what clothes flattered my figure and were "in" right now. I left feeling so much more confident about what I had picked up and like I wasn't living a decade behind in my wardrobe. Although the prices of the boutique are a bit higher than you might pay at a chain or big box retailer, the service truly is exceptional and the quality for the clothing seems to be higher. Ashely mentioned their recently opened La Jolla location also offers personal styling services, which definitely is up my alley. I will absolutely return to Thread and Seed and am so grateful for my experience today!

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Thread + Seed - South Park
Thread + Seed - South Park
Thread + Seed - South Park

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Purrgatory - Window display at Purrgatory.

Purrgatory

4.8(33 reviews)
3.0 mi•North Park

I originally came across this place on TikTok and decided to stop by after my grandma's cat had…read morerecently passed away. It was absolutely devastating for her, especially because this was the first pet she'd ever experienced losing. I wanted to find something special to cheer her up, and I'm so glad I found this place. From the moment I walked in, the energy was amazing. The lady working there was genuinely so sweet and helpful, taking the time to help me look around and find something meaningful. I ended up finding a picture that looked almost identical to my grandma's cat, which honestly made the visit even more special. I also picked up some toys for her other cat, who absolutely LOVES them and still plays with them all the time! It's not often you walk into a store and immediately feel such a welcoming, positive atmosphere. The customer service was wonderful, the selection was so unique, and you can tell this place has a lot of heart. What started as a pretty emotional errand turned into such a lovely experience. I seriously cannot recommend this little gem enough. Definitely a place worth supporting!

I'm always on the hunt for new toys and treats for my kids (cats), so when I saw this place on…read moreTikTok, I knew I had to stop by. Purrgatory is the cutest cat-themed shop, and they have a really unique selection of cat treats, toys, and merch throughout. I love that they have things like hats, totes, stickers, and other gifts targeted for cat parents (which can be SO hard to find). At the front of the shop, you'll even see cats/kittens that are available for adoption. I highly recommend stopping by if you're a cat lover!

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Purrgatory - Great holiday gifts for your felines and those that appreciate them!

Great holiday gifts for your felines and those that appreciate them!

Purrgatory - Fun cat art!

Fun cat art!

Purrgatory - I found the greatest pin here. BEANS!!!!

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I found the greatest pin here. BEANS!!!!

Helen Edison Gift Shop

Helen Edison Gift Shop

4.5(2 reviews)
1.6 mi•Balboa Park
•$$

I love this little gift shop! You have to come here right before a show at the Old Globe is…read morehappening, because they are only open during shows. They always have cute stuff here, both related to the shows and just general theater-esque gifts. From the times I have shopped there, I have seen magnetic poetry, books, soundtracks, mugs, jewelry, and clothing. I have purchased many original Broadway-cast musical CD's from there. There are books and movies available too of shows that have been shown at the Old Globe theater, including Rocky Horror Picture show (part of the 2011 show lineup). This is a great place to pick up a gift for any fan of the theater, especially Shakespeare. I recently bought a mug from this shop that had King Henry VIII and his "disappearing wives", when you pour hot liquid into the mug, the wives fade away to reveal their names and how their marriages ended with old Henry.

Very small shop which is fine. Not very many options and nothing really worth buying. I felt like I…read morewas being "watched" as if I was going to take something. Not that I would ever steal but there wasn't anything worth buying so why steal? Maybe I misinterpreted the woman's actions but I'm rating based off of how I felt as a customer. Anyways, they do sell shirts and have little thinks that you can look at. You can easily spend 5 minutes in there and be able to look at everything twice in that amount of time.

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Helen Edison Gift Shop

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The Library Shop - bookstores - Updated October 2026

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