The Whistlestop

494

305

2458

3 years ago

Amazing store in the Mendocino Village catering to tourists as well as locals. Love their wind chimes read more

See all

Helpful 0

Thanks 1

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Melissa W.

Elite 14

32

168

58

3 years ago

Fun gift shop with seasonal items and friendly, engaging staff. They have wind chimes and I wish I'd been able to focus more because there's a nice selection and we've been without chimes for a while. But what made me think and come back the next day was the selection of whimsical clocks. My spouse is well aware of the dangers of me seeing something that appeals to my sense of whimsy and magic. And while I just took a look at the big Rhythm Small World clocks on the wall, a staff member came over to show me what they did. They move! The clock faces move on the hour and play a selection of tunes, including classical music. I was enchanted and told myself and the staff member I didn't need it, and that my spouse would not let me have one. But my spouse is a wonderful person and after we left, kept asking whether I needed one and should go back. I kept thinking about it and we did end up returning the next day to buy a clock. "Your face just lit up. You should get one." This shop also has cute little ornaments and charms that will be great for your gift giving needs. Or stuff for yourself, like a clock face that opens like a transformer. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 1

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Mariah B.

95

118

99

5 years ago

The Whistlestop is definitely one of Mendocino's many gems! Between the trinkets, candles, jewelry, and the lovely ladies who serviced us, it was quite a wonderful experience! The clocks are also a must-see. They are all beautiful and put on a "show" with their lovely tunes and designs. If you happen to be in Mendocino, definitely make sure to pop into The Whistlestop! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Laura P.

0

2

3 years ago

Camping in Mendocino last week and visited this awesome shop .. Loved all the wonderful items it has especially all the smell good things... purchased a room freshener spray Sunflowers but when I got home 4 days later when I go to use it (couldn't wait) the sprayer was broken.. I called the shop and the owner apologized and sent me a replacement with no problem.. Offered to send back the broken one she said no worries.. Great customer service I highly recommend you stop by Whistlestop when visiting Mendocino, right on Main Street.. Won't disappoint amazing shop. Ok read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Christine B.

78

285

704

5 years ago

Adorable gift shop with lots of different types of objects and jewelry as well as a nice little supply of Christmas ornaments. Very nicely displayed. Take a look and enjoy the friendly service. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Jay S.

51

359

690

7 years ago

Lots of gift shops in the area but this has some rather unique items. Take a look at the video of the globe... There are some wall clocks that are unique that I should've taken a video of as well at a fair price point. Tons of wind chimes but also good knowledgeable service as well. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sue S.

Elite 26 All-Star

169

847

4292

8 years ago

One of the nicest gift shops in Mendocino. What makes it stand out? First of all, lovely customer service. My friend and I were greeted warmly when we first walked in but allowed to shop leisurely, without being hovered over. I immediately found a beautiful Americana scarf and gave it to the sales lady to hold while I continued looking around. The store does not have your typical touristy fare. It's filled with colorful pottery, beautiful (and affordable) jewelry, clothing, artwork, stationery, home accessories. The store is beautifully merchandised. Your eyes are not overwhelmed with too much stuff to look at, and items easy to shop. I wanted to bring home a souvenir from my visit to Mendocino and came out with that lovely scarf and a beautiful striped and hooded sweater! It was quite a pleasant shopping experience! read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Linda F.

1

3

2

5 years ago

We visit this store every year (minus 2020). Wonderful gifts and home decor. We bought one of their clocks. It's our 2nd one. The service is pleasant and very knowledgeable of their products. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Karne N.

39

643

1251

9 years ago

This was a really good store for finding fun things you want but don't really need. Just right for a vacationer. I also found some perfect gifts for friends. The one thing I had to return the next day was handled courteously. I will stop in here each time I'm in town. read more

Helpful 1

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Rick P.

32

58

16

7 years ago

A must stop every time in Mendocino. The customer service with these ladies is above and beyond the norm. A friendly and outgoing group with many unique items for sale. ;) Rick read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Kristin A.

41

10

0

8 years ago

This was such a cute store! Definitely not your typical touristy souvenir place but they had a lot of really unique wind chimes, Christmas decorations (we went in November) accessories and more. My husband and I went in with our 4 young children and the lady behind the counter was so kind to our kids. I warned my kids not to touch anything because there were a lot of breakables there but the woman working there would hold things out for them to look at and touch. Everyone working there was so helpful and friendly and we left with several items I'll treasure forever read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Ruth P.

0

45

54

8 years ago

This is the best gift shop in Mendocino! We go every time that we visit the area. I wish that I lived here so that I could shop everyday! I love the Spartina449, Noelle and Willow Tree. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Nessie V.

Elite 22

71

933

1287

19 years ago

Cute little store, owned by the same folks as the Seasons of Mendocino around the corner. Crazy selection of modern 'cuckoo clocks.' I ended up getting these glass jellyfish that glow in the dark. They look really nice. And they were cheaper than the ones at the Glass Fire Gallery up route 1 in Fort Bragg. Lots of interesting stuff and it's not the same old stuff you see everywhere. Staff is friendly too. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Emily B.

Elite 8

171

107

118

15 years ago

As the reviewer stated before this store has jellyfish that glow in the dark that are pretty cool. I ended up getting a few Easter decorations that they had on display. Unlike other stores in Mendocino this store made sense and the merchandise was not outdated. Some of the other stores I went into had merchandise that looked like it had been there forever. The store has more home stuff also opposed to touristy souvenir items. I will stop in again on my next visit. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Chris T.

23

178

1

14 years ago

Great staff and interesting stuff. If you pop in there, ask to see the clocks in action. Neat!

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

Sandra W.

0

19

0

11 years ago

My husband purchased a pair of pearl earrings here and I love them. I also saw a necklace that looks heave but light and versatile and comes in several different colors. As soon as I am able to contact the store, I definitely will purchase the necklace. Very nice store and nice people. Worth shopping here. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 1

Oh no 0

Mike M.

0

4

0

10 years ago

Kudos to the folks at Whistlestop! I was in their shop a few weeks ago and purchased a few items. They have a great selection by the way. A few days later ( I had already returned home) I realized my card was missing. I did some sleuthing through my CC transactions. It seemed the last place I used the card was at their shop. I called them to ask if they happened to have my card and the gal said yes! Since I live a few hours away I asked if they could mail it to me. She said Sure and took my address info. Well, I just received the card via certified mail! Thanks to the folks at Whistlestop for going above and beyond. Next time I'm in town I will stop in to say thanks. read more

Helpful 0

Thanks 0

Love this 0

Oh no 0

More info about The Whistlestop

45000 Main St
Mendocino, CA 95460
Directions
(707) 937-3750
Call Now

Hours

What time does The Whistlestop open?

The Whistlestop opens at 10:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does The Whistlestop close?

The Whistlestop closes at 5:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.The Whistlestop closes at 4:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Sat 10:00 AM - 5:00 PMSun 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Payment methods

Does The Whistlestop take credit cards?

Yes, The Whistlestop takes credit cards.

Outdoor Amenities

Does The Whistlestop have parking?

Yes, The Whistlestop has parking options. Street Parking

From the Business

Specialties

Whistlestop Mendocino is an eclectic mixture of reasonably priced gifts, accessories and collectibles. We specialize in seasonal décor. Each season the store is transformed into a showpiece for the numerous pieces we have available to decorate any home. We are also a gift store for women with a sprinkling of jewelry, handbags, scarves, home and garden décor, candles, and lotions. Here you will also find collectibles such as Jim Shore, Willow Tree and Kelly Rae Roberts, just to name a few.

History

Established in 2002.

In the mid 80's we left the stress of Silicon Valley and moved to the beautiful Mendocino Coast for a more relaxed life style. In 1989 our sister store in Fort Bragg was opened and in 2002 we acquired this gorgeous location. Located 150 miles North of San Francisco along the beautiful Mendocino Coast on the corner of Lansing and Main Street in Mendocino, you will often hear our clerks talk about the fantastic views from our front windows. Our store has evolved over the years to offer an ever changing mixture of products. Because of this, in addition to our loyal local customers, we have a number of tourists who come back every time they are in town just to see what's new.

Review Highlights - The Whistlestop

“Adorable gift shop with lots of different types of objects and jewelry as well as a nice little supply of Christmas ornaments.”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Explore benefits

Mendocino Country Store

4.4(18 reviews)

I love this store. They have so many unique treasures made of so many different materials. I have…read morebought everything from stainless, ceramic to wine and soup. The only thing I dislike about this store is that I live so far away from it. :) A must check out fun place to shop different treasures in downtown Mendocino.

It was very fun shopping here. I found the cutest little bracelets. The displays were nice. The…read moreprices were good and the person who rang me up was very helpful

Candles

Typical Mendocino sunset taken outside Mendocino Country Store

See all

Astoria Home Store

5.0(3 reviews)

What a cute home decor and gift shop…read more It has bath and body items that smell so luxurious and cute little knick knacks that you never thought you needed. We ended up walking out of the place with unicorn and mermaid birthday cake candle holders - such great bait for the kids. I ended up walking out with a handmade charcuterie board made by someone local --- the proprietress' husband, in fact. Funny story: we were walking around town when we saw a man selling a pile of charcuterie boards he was selling right there on his driveway. Unfortunately, he doesn't accept credit cards - he mentioned that his wife has a credit card machine. Lo and behold! After walking around some more, we found this shop selling his boards and it turns out, it was the woodworker's wife's! Anyway, great souvenir as it was made by a local artist and "Mendocino" was burned into the wood.

This shop has loads of beautiful things for home and baby. I spent almost an hour there recently…read morelooking at all the goodies. The owner has great taste and every item in the shop reflects that. She has on trend items I've only read about and not seen in stores. Astoria is well worth a stop. The owner is very pleasant and helpful.

See all

Out of This World

4.7(75 reviews)

0.2 mi

Marilyn knows her stuff. She's a straight and won't steer You wrong on optics!!! Very well…read morerespected in the birding community. Great selection!!

If you close at 5 it should show that on your yelp page! My boys were very disappointed when they…read morewere turned away at 5:01 because your yelp page says you are open till 5:30.

See all

Toy section

Tangents

3.5(35 reviews)

Stopped in to Tangents during my trip to Mendocino and was wowed by their current inventory and…read morearray of locally made gifts. It was actually my favorite shop this time around with some amazing stained glass (I purchased a beautiful piece as a souvenir) and other fun items. I don't recall exactly what wasn't my style last time I visited, but Tangents is actually a cool little shop. They're located across from Harvest Market in Mendocino with plenty of street parking. The staff was very welcoming and helped check on prices of items that needed a ladder. They do charge a 3.5% fee on credit card purchases, so bring cash if you're planning on a bigger purchase. Still, the stained glass piece I bought was very well priced for its size and considering it was locally made.

Cool pet friendly shop with interesting merchandise. We got a pup planter and a pet Teepee for…read moreLucie. Prices were reasonable and service was great.

Fun stained glass

See all

NAHARA Healing Arts

4.9(33 reviews)

0.0 mi

My mom and I visited Nahara Healing Arts while staying in Mendocino, and it was such a special…read moreexperience. I had the Ocean Essence body wrap and my mom had the detoxifying body treatment -- we both walked out feeling completely rejuvenated and relaxed, with effects that lasted well beyond that day. Angela truly has healing hands. Beyond her skill, she's incredibly kind and accommodating, and she made the whole visit feel personal and special. We couldn't have asked for a better way to unwind together. Highly recommend if you're in the area!

Nahara, you are a wonderful healer. My legs and lower back have felt crippled for a while. After a…read moretwo hour session with you, I have less pain and more mobility have an amazing ability to figure out exactly where the knots are, and know just how to help each one release. are, and no, just how to help each one release. Now that I know, now that I know that you are board certified, I can handle the cost covered by my insurance. Bless you. You make the body work experience so . You're a genuine warmth adds to the healing process. Zay

Entrance NAHARA healing Sanctuary Mendocino

Boutique at Nahara featuring ecoluxe goods.

See all

Massage Therapy in Mendocino. NAHARA private healing sancturay

Creative Hands of Mendocino

3.6(5 reviews)

0.2 mi

We love this store! It was very welcoming and felt warm with the local hand made items. We visit…read moreevery time we go to Mendocino and can't leave without something g special.

Very weird vibes in here...especially the lady who was manning the store. Not very inviting and…read morekind of gave us very unwelcoming and off-putting energy when we were checking out. She made me feel very uncomfortable and something about the way she was acting made me feel like she did not like tourists being in Mendocino.

Jewelry and other gift items

Historical building 1870!

See all

Clothing and knick knacks

Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle's Children's Books

4.7(99 reviews)

0.2 mi

Just gorgeous. ample, diverse staff picks full of excellent recommendations! I could live hereread more

I love browsing bookstores. I will never read all the books, but I love seeing new titles and…read moreclassics alike. This one was fun to browse because there were different sections. The section in the back with the artsy stuff was most fun for me. They have stickers, journals, greeting cards, "how to" books, etc. Come while they're open! Parking is free on the street. It's just across from the coast.

See all

Rubaiyat Beads

4.0(6 reviews)

Fun little shop, lots of beads but some other stuff too. The owner was nice & let us browse at our…read moreown pace without being pushy at all. I bought two strings of glass beads & my gf got a little jade elephant. Lots of stuff to look at here... it might be bigger on the inside than the outside. We'll be back

This store is NOT closed! I was just there today. Many of the shops along the road are having…read morephone issues but they are open!

Triple wrap bracelet

See all

Cutest little purse ever!

Mendocino Art Center

4.4(10 reviews)

0.3 mi

For a few years, my Dad was an artist in residence here during the summer months. He revived their…read moreprintmaking studio, created new work, collaborated with artists that worked in other mediums, and taught classes. I visited him each summer. It's just a couple hours from San Francisco. Of all the places my Dad visited and taught at around the world, Mendocino was his favorite place. It's a magical place perched above the cliffs facing the Pacific Ocean, just beyond the Headlands. There's a courtyard that connects each studio, the gallery at one end. There's paintings, pottery, photography, lithographs, glass sculptures, etc. During these times, the art center is closed but you can view current artists' work on their website. Some pieces are available for purchase. You can even see a little bit of its magic through the screen.

No heat, no power, old squeaky beds and sheets. Really disappointed. They really need to upgrade…read more Never again.

Ceramics Studio

Cyanotype with Linda Clark Johnson

See all

Printmaking workshop with Mariangela Le Thanh

Blooming

4.3(23 reviews)

Great place to shop! Met owner at dinner and decided to check out her shop. So glad I did! High…read morequality clothing made in the US. She knows her stuff and steered me towards my correct sizes and tastes. Very professional, knowledgeable and accommodating. Will shop there again next time I am visiting Mendocino.

I love these clothes! They are light, comfortable, and beautiful. I am a plus size woman, and I can…read morealways find clothes here that fit and feel fantastic!