Fashion & Retail – VC Social

The 3 Best Vintage Shops in Ventura, and Why You Should Ditch Fast Fashion

If your first thought after reading the title is that you would never shop second hand, this article probably isn’t what you want to read. I think that is exactly why you should continue reading.

Ventura has some of the most unique and wonderful vintage shops for being a quiet beach town. That alone is all the more reason to check them out. What is there to do for fun in a small town? Vintage and antique stores bring a lot of charm to the area, and people’s lives. If you’ve never been to a vintage shop before or are just curious, let me be your guide to the top 3 in this nook of Southern California.

My first recommendation is Poppies Vintage, located in midtown Ventura. This store carries such gorgeous pieces, and the whole spot is full of color and life. Garments, shoes, and bags that date back to the 60s and 70s! Even if you just enjoy aesthetic interior, you would likely be fond of Poppies Vintage. To top it off, there is a section dedicated to local business’ merchandise for purchase, such as handmade candles and novelties. Poppies is warm and inviting, and you wouldn’t regret a visit.

My next pick would have to be Out West Market, which seems to be growing a wider customer base through social media. This shop is special, not only for their curated one of a kind items, but the space itself. Out West has a lovely western theme, with decor of all kinds on every inch of the walls. One of the highlights being an indoor and outdoor area, which is sweet if you want to enjoy browsing on a sunny day. OW also offers bins with bargain prices, so you can shop even with just $5 in your wallet.

Last but not least, and my personal favorite choice, Olive’s Vintage. There may or may not be a hint of bias here, but I encourage you to hear me out. Olive’s Vintage is located downtown and owned by the lovely Jeannie Rollo, kind-hearted and knows a gem when she sees it. Jeannie has been collecting knickknacks, clothes, art, and everything under the sun, pretty much her whole life. I asked her why she decided to start selling vintage.

“I had so much of it. I thought I should share it with other people, and give it a new life. So that this collection can get a new home”

With such a wide range and variety of Jeannie’s collection, the space feels authentic and true to what vintage is all about. Vintage items can be best described as timeless, whimsical, and chock-full of stories. Jeannie has an eye for art, whether it’s for sale or just decor. She also has her own pieces hanging around, along with her previous studio that appeals to many visitors. For Jeannie, it’s truly not about a sale, as she keeps her prices more affordable than most and tailored to each item. I wanted to know if Jeannie had any insight for why vintage is a better alternative than fast fashion and big retail.

“It has a past life. Vintage is just made better, and made to last, even all this time. You can tell how much people have put work in to make these things. They are like pieces of art, that you just treasure more.”

Whether you have been shopping vintage for a while, or you don’t know much about it, I urge you to take a visit to a local vintage store (even if it’s not on this list). Purchasing antique and vintage items, especially clothing, helps reduce waste and promotes sustainability. By shopping vintage, you purchase with intention. You are taking home an item with a story behind it, and the quality to last you just possibly another generation. If you do it right, you may even find it saves you money long term. Instead of buying poorly made, new retail clothes that need frequent replacing, you have something that dazzles your wardrobe or home for years to come. Bring some whimsy into your life!

Best Ventura County Hidden Gem

If you have been looking for the perfect coffee shop in Ventura County let me introduce you to Heritage Coffee & Gifts. This family owned coffee shop is located on 210 W 7th Street in Oxnard, California. You can find it as one of the many establishments in Heritage Square. It is owned and managed by Fernando and Teresa Larios and their son Carlos Larios. They offer specialty espresso and coffee drinks, as well as sandwiches and pastries.

While I was here, I ordered two drinks and a sandwich to really try this place out and give it an honest review. The drinks that I ordered were a honey lavender latte and a turmeric latte. I also got their caprese panini.

I decided on the honey lavender latte (pictured on the left) because the barista said that one was her favorite, so I had to give it a try. I loved that it was not overly sweet. I find that a lot of coffee places have overly sweet drinks where you can barely taste the coffee. This drink had the perfect subtle sweet with a dash of florals from the lavender. I can definitely see why this was one of her favorites.

I ordered the turmeric latte (pictured above on the right) because I had never seen or heard of anything like that before. I was so intrigued that I had to try it. I’m surprised to say it was really good. I thought it was not going to taste the best because turmeric is generally supposed to have a warm, bitter, earthy taste to it. I can definitely pick up hints of that but in a good way. The warmth was very slight and after the first few sips you could barely notice it. I quite enjoyed the earthy taste of it. I’d say the turmeric latte is on the same level of earthy flavor as a Thai tea would be.

I very much enjoyed both of those drinks and would get them again. I got my drinks with oat milk instead of cows milk and I am so thankful that they had other options. As someone who is both vegetarian and lactose intolerant, I am grateful when places have accommodations.

In addition to the drinks, I also got their caprese panini which has pesto, mozzarella cheese, and sun dried tomatoes on sourdough bread. The panini was freshly made to order so it was warm and melty. The bread was toasted to perfection with satisfying char marks on the side. Honestly one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a while. There is something to great when a simple recipe is done well.

I had the pleasure of getting to speak to Mr. Carlos Larios (owner/manager) when I went into the store to try it out. He was very kind and a great conversationalists. We started talking about what exactly they sell, when he said something that made me smile.

“More than anything, we really want to create a friendly and welcoming environment for everyone who comes in.”

I can say that they 100% accomplish that feeling. From the second I stepped foot inside, the room was filled with people talking and laughing. There was only one open table, which told me that business was going well. What makes this place feel so homey and unique is because it is in an actual house. All of Heritage Square is made of old houses turned into shops or businesses. The coffee shop is where a front living room would essentially be. Make sure to check out the video below to get a peak of what the inside looks like.

Inside, there is a fire place with a TV above it that plays calming and relaxing music on Spotify so people can see what they are listening to. In front of the fireplace is a coffee table that is surrounded by sofas. It really helps to bring that warm and welcoming feeling in. It truly does feel like you just stepped into someone’s home. They even have a counter designated for other local businesses cards so their customers can see and take them. The video also highlights the gift shop that is connected to the coffee shop. The gift shop features all handmade items. Some of them were even made by the owner Teresa Larios.

If you are in the area, this place is a can’t miss! I might have found my new favorite go to spot and I can’t wait to try out the other things they have to offer. Make sure to also follow them on their social media, linked below.