With the summer approaching, we are taking the opportunity to get out and explore the bay area beyond San Francisco. One place that I have visited a few times now is the Marin Country Mart. If you haven’t heard about it, the area that was previously known as “Larkspur Landing,” has been renovated and rebranded as the Marin Country Mart. It is a beautiful, high-end, outdoor shopping and dining center. We were focused on shops with interior goods, but the Mart has something for everyone – a bookstore, mens’ and womens’ clothing shops, kids’ clothing and toy stores, jewelry shop and many upscale restaurants.
I was pleasantly surprised by the number of interior-focused stores at the Marin Country Mart. Some of them are off-shoots from San Francisco outposts. Hudson Grace is one of those off-shoots. The Hudson Grace shop is filled to brim with the products we covet at their Sacramento Street shop. We love that the pieces are useful, beautiful and, in most cases, affordable. It is the perfect place to pick up a gift, or something for yourself.
Another surprise was the Calypso St. Barth store. I had always thought of the Calypso brand as being solely focused on women’s clothing. While I think that womens’ clothing is their primary product line, the store at the Marin Country Mart had beautiful home goods as well. The decor was very accessible and perfectly styled for our laid-back California lifestyle.
Roberta Roller Rabbit is another brand that I thought of primarily as a clothing retailer. The shop at the Marin Country Mart, however, has a large number of home goods to peruse.
We also discovered an interior design shop called “Well Made Home” as a result of a sample sale they were hosting on the day we were shopping. They carry several designer lines, as well as sell cushions and custom window treatments. The owners mentioned that they will be opening a new store front in the Marin Country Mart in the near future.
One of the cutest shops and the Marin Country Mart is the Poppy Store. The Poppy Store is a well-styled children’s shop with everything from clothing and shoes to books and small accessories. The decor is whimsical and it is merchandised perfectly. If you have children, it is hard to resist picking up an item or two.
Finally, in case you get hungry, the Marin Country Mart offers a number of delicious restaurants to choose from. My favorites are Farm Shop and Rustic Bakery. I have heard great things about El Huarache Loco Mexican Restaurant and look forward to trying it on my next visit. I also love picking up a few treats to take home from Miette. And, if you head over on a Saturday there is a fantastic farmers market, too! Happy shopping.
