One-stop Santa Fe Shopping

Uh-Oh! Didn’t remember to call Santa Fe Baskets to create a lovely gift basket for Mom this Sunday? Not a problem, you can do it yourself! Don’t have a basket? Head for Cost Plus at Sanbusco! Buy the basket and fill it with wine, spices and chocolates, mmmmm! Don’t have time to put together your own gift? Skip it and head for Sanbusco anyway, since it’s a perfect destination to facilitate Mother’s Day or special purchases throughout the year.

Sanbusco Market Center is truly one-stop shopping at its best, with over 20 small stores, each specializing in things that will help you make your gift-giving personal and unique. The building itself is a piece of Santa Fe history, having been thoughtfully reincarnated from a builders’ supply into a boutique mall representative of the Santa Fe aesthetic. The market’s name becomes obviously self-explanatory, when you learn that in the late 1800’s, Santa Fe Builders Supply Company (San-Bu-S-Co) was one of the first businesses built along the new Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line, accommodating freight transfer and commerce into Santa Fe. The center thrived for many years, growing to a cluster of warehouses and sheds totaling five acres .

Eventually, changes in railroad use left most of the structures abandoned by 1984, when a gifted developer removed 100 years worth of plaster to reveal the original western warehouse. Today, the Market Center stands proudly non-Pueblo-style, with its exposed tin roof accents and original tile and brick manufactured at the state penitentiary. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Sanbusco has both the history and the distinct architectural flair that provide an authentic Santa Fe image, and its proximity to downtown and the surrounding Railyard District continues to attract both Santa Fe residents and visitors alike.

With the market’s free parking, you can easily spend some enjoyable hours wandering in and out of the variety of establishments that comprise this shopping experience. Dedicated shoe-lovers will find it hard to get out of On Your Feet, with an astonishingly wide selection of footwear that is both good-looking and comfortable. Although good shoes are not inexpensive, they last, and by paying attention to the regular sales here, style and economy can be mated with happy feet.

If you have the budget, you can move up the spending ladder and actually find a Missoni dress right here in Santa Fe. Those Italians certainly know their fabrics! Bodhi Bazaar has been dressing style-conscious Santa Fesinas for years, and the variety and quality of women’s wear and accessories available here have remained consistent throughout that time.

Jewelry on your mind? Gotta love that gilded Buddha at the entrance to Dell Fox, with its invitation to the gold and silver treasures inside, beautiful and timeless designs inspired by Etruscan and Greco-Roman artistry from the 2nd and 3rd centuries B.C. Just down the hall, Eidos Contemporary Jewelry shows concept-led work with a modern look for those who like to accessorize with more cutting-edge style.

If your male companion sighs at the thought an afternoon of shopping in Santa Fe, send him into The Reel Life to get excited about their professional guide services on the hundreds of miles of public water and private fisheries to which they hold exclusive fishing rights. With products from the best rod makers and outdoor gear and clothing manufacturers to browse, this should keep him happily occupied while you wander. Even if he’s not the outdoorsy type, he can still be amused at Santa Fe Pens, with its large array of fully restored vintage fountain pens, all of which are guaranteed to be authentic.

As befits your loyal companions, Fido and TomCat can also be well-served on a visit to Sanbusco. Teca Tu gives you the chance to pamper your pooch or puss at a plush pet emporium, which won the Best of Santa Fe Top 3 award four times. Your four-legged friends can look spiffy in a silver concho collar or a Doggie Vestido coat from Teca Tu’s signature line of designer wear. There are hand-painted bowls, fresh-baked treats and fun-filled toys to occupy their days and soft, comfy pet beds to sweeten their dreams.

Your household can get an upgrade with a visit to Night and Day or Pandora’s, which both sell beautiful and original home decor and bedding, and which distinguish themselves nicely from each other. Face it, there is nothing like a high-quality set of sheets to help you settle in for the recommended eight hours nightly. If you’ve slept on the sheets at the Inn,  you know what good bedding does for a good night’s sleep.

Of course, walking in and out of shops makes refreshment necessary, no matter how much fun you’re having. Sanbusco can fulfill this desire too, with several dining options right on the premises. Santa Feans love El Tesoro for inexpensive and authentic Central American food, and Pranzo has been dishing up satisfying family-style Italian food for years. A short walk around the corner will take you to Ristra for French-inspired cuisine in yet another historic Santa Fe building. If it’s your appearance rather than your tummy that needs refreshing, then Wink Salon is at hand to help you look your best, with those wonderful Bumble and Bumble hair products available.

Mind you, these are just a few of the shopping options available at this beautifully restored Santa Fe gem, so make a point of taking an afternoon to stroll over to the historic Guadalupe neighborhood for a visit to Sanbusco and bring home something special from your Santa Fe vacation.