From Consignment to Pizza, These Spots Bring the Heat to the Desert
Written By: Peyton “Rookie” Ross Greater Palm Springs Businesses
The Coachella Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in America. The famous resort destination is now home to a distinct local community—the desert lifestyle is definitely trending! The valley isn’t on the map by accident either, a wealth of local business owners with great ideas, a lot of passion and prime location are all at work doing justice to the cultural legacy of Greater Palm Springs. Whether it’s happy hour somewhere in Old Town La Quinta or luxury retail therapy on El Paseo, when you want a real taste of the desert you’ll find yourself at one of the many unique local businesses making the valley great. Here are a few of our favorites!
FLIP Consignments
Having luxury, vintage and elegance in the same thought conjures up an image of Palm Springs and its timeless Hollywood glamor—everything you would say about the vintage luxury apparel at FLIP too. FLIP is a second-hand store like no other in the desert. Owner Christi De Clerq uses her nearly 30 years of fashion industry experience to stock FLIP with a fresh mix of trend-transcending brands like Brunello Cucinelli, Hermes and Burberry to local designers not unfamiliar to Rodeo Drive or El Paseo. FLIP is committed to making buying and selling second-hand clothing an experience that’s chic and enjoyable, anything but business as usual.
78370 Hwy 111 Ste 135, La Quinta, CA 92253
760.564.5566
H2O Closet
Located in Old Town, H2O Closet is possibly the only apothecary in the valley. Rather than an antidote for the plague, you’ll find a worldly collection of beauty, fragrance, bath and decor in your prescription from H2O Closet. The apothecary’s selection is sourced from around the world with an emphasis on unique and hard to find bathroom luxuries. The H2O Closet’s stock includes Herbivore Botanicals, a beauty brand brewing up a cult following, M.R.K.T.’s myriad of Turkish bath towels, and handmade Spanish fragrances from Oliver & Co. H2O Closet is a must for anyone wanting brilliantly curated beauty to bring into their bathroom!
78-010 Main Street Ste 111, La Quinta, CA 92253
760.564.7399
Elizabeth & Prince
Named after the intersection of their home in Manhattan, Elizabeth & Prince is Analisa and Shawn Holoubek’s answer for the jet-setter that needs to be well dressed across the country. Elizabeth & Prince carries classic women’s apparel and the accessories needed to make them work across climate and seasons. Elizabeth & Prince is a snowbird favorite, having just the wardrobe tweak you’ll need to enjoy the year-round Coachella Valley sunshine!
78075 Main Street Ste 101, La Quinta, CA 92253
760.564.4100
Wilma & Frieda’s Cafe
Kelly McFall reimagines her grandmother’s’ recipes to build the menu for the cafe on El Paseo. Open for breakfast and lunch, Wilma & Frieda’s is a must for comfort food at its full gourmet potential. McFall is no stranger to the business, having run regional affairs for Pete’s Coffee throughout California. She sees the desert as a great hub for foodies all around, taking care to not only up the comfort food ante with quality ingredients, but locally sourced ones as well. Wilma & Frieda’s has private label coffee from Palm Springs cafe, Koffi, premium toffee from local Brandini, and dates from the iconic Shield’s Date Garden—just to name a few!
73575 El Paseo Ste 2310, Palm Desert, CA 92260
760.773.2807
La Quinta Olive Oil Co.
Deb Degan met her husband at culinary school in Italy and continues to travel to the mediterranean to provide high quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar to the shelves of La Quinta Olive Oil Company. Olive wood decor and natural olive oil skincare stock the shop as well. Deb even imports Italian ceramics, something she has found to be harder to find in Southern California. Located in atmospheric Old Town, La Quinta Olive Oil Co. offers tastings of over 70 olive oils and balsamic vinegars, with no shortage of advice on pairings for marinades, vinaigrettes, pasta sauces, desserts and dipping too!
78075 Main Ste 102, La Quinta, CA 92253
760.777.9992
Gracie’s Emporium
Gracie’s is an eclectic and personable shop in beloved Old Town La Quinta. An assortment of thoughtful coffee table books, greeting cards, cosmetics and children’s toys fill the shelves from ceiling to floor. Located right next to Old Town Coffee Shop, the two businesses share an entrance too. Finding the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for someone special is always better with a bit of coffee in hand!
78100 Main Ste 101, La Quinta, CA 92253
760.565.5512
Grayse
Perhaps best known as the model turned fashion mogul behind the brunch wardrobe staple St. John Knits, Marie Gray and her daughter Kelly are the new brand of timeless luxury clothing sold at the chic Grayse boutique on El Paseo. Kelly Gray seems to match her mother’s beauty and success turning her modeling career into a business one that quadrupled St. John’s annual revenue in her time as CEO! Grayse offers specialty separates with attention to classic beauty and copious detail. Generations of women have gravitated toward the classic appeal of the Grays’ designs and the new business is true to its creators’ history of trend-enduring style.
73130 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260
760.773.3303
Stuft Pizza
While the first Stuft Pizza wasn’t in the valley or even a full-service restaurant, Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill in La Quinta and Palm Desert celebrated the 40th anniversary of the franchise this past February. The La Quinta location was the first Stuft to offer a full menu and bar and quickly became a must for snowbirds, tourists and locals alike. John Bertram, son of founders Pat and Jack Bertram, leads the management of the full-service locations in the desert and is responsible for both the La Quinta and Palm Desert’s Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.
78015 Main St 100, La Quinta, CA 92253
760.777.9989
Shop and Eat Like a Desert Local
