Today is the first day I am starting a new feature on my blog for 2015: Saturdays in So Cal. We have so many great things to do here in Southern California so *mostly* every Saturday I will share a new place to visit or a fun cool thing to do! First up is a scrapbook store and gift store that used to be a rubber stamping store and had a name change: the new Crackerjacks in Redlands, CA! If you like crafts and unique, beautiful gifts, this store is sure to have something to strike your fancy. Their staff is extremely nice and helpful and over the years, we have become friends. I started teaching at “CJ” (as we locals call it) in 2008 and they have always treated me well, which is evidenced by their loyal customer base. There are ladies who frequent the shop who have been going there for over 10 years!
I recently went to downtown Redlands, CA to check out the new location of Collective Journey. Actually, the store is now called “Crackerjacks”. When I first started going to the store location on State Street in Redlands, it was called Cracker Jack Too! and the gift shop portion, two doors down the street, was called Cracerkjack Gift Co. A few years later, the store merged and moved to another location, renaming itself Collective Journey. Now the store has down-sized and has moved back to State Street, calling itself Crackerjack once again.
The store is small but the staff have done a great job of packing in wonderful, thoughtful gift items and craft supplies. The feel is like a boutique more than a craft store. It's really a much different experience than the giant scrapbook store of before.
All throughout the store are specialty items from hand dyed seam binding to jewelry and more.
My hope is that the store is now able to thrive because it can turn over product a lot faster and doesn't have to waste money filling thousands of square feet of space. There's a nice litle classroom area in the back and lots of great new restaurants and shops along State Street to visit in addition to Crackerjack. Here's a video I made of my visit last month:
If you're looking for last minute holiday gifts, Crackerjacks is open every day through Christmas Eve. They have tons of great things and I actually got 5 gifts on my list there this year! Besides Christmas shopping, you can buy handmade cards, take classes, and pick up special craft supplies you won't find in the box stores. If you visit, tell them that I sent ya! The staff is super nice…maybe I'll see you in the store too!
Find Crackerjacks here:
- Crackerjacks Facebook
- Collective Journey Website (no new website yet)
- New Location: 8 E. State Street in Historic Downtown Redlands, CA
- Phone: 909-793-2200
Do you know of an awesome event coming up in So Cal that you want us and fellow crafters to know about? Do you have a burning desire to share your favorite eatery or gift shop or best beach spot with other So Cal locals? Then share it with me here!