Why Shopping In Palo Alto Is About To Get Better (Hint: Shinola)

Photo Credit: Courtesy Shinola

Northern California’s wait for Shinola, the Detroit-based design brand known for its handmade watches, bicycles and leather goods, is almost over! Just in time for holiday shopping, a Palo Alto store opens on Dec. 18. A San Francisco outpost is set to follow in late January. You’ll definitely want to get into the Palo Alto store before Christmas because, to celebrate the arrival, Shinola is hosting a series of holiday shopping events from December 18–24 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. You can sip on holiday beverages and enjoy s’mores and brownie bites from small-batch chocolatier Dandelion Chocolate, all while perusing the best Shinola has to offer.

Some newly available items just in time for the holidays include:

• Shinola + Golden Bear Men’s and Women’s Varsity Jackets: Shinola collaborated with San Francisco’s Golden Bear Sportswear to design these custom varsity jackets. A contemporary take on the classic, athletic jacket, this accessory will be a popular holiday item for both men and women (pricing $395 – $495).
• Great American Series: The Muhammad Ali Limited Edition Watch is a tribute to the six principles that fueled the incredible life and journey of THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. Shinola partnered with the Muhammad Ali Center to create this limited run of four hundred watches just in time for the holidays (price $2250).

Of the new foray into the Bay Area market, Shinola COO Heath Carr says, “When Shinola was conceived in 2011, the hope was that people would be interested in the concept of creating world-class manufacturing jobs in a city like Detroit, known for its manufacturing legacy. In addition to Detroit, we collaborate with factories and makers from many cities. It’s with these collaborations that we create products that are long-lasting and made with passion and purpose. We at Shinola are energized by the entrepreneurial spirit of the Bay Area and are excited to be part of the community.”

The 1,700-square-foot Downtown Palo Alto retail space features a community gathering space to encourage creative minds to meet for private or public events. Located in the landmark Birge Clark building, the store stays true to the historical 1927 design while mixed with traditional Shinola fixtures.

Located in the heart of Jackson Square with an entrance on the picturesque Hotaling Place, the San Francisco store location similarly captures the area’s rich history in the landmarked Belli Building, originally built during the Gold Rush circa 1850. The 3,200-square-foot space will offer the full lineup of Shinola’s quality goods along with a rotating pop-up shop from partner American designers.

Jointly, the two new store openings mark the second and third brick-and-mortar locations in California, 13th worldwide, following the November 2014 opening of a flagship store in Los Angeles’ Silverlake neighborhood.

Shinola Palo Alto
261 Hamilton Avenue
Store hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m-9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Shinola San Francisco
722 Montgomery Street
Store hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.