Focus: Patina Gift Store

Gift shop marks homecoming for Holz family

Barbara and Paul Holz, owners of Patina Gift Store across from the French Gourmet restaurant, have come full circle.They’re operating their retail shop out of the very same building at 957 Turquoise St. a youthful Paul once helped build.

“I was up there with 2-by-12s helping my dad construct it,” Paul Holz said. “He ran his contracting business out of it for more than 40 years.”

Now the couple’s neighborhood-centered business specializes in accents for the home and garden.

“We have glass and serving dishes, stone, pots and things for the garden, “ said Barbar Holz. “We are one of the biggest sellers in the county of Vera Bradley bags and accessories. We have Jay Strongwater frames and jewelry, Michael Aram exquisitely handmade metal pieces.”

Patina also gift wraps all of its items.

“That’s nice for people,” Barbara Holz said.

The store’s gift card selection is especially unique, offering humorous Patience Brewster cards.

The Holzs grew up in La Jolla, went to school, met and dated here. Now after running Point Loma Camera for many years, they’ve returned home.

Barbara Holz said Patina is a name her mother favored which means things that get better with age. That, she said, perfectly suited the image she wanted to project.

The couple said they love their new location across the street from the French Gourmet, which brings in lots of foot traffic.

Paul Holz said the shop is picking up business from previous customers of Bo Danica gift shop, which went out of business in the Village several months ago.

“People are saying, ‘We were so sad when Bo Danica closed, but look what we’ve got here in our town.’ We’re very pleased with the way we’ve been received.”

Store hours at Patina are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Call Patina at (858) 488-4488 or e-mail

Barbara@patinagifts.com

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