Markets — Main Street, USA Is Alive and Well in Marin
Everyone who lives in America — especially small town America — has a local Main Street. Their main street will have interesting boutique businesses alongside the usual barber shop, bookstore, and coffee house. If that person is lucky, their main street will have a Farmers Market once a week where neighbors gather, local farmers set out their best, and the street itself comes alive with color, aroma, and conversation.
While the giant enclosed shopping malls filled with franchise businesses are fading away in the face of online competition, something remarkable is happening on America's main streets: the storefronts are filling back up with active, independent, unique small businesses — each one run by a local owner who takes genuine pride in what they sell and how they serve. This is a remarkable and heartening return to Walt Disney's own vision of Main Street USA, drawn from his memories of small-town America at the turn of the century.
Marin County has very much seen this exciting growth of vibrant local businesses across its many communities. And in Marin, the Farmers Markets, Street Fairs, Street Festivals, and the beloved annual County Fair are the ultimate expression of that Main Street spirit — a joyful, communal, irreplaceable affirmation that we love our hometowns and the people who live in them.
"A happy small town main street will have local services like a barber shop, an accountant, a lawyer, a dentist — but also antique stores, specialty food stores, bicycle shops, music stores, and other small boutique businesses all run by a local owner who takes pride in the work. These are businesses that online shopping finds it genuinely hard to compete with — because they combine a product with personal service, and personal service is impossible to do online."
"Farmers markets, Street Fairs, and Street Festivals are the ultimate rejection of impersonal commerce and an affirmation that we all love that Main Street, USA vibe in our local community — the place where we actually live, the place we call home. And in Marin County, we are extraordinarily fortunate to have so many of them, in so many wonderful communities, year-round."
The Return of Main Street, USA
When Walt Disney designed Main Street USA for Disneyland in 1955, he was not inventing something new — he was remembering something old. He was recreating the main street of Marceline, Missouri, where he grew up at the turn of the 20th century. A street where every storefront was different, every shopkeeper knew your name, where the smell of a bakery drifted across the sidewalk and a barbershop quartet might suddenly materialize on a street corner to serenade passersby. He called it "a place of warmth and nostalgia, of illusion and color and delight."
On Disneyland's Main Street, there is always music. The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet pops up on a corner. The Disneyland Band marches through. A ragtime piano plays from a storefront. The music is not a headliner you came to see — it is ambient joy, woven into the street itself, making the whole experience feel like a celebration rather than a transaction. That is exactly what happens at Marin's best farmers markets and street festivals. A guitarist playing under a tree near the produce stands. A brass band at the entrance to the County Fair. Live music drifting down Grant Avenue in Novato on a summer Tuesday evening. You did not come for the music — but it found you, and it made everything better.
Here is a beautiful historical footnote: the very first Marin County Fair, held in 1925, took place on a large property at the corner of Redwood Highway and Grant Avenue in Novato — the same Grant Avenue that is now Novato's beloved downtown main street and the home of its weekly Farmers Market. The fair has come full circle. Main Street, USA was always right here.
Farmers Markets — The Heartbeat of Marin's Communities
The Agricultural Institute of Marin operates nine Certified Farmers Markets across the Bay Area, supporting over 400 farmers, food purveyors, and artisans from more than 40 California counties and drawing two million visitors annually. In Marin County alone, there are farmers markets running every day of the week — somewhere in this county, right now, a local farmer is setting out the best of what the California soil and sun have produced this week. Here are Marin's primary markets, organized by day.
Year-Round Markets
The crown jewel of Marin's farmers market scene — operated by the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM) and running rain or shine, year-round, twice a week at the Marin Civic Center. The Sunday market is the largest in the county, drawing over 100 vendors every week and attracting Marin locals, Bay Area foodies, and visitors who come specifically to experience it. Heirloom fruits, artisan cheeses, fresh-caught fish, specialty mushrooms, hand-thrown pottery, handmade jewelry — the Sunday Civic Center market is an event in itself.
There is perhaps no more fitting setting for a market in all of Marin: Frank Lloyd Wright's magnificent Civic Center as the backdrop, the lagoon park gleaming in the morning sun, and the hills of Marin rolling green behind it all. This is Main Street, USA at its most beautiful.
One of Marin's most popular year-round Saturday markets, the Marin Country Mart Farmers Market in Larkspur operates in the lovely outdoor setting of the Marin Country Mart shopping complex — a thoughtfully designed community retail center that embodies exactly the boutique small business culture this page celebrates. Fresh produce, local specialty foods, and artisan goods every Saturday morning from 9am to 2pm, rain or shine.
The surrounding Marin Country Mart is itself worth exploring — a curated collection of independent local businesses in an open-air setting that feels a world away from the enclosed mall experience.
Mill Valley's year-round Friday market brings the same community-gathering warmth to the base of Mount Tamalpais that makes every Marin farmers market special. Mill Valley is one of Marin's most charming and walkable communities, and the Friday market is a natural anchor for the town's vibrant, independent-business Main Street culture along Miller and Throckmorton Avenues. Pick up fresh provisions, browse local artisan goods, and then explore the town — everything you need for a perfect Marin Friday morning.
The Strawberry Village Farmers Market serves the Strawberry Peninsula community and surrounding neighborhoods on the south side of Marin every Tuesday morning. Located in the Strawberry Village Shopping Center, it is a convenient and reliable mid-week market stop for residents of this beautiful Bay-side area between Mill Valley and Sausalito. Year-round, rain or shine — a true community constant.
The Corte Madera Town Center Farmers Market runs every Wednesday afternoon in the central courtyard of the Corte Madera Town Center — a convenient and lively mid-week market that serves the communities of Corte Madera and Larkspur. The afternoon hours make it a perfect after-work or after-school destination, and the Town Center setting gives it an especially welcoming, community-gathering atmosphere.
Seasonal Markets — Spring Through Fall
This is Marin County's quintessential Main Street, USA farmers market experience. Every Tuesday evening from May through October, Grant Avenue in downtown Novato — Marin's most classic small-town main street — transforms into a vibrant outdoor market and community gathering place. The evening hours create a festive, after-work atmosphere as neighbors meet, families stroll, and local farmers set out their best alongside artisan vendors.
And there is sometimes music. On special evenings, live performers play along the street, turning the market into a genuine street festival. The first Marin County Fair was held on this very street 100 years ago. The tradition runs deep here — you can feel it in the air on a warm Tuesday evening in July when the whole town comes out to Grant Avenue.
Once a month on the second Friday of June, July, and August, downtown San Rafael's 4th Street transforms into a pedestrian-only evening market and block party from 5pm to 9pm. Vendors, food, live music, and the warm energy of a Marin summer night combine to create one of the most festive experiences in the county. San Rafael's 4th Street is already one of Marin's most vibrant and walkable urban streets — on Summer Market nights it becomes something genuinely special.
Fairfax is one of Marin's most beloved and characterful communities — funky, independent, politically spirited, and deeply community-rooted — and its Wednesday evening farmers market at Bolinas Park perfectly reflects that spirit. An eclectic mix of local produce, artisan goods, and the kind of one-of-a-kind vendors you simply will not find in a shopping mall. The Fairfax market feels exactly like Fairfax itself: warm, genuine, and full of surprises.
The Point Reyes Farmers Market is held at the legendary Toby's Feed Barn on Highway 1 in Point Reyes Station — one of the most characterful market settings in all of California. Point Reyes Station is the commercial hub of West Marin and the gateway to Point Reyes National Seashore, and the market reflects the authentic agricultural heritage of this working dairy and ranching community. Local oysters, artisan cheeses, organic produce, and the unhurried, deeply local atmosphere of West Marin make this one of Marin's most memorable market experiences.
The Tam Valley Farmers Market serves the Tamalpais Valley community — the neighborhood tucked at the base of Mount Tamalpais between Mill Valley, Muir Woods, and Muir Beach. Located at the Tamalpais Community Center on Marin Avenue, it is a neighborhood-scale market with the intimate, gathered feeling of a community that genuinely knows itself. For visitors exploring Muir Woods or the Mount Tam trail network, the Tam Valley market is a lovely local discovery.
The Sausalito Farmers Market brings fresh produce and local goods to Bridgeway — Sausalito's iconic main street, lined with galleries, restaurants, and the sparkling waters of San Francisco Bay. Shopping at the Sausalito market and then strolling Bridgeway afterward is one of those effortlessly enjoyable Marin experiences. Easily reached by ferry from San Francisco, making it a perfect farmers market destination for Bay Area visitors staying in the city.
The Grand Celebration
The Marin County Fair — 100 Years of Community Celebration
If the weekly farmers market is Main Street on an ordinary Tuesday, the Marin County Fair is Main Street on the Fourth of July — everything turned up to maximum, the whole community gathered together, and the sky lit up with fireworks every night. The Marin County Fair celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025, a century of community celebration that began in 1925 on a plot of land at the corner of Redwood Highway and Grant Avenue in Novato, where a Ferris wheel, a merry-go-round, a dance pavilion, and a parade drew the whole county together for the first time.
Today the fair runs for five days every year around the Fourth of July at the Marin County Fairgrounds adjacent to the Civic Center in San Rafael — with 28 carnival rides, nightly fireworks over the lagoon, leading-edge exhibits, farm animals, competitive displays of local art and craft, interactive experiences, and live headline concerts all included with your gate admission. There is no upselling here — the concerts, the rides, the fireworks are all yours for the price of a ticket. That is a Marin County expression of community generosity that Walt Disney himself would have approved.
The concert lineup has historically been remarkable for a county fair of this scale. Past performers have included world-class tribute acts — ABBA tribute bands that rival the real thing — as well as genuine legends. In 2025 the fair featured TLC, one of the best-selling American girl groups of all time. The 2026 fair theme is "Stars, Stripes and Stories," celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Every year the fair reflects the best of what Marin County is: diverse, welcoming, artistically ambitious, and deeply, genuinely community-rooted.
There is something irreplaceable about a county fair — the smell of kettle corn and funnel cake, the sound of a carnival game barker, the sight of children on a Ferris wheel against a summer sky, a legendary comedy team performing on an outdoor stage to an audience that drove twenty minutes from home to see them. These are the experiences that form the emotional core of a community's memory. Marin County is lucky to have one of the finest county fairs in California.
Street Fairs & Street Festivals
Between the weekly farmers market and the annual County Fair lies the street fair and street festival — a special occasion that transforms a regular Main Street into something extraordinary for a day. These are rarer than a regular market and more celebratory in spirit, often featuring live music, extended vendor lineups, food trucks, and the kind of community energy that makes you remember why you chose to live where you live.
The Fairfax Festival is one of Marin County's most beloved annual street celebrations — a two-day event that takes over downtown Fairfax with vendors, food, crafts, and live music that reflects the wonderfully eclectic and free-spirited character of this remarkable community. Fairfax is the kind of town where the street fair feels genuinely authentic rather than staged — because the community itself is genuinely this colorful and this engaged.
The Saturday morning parade through downtown Fairfax is a highlight — small, personal, and full of local character. A Marin County main street celebration at its most genuine.
For four decades the Novato Art, Wine & Music Festival has been the signature street celebration of downtown Novato — closing Grant Avenue between Redwood Boulevard and Seventh Street for a full two-day weekend every early June. Multiple live music stages, artisan booths, food vendors, wine and craft beer, and activities for all ages fill seven blocks of Marin's finest small-town main street from 11am to 7pm Saturday and 11am to 6pm Sunday. Free admission. Hosted annually by the Novato Chamber of Commerce.
This is the moment when Grant Avenue most completely fulfills its Main Street, USA destiny — the whole community out, music drifting from multiple stages simultaneously, children at the face-painting booth, neighbors catching up over a glass of wine between artisan stalls. Forty years strong and still the best weekend of Novato's summer.
Launched in 2018 by the Downtown Novato Business Association, Rock the Block celebrates both the beginning and end of summer with free Thursday evening street parties on Grant Avenue — live music, food and beverage vendors, and activities for all ages from around 6pm to 9pm. The kick-off event in June and the wrap-up in late summer bookend Novato's warmest months with a communal block party spirit that perfectly captures why people love living on a real Main Street.
Additionally, the first Friday of June and August brings a monthly First Friday event to Grant Avenue — local food, live performances, and an invitation to explore the shops and restaurants of downtown Novato on a warm summer evening.
The Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival is one of Northern California's finest juried outdoor art and craft festivals, held every September in the spectacular setting of Old Mill Park at the base of Mount Tamalpais. Over 100 juried artists from across the country present paintings, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and mixed media in a redwood-shaded park that provides one of the most beautiful festival settings imaginable. Live music, food vendors, and the warm September light of a Marin autumn complete the experience.
Antique Stores & Specialty Boutiques
San Anselmo — Northern California's Antique Capital
As noted on our Museums page, we go to museums to explore the ancient past — and we go to antique stores to find remnants of our own past. The objects of our lifetimes, our parents' lifetimes, our grandparents' lifetimes — the furniture, the jewelry, the clothing, the tools, the art and the oddities that tell the story of how Americans actually lived in the 20th century. Antique stores are the most personal kind of Main Street discovery: the thing you find there was never made to be found by you, which is precisely what makes finding it so satisfying.
San Anselmo proudly promotes itself as Northern California's Antique Capital — and the claim is well earned. Along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and San Anselmo Avenue, a remarkable concentration of antique shops and dealers has gathered over the years, including A Dove Place, Antiques Legacy, Sanford's, Susan's Store Room, The French Market Marin, and Mid Century Marin. Several of these stores are collectives housing dozens of individual dealers under one roof. Novato's Sentimental Journey on Grant Avenue rounds out the county's antique destination shopping. On the 100 to 300 blocks of Sir Francis Drake, you can spend an entire afternoon and never see everything.
Antique Stores — San Anselmo & Beyond
| Store | Location | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
A Dove Place San Anselmo |
160 Sir Francis Drake Blvd · (415) 453-1490 | Marin County's premier antique consignment store and estate liquidator, open 25+ years. Renowned for knowledgeable, personal service — the first stop on any San Anselmo antique walk. Est. 25+ Yrs | doveplaceantiques.com |
Antiques Legacy San Anselmo |
204 Sir Francis Drake Blvd · (415) 457-7166 | Established 1973 — a well-loved collective of over 35 dealers offering antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, home décor, and more. New items arrive daily. One of the largest multi-dealer shops in Marin. 35+ Dealers Est. 1973 | antiqueslegacy.com |
Sanford's Antiques San Anselmo |
Sir Francis Drake Blvd | Known for fair prices and exceptional finds — particularly strong in Arts & Crafts period furniture, Stickley, and quality American antiques. A favorite of serious collectors as well as casual browsers. Quality Furniture | View Listing |
The French Market Marin San Anselmo |
Sir Francis Drake Blvd | A beautiful shop bringing French country antiques and decorative finds to San Anselmo — Nuria and Norm bring back gorgeous arrays of new and antique French finds from their buying trips. A distinctive and romantic addition to the Sir Francis Drake antique district. French Antiques | thefrenchmarketmarin.com |
Susan's Store Room San Anselmo |
San Anselmo Ave · (415) 457-3881 | Beloved specialty shop known particularly for its remarkable collection of Steiff collectible bears — a destination for Steiff collectors throughout the Bay Area — alongside antique jewelry and curios. Steiff Bears | susansstoreroom.com |
Sentimental Journey Novato |
902 Grant Ave · (415) 892-0640 | A collective of 35 antique dealers right on Grant Avenue — established in 1973 and a beloved Novato institution. Owned since 2006 by Jose Pepe, who also owns the sister store Antiques Legacy in San Anselmo. Wide variety of vintage furniture, jewelry, collectibles, clothing and housewares at reasonable prices. The perfect stop before or after the Tuesday Farmers Market. Est. 1973 35 Dealers | sentimentaljourneynovato.com |
Mid Century Marin San Anselmo |
235 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo · (415) 454-0892 | Dedicated exclusively to mid-century modern furniture, lighting, and objects — a focused, well-curated shop for lovers of the 1950s–70s design era that defined so much of California living. Mid-Century Modern | View Listing |
Boutiques, Bookstores, Music Stores & Specialty Shops
Marin County's commitment to independent, locally owned business is visible on every main street in every community. This is a county that has consistently chosen character over convenience — the owner-run bookstore over the chain, the independent music store over the download, the neighborhood specialty food market over the superstore. Walt Disney drew on exactly this kind of Main Street culture when he designed Main Street USA — and in Marin, it is not a nostalgic recreation but a living reality.
Please see our curated lists of Marin County boutique and specialty shops below.
Specialty Food Markets — Local, Ethnic & Artisan
| Store | Location | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Supermercado Mi Tierra San Rafael |
175 Belvedere St · (415) 460-9813 | One of Marin County's best-loved Mexican supermarkets — an authentic, full-service market with fresh produce, meats, tortillas, chiles, prepared foods, and a remarkable selection of imported Mexican products. A true community institution for Marin's large Latino population. 🌮 Mexican Market | supermercadomitierra.com |
Cardenas Markets San Rafael |
San Rafael | A large and well-stocked Latin supermarket chain with an excellent Marin location — authentic Mexican and Latin groceries, fresh tortillería, full-service meat counter, and an extensive selection of specialty items. 🌮 Latin Supermarket | cardenasmarkets.com |
Good Earth Natural Foods 720 Center Blvd, Fairfax (415) 454-0123 · 201 Flamingo Rd, Mill Valley (415) 383-0123 |
Three Marin Locations | The quintessential Marin County natural food store since 1969 — locally owned, deeply community-rooted, stocking organic produce, specialty health foods, local dairy and meat, and the kind of thoughtfully curated grocery experience that defines the Marin lifestyle. Founded in Fairfax, with a second location at the Shoreline Marketplace in Tam Valley near Mill Valley, and a major new third location now open as part of the Northgate redevelopment in San Rafael. A genuine Marin institution. Organic & Local Marin Institution Since 1969 | genatural.com |
Mill Valley Market Mill Valley |
12 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley · (415) 388-3222 | A beloved local institution on Miller Avenue — an independent full-service grocery and deli with a devoted following, famous for its exceptional prepared foods, local products, and the kind of personal service that vanished from most grocery stores decades ago. Local Institution | millvalleymarket.com |
Palace Market Point Reyes Station |
11300 Shoreline Hwy · (415) 663-1016 | The general store and grocery anchor of the Point Reyes Station community — a true West Marin institution serving the ranching, farming, and visitor community with local products, fresh-made food, and the warmth of a store that has served the most beautiful and remote corner of Marin for generations. West Marin Icon | palacemarket.com |
Bolinas People's Store Bolinas |
14 Wharf Rd · (415) 868-1433 | As independently spirited as Bolinas itself — a community-run natural food store in the town that famously removes its own highway signs. Organic, local, and as authentic as the community it serves. If you have found your way to Bolinas, you have found your way to this store. Community-Run | — |
Toby's Feed Barn Point Reyes Station |
11250 Hwy 1 | Not strictly a food store — but the beating heart of Point Reyes Station and home to the seasonal farmers market. Family-owned and operating since 1942, part feed store, part general store, part community gathering place complete with an art gallery, coffee bar, and yoga studio. A West Marin landmark that defies easy categorization and is beloved for exactly that reason. West Marin Landmark Since 1942 | tobysfeedbarn.com |
Independent Bookstores — Where Reading Is Still a Pleasure
| Store | Location | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Book Passage Corte Madera |
51 Tamal Vista Blvd | Nationally recognized as one of America's model independent bookstores — founded in 1976, hosting over 10,000 author events and community gatherings in its 40+ year history. Staff write personal notes on their favorite titles. Author talks, writing conferences, children's programs, and a café. Marin's finest bookstore. ⭐ Best in Marin Author Events | bookpassage.com |
Copperfield's Books 999 Grant Ave, Novato (415) 763-3052 · 1200 4th St, San Rafael (415) 524-2800 |
Multiple Marin Locations | A beloved independent Bay Area chain with strong Marin roots — wide selection, community focus, children's storytimes, school fundraisers, and the warm feeling of a bookstore that genuinely cares about its community. Multiple Marin locations. Community Focus | copperfieldsbooks.com |
Buteo Books San Rafael |
2240 4th St, Miracle Mile · (415) 457-4150 | One of the world's most remarkable specialty bookstores — a family-owned shop dedicated entirely to ornithology and natural history, carrying one of the world's largest selections of new, used, and rare birding titles. Founded in 1971, the shop relocated to a Marin County brick-and-mortar storefront in 2024. A pilgrimage destination for birders, researchers, and naturalists worldwide. 🦅 Birding Specialty World-Class | buteobooks.com |
Whytes Booksmith San Anselmo |
Sir Francis Drake Blvd | A classic independent bookstore on San Anselmo's antique-lined main street for 40 years — beloved for its excellent children's section and the kind of knowledgeable, personal service that only a locally owned bookstore can provide. A genuine neighborhood treasure currently transitioning to new ownership. Children's Books | — |
First Street Books Kentfield |
850 College Ave, Kentfield · (415) 461-2665 | A wonderful hidden-gem independent bookstore tucked behind a parking lot in Kentfield — small, full of character, with a thoughtfully curated selection and the kind of personal book recommendations that only come from staff who genuinely love reading. A true Marin County find. Hidden Gem | — |
Music Stores — For the Musicians Who Live Here
| Store | Location | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Bananas at Large San Rafael |
1654 2nd St, San Rafael | The Bay Area's oldest and most respected independent music store — open since 1974 and still family-owned. A complete fretted instrument shop (guitars, basses, banjos, mandolins), one of the leading keyboard and recording equipment outlets on the West Coast, full drum and percussion department, consignment gear, lessons, repairs, and rentals. The store where Marin's musicians shop. ⭐ Est. 1974 Local Family-Owned | bananas.com |
Vintage & Consignment Clothing — Fashion From Another Era
| Store | Location | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Antiques Legacy San Anselmo |
Sir Francis Drake Blvd | In addition to its antique offerings, Antiques Legacy carries an excellent selection of vintage clothing and fabrics — a natural one-stop destination for anyone who loves both old objects and old fashion. Vintage Clothing | antiqueslegacy.com |
Kismet San Anselmo |
601 San Anselmo Ave · (415) 454-2629 | A modern boutique clothing shop on San Anselmo Avenue featuring quality denim, dresses, and blouses, with designer brands including Theory and Rebecca Taylor — not strictly vintage but deeply in the spirit of independent, owner-run boutique fashion that the mall chains can never replicate. Boutique Fashion | shopkismet.net |
Margaret O'Leary Mill Valley |
14 Miller Ave, Mill Valley · (415) 383-7900 | Designer knitwear produced close to home — Margaret O'Leary's Mill Valley boutique is an institution on Miller Avenue, celebrated for beautifully crafted cashmere and fine knit clothing with a distinctly Northern California sensibility. Founded in 1990 by a Mill Valley resident, now an employee-owned knitwear house with locations across the Bay Area and beyond. Designer Knitwear | margaretoleary.com |
Georgi and Willow San Anselmo |
649 San Anselmo Ave · (415) 457-0340 | The first Goodwill boutique of its kind in the nation — a carefully curated consignment shop featuring trendy, quality clothing sourced from Bay Area Goodwill stores, presented in a stylish boutique environment. A Marin original. Goodwill Boutique First of its Kind | View Listing |
Specialty Boutiques — The Stores That Define Each Town
| Store | Location | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Fig Garden San Anselmo |
421 San Anselmo Ave · (415) 457-9443 | A beautiful, carefully curated gift boutique carrying unique jewelry, hair accessories, fine stationery, candles, and more — the kind of store where you always find the perfect gift for someone, usually including yourself. A longtime San Anselmo favorite for over 15 years. Gifts & Jewelry | — |
Rileystreet Art Supply San Rafael |
1138 4th St, San Rafael · (415) 456-4938 | The premier art supply store in Marin County since 1968 — a full-service, independent art supply destination serving professional artists, students, and creative hobbyists across the county. In a community this rich with artists, Rileystreet is an essential institution. 🎨 Art Supply Artists' Choice | rileystreet.com |
Summer House Mill Valley |
22 Miller Ave, Mill Valley · (415) 383-7655 | A beloved Mill Valley boutique on Miller Avenue featuring carefully chosen home goods and clothing with a warm, coastal California sensibility — the kind of store that feels like it was designed for the specific lifestyle of this specific community. Home & Clothing | — |
Studiolo San Anselmo |
411 San Anselmo Ave · (415) 459-4600 | A chic destination for antique and reproduction furnishings, jewelry, and fine art — an ever-changing collection inspired by the seasons and the artists themselves. A more refined and design-forward sensibility than the typical antique shop. European Décor & Fine Art | studiolo.com |
Belinda Wickwire Jewelry San Anselmo |
526 San Anselmo Ave · (415) 785-7519 | A finely curated collection of antique and vintage jewelry from the 1700s onward — lockets, watch chains, antique rings, and religious medals, all styled by Belinda in a contemporary way. Every piece has a story to tell. One of San Anselmo's most distinctive and personal boutiques. Antique & Vintage Jewelry | belindawickwirejewelry.com |
Vinyl Record Stores — Marin's Living Music Culture
It is no coincidence that Marin County — home of the Grateful Dead, Huey Lewis and the News, and one of the most vibrant live music scenes in California — has a thriving vinyl record store culture. While the rest of America's record stores were closing during the digital music era, Marin's shops survived and in many cases flourished, sustained by a community that genuinely values the warmth, the ritual, and the irreplaceable pleasure of owning music on vinyl. These are not just stores — they are community gathering places for music lovers, staffed by people who know and love what they sell.
| Store | Location | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Watts Music Novato |
1211 Grant Ave, Novato | A fixture on Grant Avenue since 1979 — Marin's most beloved independent record shop. An ever-changing array of used vinyl alongside new releases, tapes, CDs, t-shirts, stereo equipment, and thousands of posters. Owner Darin is extraordinarily knowledgeable about everything from jazz to heavy metal and always friendly and helpful. A hidden gem that devoted customers drive from across the Bay Area to visit. Est. 1979 Grant Ave, Novato | wattsmusicnovato.com |
Mill Valley Music Mill Valley |
320 Miller Ave, Mill Valley | The spiritual successor to the legendary and long-gone Village Music — one of the most celebrated record stores in Bay Area history — Mill Valley Music on Miller Avenue carries on that tradition of serious, curated music retail in one of Marin's most charming downtown settings. Always worth a visit. Successor to Village Music | millvalleymusic.com |
Red Devil Records San Rafael |
894 4th St, San Rafael · (415) 457-8999 | One of the great independent record stores of the North Bay — opened in Petaluma in 1998 and moved to downtown San Rafael's Fourth Street in 2004, specializing in hard-to-find vinyl LPs and 45s, particularly punk rock, classic rock, and jazz, alongside reggae, Latin, blues, soul, and world music. Owner Barry Lazarus has been hunting records for over 40 years. Listed in the book Old Rare New: The Independent Record Shop as the only store mentioned between San Francisco and Portland. Est. 1998 Rare Vinyl Specialists | reddevilrecords.net |
Loose Joints Records Point Reyes Station |
11205 Highway 1 · (415) 663-1661 | The first record store in the history of West Marin — a highly curated collection of classic albums suited for eclectic musical tastes, physically connected to the beloved Old Western Saloon on Highway 1 in Point Reyes Station. A genuinely unexpected and delightful discovery on any West Marin day. First Record Store in West Marin | — |
The Irreplaceable Gift of Main Street
Amazon can deliver almost anything to your door in two days. But Amazon cannot deliver the experience of a warm Tuesday evening on Grant Avenue in Novato, when the farmers market is in full swing and someone is playing guitar three stalls down from the honey vendor. It cannot deliver the feeling of finding a piece of furniture in a San Anselmo antique shop that somehow perfectly expresses something you didn't know you were looking for. It cannot deliver the sight of fireworks over the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center on the Fourth of July, or the smell of kettle corn at the County Fair, or the particular joy of watching the whole community gather in one place for no reason except that they love where they live and want to celebrate it together.
Farmers markets, street festivals, antique shops, and county fairs are not just commerce. They are the ritual affirmation of community — the living proof that Main Street, USA is not a theme park attraction but a real place, in real towns, where real people choose to gather. Marin County has more of these gatherings, and more beautiful settings for them, than almost anywhere in California.
"Walt Disney was remembering his hometown when he built Main Street, USA. Every Marin resident gets to live in theirs."