Chicho Boys Fruit Market
1631 S Laredo, (210) 225-7557, chichoboys.com
With its intoxicating aromas of fresh fruit and its farm-stand appeal, Chicho Boys has a rare, nostalgic quality that’s driven home by hard-to-beat prices on produce. Although we’ve arrived with a full-on list in hand (especially when cooking for a crowd is in the cards), the Westside gem lends itself to those who just show up to see what looks good. While you won’t find many outlandish offerings (you’ll need to shop elsewhere for pluots, fiddleheads and Romanesco), Chicho Boys stocks a lot more than the basics (turnips, Bosc pears and asparagus are all in the bins) and posts weekly specials on its website. Stopping in on a recent Saturday, we picked up a pound of portobello mushrooms for $3.99 (a full dollar less than you-know-where) and a bountiful, fresh-cut fruit cup for $2.49.
Frankenbike
Location varies, (210) 305-1557, sanantonio.frankenbike.net
Living up to its Shelley-influenced name, Frankenbike is like the SA Craigslist bicycle page come alive, with pro and amateur vendors dealing ready-to-ride bikes, parts, accessories and service at competitive prices. Founded in 2005, the swap established itself in San Antonio in 2010 and has been serving the DIY bike culture here since. Changing its location for each monthly meeting, Frankenbike is a moveable feast for bike buffs who enjoy bargaining in a flea market environment.
1. Pearl Farmers Market
312 Pearl Pkwy, (210) 212-7260, pearlfarmersmarket.com
2. Quarry Farmers & Ranchers Market
255 E Basse, (210) 722-5077, quarryfarmersmarket.com
3. The RIM Farmers Market
17503 La Cantera Pkwy, (210) 854-1116, hillcountryfarmersmarket.org
What makes them so special? Comment below.
1. Agosto Cuellar
agostocuellar.com
With his key role in Una Noche en la Gloria’s Runway en la Calle (above), DJ gigs, the pop-up studio Espacio and a custom-made Cornyation gown for Queen Anchovy, Agosto Cuellar is boldly proving there’s life after Jive Refried. Likely among the reasons readers elected him Best Local Fashion Designer, Cuellar has a keen sense of humor that plays out in culture-mashing collections like 2013’s “San Antokyo.”
2. Deco Tease
facebook.com/decotease
3. Jupiter Moon 3
jupitermoon3.com
Bexar Goods Co.
bexargoods.com
The definitive source for high quality, handcrafted leather goods made right here in Bexar County is none other than Bexar Goods Co. Established by three young men of the Rubio family, brothers Falcon and Christian and cousin Guy, Bexar Goods’ products are sold online as well as in a few stores in Austin—and one in Singapore. While there’s no local storefront just yet, the Rubios hope to open a workshop and boutique within the year. At the top end of the register, exquisite leather briefcases, carryalls and messenger bags run from $270 to $875; canvas totes and bags with leather detailing range from $140 to $350; belts fall in the neighborhood of $85; and other accessories, from coasters and mouse pads to dog leashes and collars, cost anywhere between $35 and $95. Head to the website to see these gorgeous goods for yourself.
Mission Open Air Market
707 Moursund, (210) 923-8131, missionopenairmarket.com
With tacky imports, new plastic toys and other landfill-destined unnecessaries now being the norm at most flea markets, veteran junkers are hard-pressed to find anything a flea would bother burrowing into—sad truths that make a dusty destination like Mission Open Air Market all the more appealing. Encompassing 50-acres, this “mall without walls” is advertised as the “king of bargains” and “a little taste of Mexico 10 minutes from Downtown”—both of which check out, save for the strip club-worthy $6 ATM fee (side note: you’ll need $1 per person to get in the gate). Here, bargaining seems most effective on Sunday afternoons, when dealers would often rather cut a deal than pack it up again. While it can’t compete with Selma-based Bussey’s in terms of collectibles, Mission delivers a distinctly San Antonio experience that comes complete with food trucks (stocked with mini tacos, roasted corn and aguas frescas), excellent people-watching and a misting station under a sign that reads, “Spot free rinse: no soap provided, come sit for a spell.”
Sloan/Hall
5424 Broadway, (210) 828-7738, sloanhall.com
Housed in an Alamo Heights landmark beneath one of the few surviving Mobil Pegasus neon signs, Marcus Sloan and Shannon Hall’s “multi-category lifestyle store” tackles specialized gifting from various angles (jewelry, books, clothing, housewares, fragrance, etc.) but truly takes the cake with its carefully curated wall of refined greeting cards. On a recent visit, standouts from the nicely varied birthday corner included hand-painted creations by Judy Barnes ($6), hip letterpress offerings from Elum Designs ($5.50) and MikWright greetings made from quirky vintage photos ($3.50).
RUNNER-UP: On Main Off Main
120 W Mistletoe, (210) 737-2323, onmainoffmain.com
If the birthday boy or girl in question has a particularly naughty or campy sensibility, On Main Off Main might be the best choice.
Yeya’s Antique’s & Oddities
1423 E Commerce, (210) 827-5555
If you know exactly what you’re looking for, you’ll probably have better luck finding it at the maze-like Alamo Antique Mall (125 Broadway) or maybe the fascinating Antiquarian Book Mart (3127 Broadway). But if you want the obscure collectibles to jump out and find you—Yeya’s Antiques & Oddities is the place to go hunting. A spell in the store’s densely packed yard can feel a bit like you’ve wandered into a graveyard for architectural salvage, vintage signage, jukeboxes and scraps of carnival rides. Equally as unusual, the shop’s interior is stacked with art, old-school clocks and such wildcard items as a shadowboxed Eurypeima Spinicrus (tarantula), an old Bollywood poster and even a Hatch Show Print card advertising a concert at the Grand Ole Opry.
Saglimbeni Fine Wines
638 W Rhapsody, (210) 349-5149, jsfinewines.com
There’s something to the “where everybody knows your name” nostrum when it comes to wine selection. Decent advice can be had from chain-style stores, but good luck finding the same person twice. Even if you know a name (let’s say the fabulous Joe Baker at Gabriel’s Superstore or super-helpful Heidi Holcomb at Central Market), their availability is a crap shoot. Enter the (possibly endangered) stand-alone shop, among which Saglimbeni’s is preeminent. Not only can you get good advice from the owner, Joe, himself, but once you feel confident enough to admit to, say, Eric that you really do like sweet white wines, they will guide you to the right selection—and keep your secret safe. The Saturday (and sometimes Tuesday night) wine tastings allow you to sample selected wines for yourself, and there’s no better way to build that confidence than first-hand experience.
Central Market
4821 Broadway, (210) 368-8600, centralmarket.com
On any given morning, one can spy a chef or a foodie standing in aisle five of Central Market before rows of salts, rubs and sugars like an old man in a hardware store—examining and contemplating. Are you dreaming of black truffle salt or a coarse pink salt? Find it in aisle five, along with three full racks of spices from Spice Islands, Morton & Basset in San Francisco and Central Market’s own organic, moderately-priced line. Chinese five spice and garam masala are here, too. The real trove of obscure spices, however, is in the bulk food section: za’atar, sumac, star anise, cardamom in pods, seeds and ground, just to name a few. There’s even more salts, like Cypress black lava salt, Hawaiian pink salt and Thai ginger salt. By far the best thing about buying something obscure in bulk is the ability to package however small or large a quantity you need: Beef broth for pho calls for only three star anise and the two or three cardamom pods you need for that batch of Indian basmati rice will barely cost a buck. All of a sudden, your little boneless, skinless chicken breast or salmon fillet seems to hold a lot more potential.
