DOUD ARCADE AND CRAFT STUDIOS

When Bill and I first come to Carmel, Doud Arcade is a home for local craftsmen with studios above and shops below. 

This place has been the home of many buildings over the years.  It was once the site of the Manzanita club, the main social gathering place in Carmel from 1916-1926.

It was the site of ‘Doc’ Becks’s Drug store built by Hugh Comstock.

The drug store was later demolished and M.J.Murphy built the Doud Building as an altered Spanish Colonial Revival for commercial shops. 

A covered arcade, it is a cozy spot to spend time on a cool, rainy Carmel day.

At the Ocean Ave. Entrance is A.W. Shucks oyster bar.

Home of great Bloody Mary’s and Margaritas . Bill and I like to sit at the counter and visit with the cook while we eat steamed artichokes and peel-and-eat prawns. 

Lets go in the arcade and do a little shopping.

First up is Kris Kringle of Carmel

Where it has been Christmas every day for over 20 years.

Next is Wicks and Wax

A candle store

Sockshop

Where socks are an art.

Fashion Street 

With its unique inventory and reasonable prices gets rave reviews on Yelp.

The Carmel Hat Company is one of my favorites. 

 the carmel hat company | carmel, CA 93923

They carry hats for everyone and Bill and I have hats to prove it.

I love these hats which have a tie (see above the bow) so that I can adjust it to fit my head.

Amelia’s Gifts has just opened. The service is outstanding.

One of the most colorful shops is Nasar Turkish Imports:

Nazar Turkish Imports, Turkish Glass Mosaic Lamps, Turkish Ceramics

I covet the brass and copper for my Carmel kitchen,

Admire the mosaic chandeliers ,

And am intrigued by the Evil Eye Jewelry

The evil eye bead is an amulet that Turkish people believe protects against the evil eye which is a kind of negative power or bad energy.  The idea is to protect yourself, your house, business or loved ones. If you want to use it in your house, you should hang it by the front door so visitors can see it.

But my favorite shop is Robin’s Jewelry. Home Page

Robin, with the help of her apprentice Keeza Starr, creates a constant stream of beautiful jewelry using sterling silver, semi-precious gemstones, shells and other natural materials. 

These are screenshots of my two favorite pieces. Note that they are reversible. Two for the price of one.

As we talk, Robin 

Under the direction of her sidekick

Fashions a magic wand for me!!!

It takes all my self-restraint to keep from waving it at everyone I see on the way home.  When my self-restraint fails ,I wave it at customers in Lloyd’s Shoes. Oh dear.

At the back of the Arcade is Artemis Boots

http://www.artemisboots.com/ 

Erkin Demir  is an expert on antique carpets and folk arts of the orient and has been in business for twenty years as owner of Sultan House in Istanbul, Turkey. He has worked with the Seattle Design Center and is now opening satellite shops throughout the United States and Europe.

Everyone admires these Suzani’s boots 

And shoes

Named for the Persian word referring to embroidery, Suzani’s are made of velvet, colorfully embroidered by skilled artisans. He converts these beautiful handmade textiles into boots and shoes. His boots are fully lined with goatskin, with a full length zipper for easy wear.

Around the corner is Blackbird with it’s great choice of cards, art, and jewelry.

I love these laundry bags. Send your daughter off to the dorm with one of these.

And at the heart of the Arcade is Carmel Belle

Carmel Belle

It is a popular spot for breakfast and lunch. 

On the way out the side door, admire the carpets.

The Douds are an old Carmel family. Francis Doud was a native of Ireland who came to Monterey in 1845. His son, James, was a prominent Monterey Peninsula real estate developer.