A Village Within A City: Santa Rosa's Montgomery Village

Many out-of-town visitors to Sonoma County are unaware that there's an entire village of shops located within the city limits of Santa Rosa: the Montgomery Village Shopping Center, with beautiful landscaping, innovative 'Town and Country' architecture, outdoor dining, ongoing events, plus a wide array of shops and restaurants. 

Billing itself as a "premier open-air lifestyle shopping center" doesn't begin to cover what you'll discover while strolling sidewalks lined with local, regional, and national businesses with everything from gourmet cooking to one-of-a-kind fashions.

You'll find big-name shops that offer everything from button-down classic looks to more active wear, including J. Jill and White House/Black Market for women, and for men, Patrick James and Sonoma Outfitters. 

In addition, here are a few of Montgomery Village's local, family-owned shops that can hold their own against national retailers with their personality and uniquely artistic perspectives.

Urban Garden 

For those who can't get enough of alfresco living in the summer, check out Urban Garden. You will love the Japanese lanterns, in radiant tropical hues, that need only the energy of the sun to light up at night. Or a 'forever' oil candle, elegantly bottled with paraffin and preserved manzanita or fern fronds and a fiberglass wick that burns brightly but never needs to be replaced.

You'll also want to look for locally made crafts such as cutting boards, and trays made out of recycled French oak wine barrels, salvaged from local wineries by artist Jonathan Black. Or any of the fragrant products by Matanzas Creek, a Santa Rosa winery that grows fields of lavender to make their own unique bath and body products.

Be sure to ask for the background on whatever strikes your fancy, because there's probably a good story behind the product — such as the beautifully sculpted wood bowls by Doug Smith. He was seriously injured on the job while working in Windsor, and while dealing with the downtime of a slow recuperation, began turning reclaimed local woods, such as redwood and bay, into art. A life and an art reclaimed.

Adelle Stoll

Modern accessory designer Adelle Stoll features her handmade goods in her new boutique in Montgomery Village.

Stoll creates handmade handbags and jewelry with classic and bold architectural shapes, using soft materials and minimalist construction. Everything is created in Sonoma County, and Stoll presents new designs and wearable art every season. Modern women’s shoes, men’s accessories, and minimalist home-décor items are all in the design pipeline.

Hand-fabricated brass rods and hardware, and 100% German wool felt in vibrant, saturated colors define her work. The finest oil tanned leathers (sourced from the United States) are hand cut to create stylish accessories designed for years of use. All materials used are specifically chosen for their quality and durability.

Classic Duck

And don't forget to stop by the Classic Duck, another inspiring destination for those who consider living well to be an art. You'll find wonderfully curated and creatively showcased things you may not knew you needed until you were properly introduced.

For example, have you heard of Think Outside, a company dedicated to innovative design using naturally sustainable and recycled materials? They have workshops around the globe utilizing the talent and workmanship of artists from Zimbabwe to Vietnam to, of course, the USA. Check out the incredibly cool ice chest/coolers fashioned out of repurposed 44-gallon oil drums — including a whimsical vintage hippie van design.

There's also the Sonoma County-based Catstudio, which creates pillows and dish towels featuring vintage travel maps of Sonoma County and your favorite states. And finally, take a look at Uno de 50 handcrafted silver jewelry from Spain, perfectly styled to take you from the beach to boardroom without blinking an eye.

When you're ready for a bite to eat there are many delicious choices, from craft coffee, breakfast, and sandwiches at Acre Coffee to amazing Mediterranean wood-fired cuisine at Monti's, classic Italian at Tomatina, or noodles and sushi at Raku Ramen and Rolls.

Details: Montgomery Village Shopping Center is located just off Montgomery Drive and Farmer's Lane at 911 Village Court in Santa Rosa. 

Find more things to do in Santa Rosa or great places for shopping in Sonoma County.

Written by Sonoma Insider Vicky Ness