In one word, Gale Dodds called her Lompoc consignment store “eclectic.” Even though it’s called The Garden Shoppe, vendors sell a little bit of everything, not just greenery.
“It’s kind of hard to describe because we do have all of the handmade treasures that local people make … but then there’s all the other really cool things that most of the vendors do a lot of work to find, things that are really worth some money,” Dodds told the Sun. “So, it’s really diversified.”
Before she had her own space, Dodds first opened in 2012 sharing a building with a shop owner one street over. Then her business grew so much that The Garden Shoppe moved to its current location in 2022.
“There were just so many people in town that wanted spaces to sell their stuff,” Dodds said.
Get it while you can
The Garden Shoppe is located at 122 W. Ocean Ave. in Lompoc. It’s open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Check it out during Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29. For more information visit thegardenshoppelompoc.com or follow @thegardenshoppelompoc on Instagram.
Now the almost 6,000-square-foot space is roughly divided into three sections filled with locally made goods, garden accessories, collectibles, and vintage clothing. More than 70 vendors display their products, Dodds said, some who have worked with her since the beginning.
“We started out being locally handmade stuff,” Dodds said. “We turned into something much bigger than that.”
Most vendors come in every week to refresh their station with new goods for sale. Shoppers might find jewelry, soaps, cutting boards, vintage shoes and clothes, plants, and wind chimes. Odds are the selection will be different the next week. Some customers even drive from the Ventura area to see what’s new.
“We have a lot of people that are just so happy to come in all the time because it’s always different,” Dodds said. “It could take you two hours to wander around the whole thing.”
As part of the deal for displaying their work at The Garden Shoppe, each seller volunteers time working at the store during business hours. Vendor spots can be hard to come by. There’s a list for people waiting to claim a spot if someone else leaves, but that’s an unusual scenario.
Dodds said that a lot of customers come in looking for gifts, like during the store’s holiday open house that took place on Nov. 8 and 9 when the Garden Shoppe offered sales and extended hours.
“We have all kinds of really unique and awesome gift-type things because much of what’s in there, especially in the vintage stuff, is one of a kind,” Dodds explained.
While Dodds has always been a crafty person, the gardening section is her “thing.” She sources plants from the Santa Ynez Valley to sell at the shop and likes to make garden signs when she has the time.
Her favorite part about running the shop is seeing the vendors succeed.
“It’s really satisfying to see everybody do well because it’s like everybody has their own little business in there,” Dodds said.
Vendors are passionate about their businesses and how they make their goods, she added.
“The customers are just really happy that we’re there.”
Highlights
• Race over to the Santa Maria Speedway on Nov. 22 for monster truck shows at 1 and 7 p.m. Buy tickets online at santamariaspeedway.net. The track is located at 1900 Hutton Road in Santa Maria.
• The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is holding its annual Lights, Sights, and Holiday Nights decorating contest for homes and businesses. Make a nomination by emailing up to three photos, the address, and contact information to rpinfo@cityofsantamaria.org. Nominations are accepted through Dec. 5 at 5 p.m.
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 13 – Nov 20, 2025.
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