California Is Home To An Extraordinary Christmas Store That Goes Far Beyond Ordinary Decorations
A Christmas store with more than 28,000 square feet of shopping space sits a short drive from the beach. It stays open in July, too.
The shop started out at just 1,000 square feet back in 1991. Then the holiday cheer kept spreading, like glitter after a craft project.
Inside, tiny snowy villages wait beside forests of artificial trees and walls of ornaments. There’s even a whole room for Halloween, because one holiday apparently wasn’t enough.
I can’t imagine a funnier contrast than shopping for snow globes in sunny California while wearing flip-flops. So how does a place keep Christmas going all year without running out of tinsel?
Christmas Never Clocks Out At This San Diego Shop
December lasts about 31 days on most calendars. At City Lights Collectibles, it basically lasts all 365.
The store calls itself San Diego’s year-round holiday destination, and it means that. You can shop for ornaments in spring, summer, or any random Tuesday.
That schedule makes life easier for planners. Early shoppers can grab gifts long before the December rush begins.
Hours are generous, too, and they get even longer as Christmas approaches. The shop opens at 9 AM on weekdays, closing at 6 PM from January through September, 7 PM in October, and 8 PM in November and December.
Saturdays wrap up at 5 PM. Sundays run a bit shorter, from 10 AM to 4 PM, so plan accordingly.
The store also closes on four major holidays.
The idea works especially well for collectors. Hunting for one special piece rarely fits neatly into a few weeks of holiday shopping.
Families can also turn a visit into a fun outing any time of year. Kids who love Christmas will not complain about seeing it in June.
Of course, there’s something funny about buying snowy decor in a city known for sunshine. Still, San Diego might need a little pretend snow more than anywhere else.
Bring a list or bring curiosity. Either one works here.
Comfortable Shoes Are A Smart Move For This Holiday Wonderland
More than 28,000 square feet of sales floor gives shoppers plenty of room to explore. That’s a whole lot of Christmas decorations to discover in one visit.
The showroom is split into rooms filled with displays. Each area feels like its own little holiday scene, so you can explore at your own pace.
This layout rewards slow browsing. Rushing through would mean missing tiny details tucked into shelves and corners.
The size is a big reason the shop counts as one of San Diego’s notable shopping stops. Very few holiday stores anywhere can match that much space.
Give yourself plenty of time. A quick in-and-out trip is not really how this place works.
Wear shoes that can handle a long wander. Your feet will thank you later, even if your wallet has opinions.
Parking is something to think about, too. The lot is on the smaller side, so arriving early can help.
Bigger groups may want to agree on a meeting spot. In a store this large, someone always wanders off toward the ornaments.
Honestly, getting a little lost is half the fun. Every turn seems to offer something new to look at.
Tiny Villages Get The Royal Treatment Here
Collectors, this one’s for you. City Lights Collectibles claims California’s largest collection of Department 56 pieces.
It also works as a Department 56 Club Store. That means it carries every piece for the brand’s various village lines.
Popular collections include Christmas in the City, Snow Village, and Dickens Village. Licensed lines like A Christmas Story and Peanuts appear too.
Fans of Ralphie and his famous leg lamp should feel right at home. Charlie Brown lovers have plenty to smile about as well.
Things get even better for serious hobbyists. The store also acts as a secondary market retailer for retired pieces.
That matters because retired village pieces can be tricky to track down. Finding one missing building can finally complete a display years in the making.
Beginners shouldn’t feel nervous, though. A first village can start with just one house and a few figures.
From there, the collection can grow one small street at a time. Before long, you might need a bigger table.
Consider yourself warned. Miniature towns have a sneaky habit of expanding.
Picking Just One Tree Might Be Your Hardest Decision
Nearly 30 styles of Barcana artificial trees. That’s a lot of choices for one living room corner.
Beyond the villages, City Lights stocks plenty of classic holiday decor. Rows of colored garland, wreaths, and faux fir trees fill the space.
Ornaments get serious attention here. You’ll find everything from simple glass balls to detailed pieces that feel like small works of art.
Brands such as Jim Shore, Kurt Adler, and Mark Roberts show up in the mix. Their pieces bring very different styles to the shelves.
Want a theme for your tree? Ocean ornaments, nutcrackers, and gingerbread houses are just a few possible directions.
A smart tip is to measure your space before shopping. Falling in love with a tree that won’t fit through the door is no fun.
Also, think about your color plan ahead of time. With so many options, a simple idea keeps your cart under control.
Prices here run higher than big-box stores. The trade-off is quality and pieces that can be hard to find elsewhere.
Good luck leaving with only one ornament.
Your Name Can End Up On The Ornament
Some gifts say “I thought of you.” A personalized ornament says it with your actual name on it.
City Lights offers on-site personalization for ornaments and other collectibles. The store has two full-time personalizers handling the work.
Watching a plain ornament become a one-of-a-kind keepsake is pretty fun. It turns a store purchase into something with real meaning.
Personalized pieces work great for big life moments. A baby’s first Christmas, a wedding year, or a new home are all perfect options.
They also make fantastic teacher or grandparent gifts. Nobody else will hand over the exact same one.
Here’s a helpful tip. Double-check spelling and dates before handing over your item.
A typo on an ornament lasts a long time. “Grandma” with an extra letter is cute for about one season.
Families sometimes build traditions around these, too. Adding one new name or year each December creates a tree full of memories.
Years later, those ornaments tell a story. Every branch becomes a small family scrapbook.
A Retirement Project That Grew Way Out Of Hand
Most people retire and take up golf. Brian Young opened a Christmas shop instead.
He had retired from a large retail group in the UK before moving to San Diego in 1991. His wife Laura and son Spencer came along too.
According to the store’s story, he wanted something to keep him busy. Making big money was not the main goal.
So he chose a small shop in a seasonal business. The first store measured only about 1,000 square feet.
Customers kept coming back for more holiday cheer. That demand pushed the shop to grow, again and again.
Today the business remains family-owned. Laura and Spencer have stayed involved in serving customers over the years.
That family touch shapes how the store feels. Staff are widely known for being knowledgeable about the collections they sell.
The shop also showed early tech smarts. It launched its first full online store back in 1998.
Not bad for a hobby meant to fill some free time. Talk about a side project getting serious.
Halloween Gets Its Very Own Room
Plot twist: a Christmas store with a whole room for Halloween. Jack-o’-lanterns and candy canes get along just fine here.
City Lights carries decor and curios for other holidays too. Halloween stands out as the biggest bonus.
Spooky village pieces fit right in with the store’s collector focus. Tiny haunted houses can be just as charming as snowy cottages.
This makes the shop useful well before December arrives. Fall shoppers can decorate for October and plan ahead for winter at the same time.
Some fans like building one display that switches with the seasons. Pumpkins come down in November, and snow goes up right after.
Not into holidays at all? The store also offers some non-holiday merchandise worth a look.
Still, Halloween is where the variety really surprises. It’s a fun detour for anyone who likes things a bit creepy.
Families with mixed tastes benefit most. One kid can pick a ghost while another picks a reindeer.
Everyone wins, and nobody has to argue over which holiday is better. Well, mostly nobody.
Meeting The Artists Is Part Of The Fun
Ever wanted your favorite figurine signed by the person who designed it? City Lights hosts special events that make that possible.
Artist signings are a regular highlight. Past guests have included Ann Dezendorf of Possible Dreams and Paul Lundberg from Department 56.
Jim Shore signings have also drawn excitement from collectors. His Disney pieces are a big draw at the store.
A signature adds real sentimental value to a piece. It turns a collectible into a story you can retell every year.
These events also offer a peek at the creative process. Hearing how a design comes together makes you appreciate the details more.
Planning matters for events like these. Check the store’s event calendar ahead of time so you don’t miss one.
Bring the piece you want signed, or pick one up there. Handle it carefully on the trip home, too.
For collectors, these days feel a bit like meeting a rock star. Except the rock star sculpts tiny snowmen.
That’s a pretty great trade, honestly.
Getting Here Fits Right Into A San Diego Day
Few Christmas stores sit this close to SeaWorld. City Lights shares the neighborhood with some of San Diego’s favorite stops.
You’ll find it at 1212 Knoxville St, San Diego, CA 92110. Old Town and Mission Bay are both nearby, too.
That location makes it easy to add to a California vacation plan. Spend the morning outdoors, then cool off with some holiday browsing.
Directions are pretty simple. Exit Interstate 5 at Sea World Drive and head east.
Next, turn left on Morena Boulevard. Then turn left again onto Knoxville Street, and the store sits right at the end.
Can’t make the trip? The online store offers another way to shop from home.
It often features clearance items and San Diego-themed ornaments. Those make clever souvenirs for anyone who loves this city.
Shipping across the country means even faraway fans can join in. Just inspect packages soon after they arrive, since returns have a time limit.
Either way, a little California Christmas is within reach. Sunscreen optional, tinsel recommended.