Solano’s Hidden Gems

Some commonly overlooked stores for your next trip to Solano

Lila Weber

There are a lot of stores that you might overlook on your walk home down Solano. Have you ever realized that you spend most of your time in Tay Tah or next to As You Wish?  Here are some interesting stops you can make in one day that will change your view of Solano for the better. 

A perfect way to start your day is with some new music. Sometimes we all need a blast from the past to keep us grounded in the present, and Strictly Vinyl Records is the perfect place for you to find your feet in the tunes of yesterday. The store emanates the sounds of R&B, and while flipping through records, it’s impossible not to notice the wide selection of both LPs and 45s. Slightly used and completely new records are both sold in large collections. If you ever have a question about the music, the owner has the right answer. The store was established in 2016, and the owner, Dave, said, “I think there’s just people who will never give up physical music, and those are the people who are keeping me alive.”

Right after you find your new favorite sound, a great place to head up to is hidden just inside Albany’s most beloved plant store. Flowerland itself is a beautiful store, but have you ever noticed the coffee shop just inside the outdoor area? The store is called Highwire, and it is the perfect place to stop and recharge your battery with a delicious drink. AHS Senior, Rojina Refai says, “I normally get their hot chocolate…they gave me a seahorse out of foam once and wrote on my cup ‘have a nice day’…it was just awesome.” Before continuing your stroll up Solano, how about grabbing a drink and taking a seat surrounded by beautiful plants.? 

Just across from Highwire is one of Albany’s most hidden gems, Avenue Yarn. Knitting can be an underrated hobby, but if you love to make your own cute tops or scarves, Avenue Yarn is the place for you. AHS Junior Kajsa Davidson says, “It’s really nice quality yarn…I’m making a sweater, and you can tell the difference when you’re knitting with it.”  There is a plethora of vibrant yarn choices covering the walls and an inviting space in the back just asking you to continue your latest project. They also organize by size of the yarn as well as color, which makes the store a lot easier to navigate for knitters who know the size they need for their next project.  Even people who have been wishing to learn how to knit or crochet are welcome to join one of their classes. Next time you are headed up Solano, take a look inside! Avenue Yarn will not disappoint. 

Have you ever wondered how you could be more environmentally conscious? Well then, Fill Good is a great option for you. According to their website, Fill Good’s mission is to “reduce waste while having a minimal environmental footprint.” (website). This stop could be key to running errands. Located near the middle of Solano, you can find a variety of bath and body goods that can help clean your footprint. They have hair products that vary from hair oil to large shampoo containers. They also have a large supply of containers and eco-friendly, daily used items like water bottles and toothbrushes. The bright soaps and nice cool tones of the store lure you into buying as much as you can for your home. If you bring a bottle, you can fill it with their large pump-it-yourself cleaning fluids, body soap, shampoo, and more! This is the place to go for home goods. 

Finally, Of All Places is a mom-and-pop store aiming to provide locally sourced goods to the public. Perfect for some special dinners and gatherings with the added bonus of supporting small food businesses. One of the Co-owners, Celisa, said, “Blue Willow is a local tea importer. She has her own tea house in Berkeley, and we also carry her teas here.” On top of tea, they also carry locally made salsa, and they import a lot of goods you can’t find in your regular grocery store. The decor is very inviting, and it’s impossible not to stop and notice all the eye-catching packaging of their locally sourced products. From the bright Orange and white tiles to the Light blue exterior, the store practically begs you to take a look. The co-owner Celisa said, “We noticed that a lot of Bay Area businesses tend to be very monochromatic, but if you go to see small businesses in Europe or in Mexico, there’s lots of color, there’s lots of plants, it feels a little bit more homey, and we were just trying to mimic that idea here in this store.” Of All Places is the perfect stop for your family dinner. Although it may seem to be out of the way for Albany students, the shop is just a ten-minute bus ride up Solano if you take the 18.