The Indian Store has been part of North County for 39 years and will celebrate 40 years in North County in October of 2025. Recently, The Indian Store has moved from their former location off of Hacienda Dr., now home of Sketchers, to their new location at 1750 University, between Aldi’s and Burlington. Co-Owner and Founder Larry Benson said the first store was located in Escondido on Valley Center Road, opening in October of 1985. He said The Indian Store moved to a location on El Norte Parkway in 1995. In 2009, the store relocated to Vista at the Hacienda Dr. location where they stayed until moving a few months ago to the North County Square location. Benson, along with co-owner and General Manager Ken Leaver, likes the new location at the popular North County Square as it is surrounded by busy establishments like Burlington, Aldi’s, Wal Mart and just across the street Target, Old Navy, Michael’s and the newly opened Trader Joe’s. Larry said they have walk-in foot traffic with many new customers as well as customers who have been loyal customers for years. He also said they have tremendous support from the various reservations both in the San Diego and Los Angeles areas and beyond. This is mainly because The Indian Store is a full service Native American store supplying a variety of items used both in ceremonial observances and in the variety of crafts created by people both on the reservation and elsewhere. Other items on display and for sale are one-of-a-kind artifacts from different regions of the Southwest and elsewhere.
Larry is extremely knowledgeable about all of the items in The Indian Store, especially relating to their use in many of the ceremonies and in the creation of Native American crafts. All of the employees in The Indian Store are willing and able to inform the customers about all of the various items in The Indian Store. Dr. Catherine Luib has taught and written about Native American Healing Arts and will be leading workshops in January on a variety of topics.
Larry guided this reporter through the store pointing out item after item and describing in detail what the item is, where it came from and its significance in the Native American culture. As you enter the store the first thing you notice is the display at the entrance with the colorful Indian head-dresses. The organized store is long and the number of Native American items on both walls is impressive. Larry pointed out a photo, near the entrance, of Sam Bear Claw, a well known Native American movie star. As we walked through the store, a large table of gemstones from all over the world were organized for customers to peruse for projects they might be working on. Larry pointed out some beautiful Amazon Macaw feather head-dresses on a shelf. These were close to the large display of packets of herbs of all types used in blessings, purification and other ceremonies. Jars containing a variety of stick and cone incense filled shelves, including sacred sage used in purification ceremonies.
Moving toward the back, one section of the long wall is filled with every type of bead on strings imaginable. Close to this were racks of shirts and jackets made from different materials, including hides. Buffalo blankets were draped on one table. Walking back up toward the front amazing kachinas were on shelves and on display made by a variety of tribes like the Navajo and Hopi. Larry also pointed out a large ceremonial drum used in sites like San Luis Rey Mission, Barona, Pachanga and in the Berkeley area. The drum had been made in the state of Washington. On the wall across from the drum Larry pointed out an authentic Northern Plains Wedding Dress. Directly under this is a display of Native American Flutes. Also on sale are CD selections of Native American music. Close to this were an array of jewelry cases containing turquoise rings, bracelets, Heishi necklaces and other jewelry pieces…