Our little Alpine “Mall” in Crestline is a cluster of small, but cute cabins. It’s so charming and personable that I don’t understand why so many of the retail cabins are empty. It’s right smack across from the post office in Downtown Crestline, it offers off street parking and it’s a bonafide tourist destination.

So listen up - the Crestline Alpine Mall needs you to start a retail shop! Here are some ideas to get you started on opening your dream boutique or art gallery:

COFFEE - Although one can sometimes get a nice little cup of coffee at Cuby’s Bakery for Dogs, I would like to see an actual coffee shop at the Alpine Mall. I can see a small counter with made-for-humans cookies and pastries, a loveseat and comfy chair with a coffee table to put one’s feet up on. A stack of magazines, the daily newspapers. Bistro tables out in the pretty little courtyard. This would go very nicely next to the used bookstore.

BOUTIQUE - Some kind of vintage clothing, unique shoes/purses, classy little boutique shop. Or a place selling handmade soaps and lotions. Something girly.

WINE CELLAR - This would be wonderful! Someone could set up a cool “cellar” ambiance for selling unique and local vintages from around California. Besides Napa and Sonoma, there are incredible vineyards in Temecula, Escondido and Solvang. This wine shop could also sell packaged gourmet cheeses to go with the wines, host wine tastings once a week and run classes on how to care for wine, store wine and develop a palette for wine.

POTTERY PAINTING - This would fit nicely into our town. There could be the usual assortment of unpainted plaster items and a table to paint them at. The owners could host small painting classes, kids’ parties and Girls’ Night Out evenings. I’d go. This would be a big hit and a real community builder.

OUTDOOR GEAR AND YOGA - A yoga space with some active-wear clothing, with a small selection of guidebooks and hiking/camping supplies, would be an easy retail addition to this small mall.

BIKE SHOP - A local wrench could easily set up shop to fix our bikes and sell cycle parts, clothes and gear, and put out brochures about area races for cyclists and runners.

The Alpine Mall is located directly across from the Crestline Post Office, at 23928 Lake Drive. Go look at the empty cabins and rent your own dream shop. Go now. Crestline needs more stores.

Stumble it!