It was a blue-sky, midweek, early afternoon, the sun was shining, and business was already buzzing at clothing retailer Anthropologie in the former Bank of America building at 1134 Pacific Ave. With its spacious design and multi-room concept, the new clothes and home goods shop celebrated its grand opening Jan. 21, according to store manager Charlie Wall.
The new store lends a worldly design to the same space formerly occupied by a bank and a grocer, New Leaf Market. The brand identity of Anthropologie is luxury clothing and accessories, including partnerships with exclusive brands such as Reformation, Maeve, Pilcro and Celandine.
The Downtown Association of Santa Cruz (DASC) is an organization that manages the Downtown Business Improvement District and advocates for businesses through leadership and marketing.
“Customers who would drive to Los Gatos or Valley Fair Mall to shop at Anthropologie, can now stay local instead,” Jorian Wilkins, DASC executive director said in an email. “That sales tax revenue stays local in the city of Santa Cruz. And those shoppers visit other businesses downtown.”
Both Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie are owned by the same parent company, URBN, a portfolio of global brands that also includes Free People, Terrain, and BHLDN. Although under shared ownership, they operate as distinct brands with different target audiences and product focuses.
While Urban Outfitters targets a younger, more whimsical crowd, Anthropologie targets a more mature audience, offering more practical home decor, business and neutral fashion. Anthropologie also maintains partnerships including Lyrebird, Mother, Clothe & Stone and Tretorn.
Downtown business climate
In 2025, 14 new businesses opened in Downtown Santa Cruz, according to Wilkins. Pacific Avenue saw vacancies drop from 17 in April 2025 to just 10 now. Whereas Pacific Avenue had a 16% vacancy rate in April 2025, groundfloor vacancies in the district are now down to a healthy 9.2% overall (even accounting for newly constructed commercial spaces), according to Wilkins.
“Anthropologie is one of two new businesses to open in Downtown Santa Cruz so far in 2026,” she notes. “Eight more businesses are “coming soon” (currently in design & permitting).”
“We’ve heard positive feedback from the community regarding the updates Anthropologie made to its building, both inside (light and bright) and outside (windows opened up, new doors, and improved lighting).”
If the vibe is bohemian, the elegant store design and window displays say it comes with a price.
The store’s layout is spacious, with high ceilings and a minimalistic design. The open displays make the store appear vast, while demure panels promoting partnership fit right in with the color scheme.
Among the home goods are lemon-scented candles, barware, kitchen tools and eclectic knick-knacks. A three-tiered display held cherry-patterned pillows, people-painted eggcups and tomato-shaped sugar bowls, some at reduced prices.
While there’s not a lot of health and beauty products at Anthropologie, the skin care and cosmetics they offer are curated brands: L’Occitane, Caudalie, Tocca and Sacheu to name a few, along with inspiring baubles, unique jewelry, hair accessories and on-trend headbands.
Historical landmark
The building in which the store is located was built in 1929 and designed by Henry A. Minton. It is an example of ZigZag Moderne architecture. It formerly housed the Bank of Italy (later Bank of America) and New Leaf Market, 1995-2024.
The anthropology core customer is affluent and values individuality, quality, artistic design and a little sense of adventure. “It’s very nice, it smells good,” said Juniper Postlewaite, 22, who recently moved here from Seattle. “My sister loves it” and her mother is also a fan, keeping pieces from 20 years ago in her closet.
“It is a testament to Pacific Avenue being a good place for retailers to do business,” Wilkins said. “They have noticed that foot traffic is up, that new residences are fully occupied and more are on the way, and that the median income of visitors to Downtown is on the rise.”
Anthropologie, 1134 Pacific Ave., 831-204-3971
