Katinka

My mom and I have been shopping at Katinka since 1998. By now, we know Jane, Billy, and their products really well. I love walking up to the shop and seeing all of the colorful items that they have to sell. Every item is special and has a story. Jane flies back and forth to india in order to specially shop for and create new items for her customer. I especially love the smell of the shop. Anytime my mom and I purchase something, we come home with the lingering smell of nag champa on whatever it is that we bought. The smell reminds us of the lovely conversation, aesthetics, and peace that we find in the shop. One of my favorite items that they sell are their yoga bags. I get compliments on my bag at almost every yoga class that I attend. Nobody can believe that I only paid $ 10 – 15 for it!

This is a very charming and loving little store. It may not look like much, but its smallness is made up by the authentic, detailed products they sell which is straight from India and is great for those who are into Eastern culture. Even if you’re not, you’ll find an array of nice items that will amuse you and make you feel as if you’ve seen a bit of a different culture, which is, to me, a very gratifying experience. It is not only that though, that makes this store feel amazing, it is also the very nice and very kind owners who genuinely care for their customers and whom you may easily strike up conversation with, that make you feel that stopping at that store has just brightened up your day a bit, even if you haven’t bought anything.

Billy Lyles and his partner Jane have had this store forever and it’s an amazing trove of treasures; I happen to know the store is named for a dog they once had.
I love to get incense here. Billy has sandals and those crazy pointy shoes with the turned-​up toes; amazing dresses and saris; and a big assortment of incense and soap. (Like Bee and Flower brand; Bee and Flower used to have an inner wrap that said, «Bee and Flower brand soap will do no damage whatsoever to your skin.») Prices are cheap enough for anyone to afford.
Billy’s a musician, and when the weather is nice you can see him outside playing his flute, keyboard, saxophone, or guitar. Chico the Artist did a mural outside of him playing his sax.