about

it all started when….

Crystal, affectionately nicknamed the Plumeria Lady by the locals of Encinitas, first opened up shop in 2002. Tucked away in the alleyway behind Filiberto's, in her own lot near the crossing of D street and 2nd street. She became an integral part of the Encinitas community, known as the place to leave your car for smog, as you stroll down to Moonlight Beach or wander around downtown Encinitas 101.

For those that have passed by the alley way in recent months and wondered where the smog lady went, well here is the answer to your query. Sometime in the last few years, the surrounding land was purchased by a newer property owner for upwards in the millions. Mom and pop shops are always the first to go in these situations and each month she was able to continue running her business was definitely a blessing. That was until June of 2017, Crystal was given thirty days notice to vacate the premises. A local competitor had offered to move into her facilities for triple the cost. Unable to match that asking amount, Crystal was pushed out with little time to pack up or the ability to reach out to her loyal customers she had grown to love as family over the years.

She has since landed on her feet, three blocks down from the original location, now at 140 N. 101 Coast Highway, Suite D. just around the corner from Lofty's Coffee. The available space for her plumeria collection has been sizably reduced, but her spirit is still blooming. 

By sharing her story, I hope to encourage those that remember her to take the time to seek her out at her new address. For any of those that had the opportunity to cross paths with her over the last fifteen years, you surely know that she's dedicated, hard-working, and always wears a smile on her face. Please continue to support a women/minority-owned, small-business that embodies the essence of Encinitas!