The birth of Onyx Boutique at 289 Divisadero happened in such a way that one can only believe it was fate.
The brainchild of two friends -- one a former modern dancer, the other the owner of Jade (a boutique in Santa Cruz) -- Onyx first launched its presence in the Mission in May 2012. A small storefront felt appropriate for a new venture, and its owners were pleased business was doing well. However, within 6 months a realtor notified them of a new storefront opening up on Divisadero, where Swankety Swank clothing used to be. Large windows showcased a roomy interior, and in a prime location between the hubs of Lower and Upper Haight it seemed too good of a space to turn down. To the owners of Onyx, the location on Divisadero really felt like "the opportunity of a lifetime." After a quick turnaround of claiming fixtures from Betsy Johnson's shuttered stores to fill the new space, doors opened to the neighborhood in November 2012. Unlike its Mission counterpart, Onyx on Divisadero caters to a large number of European tourists visiting the neighborhood. Carrying unique (and often one-of-a-kind) items made by artisans, each piece in Onyx has a story. Viv & Ingrid jewelry is made locally in Berkeley, Chime necklaces made out of repurposed drum cymbals are created in Venice Beach, and piles of cozy scarves are made from recycled sweaters, sourced and knit in Canada.
Aiming to set itself apart from other high-end boutiques in the city, Onyx works to keep its prices "palatable." Whether it's an older woman who is looking for a dress for a banquet or the 20-something girls from Yoga Garden across the street, they cater to a wide variety of clientele. And men - they have a section for you too!
"I love our male clientele. We have a 70 year old man who lives locally and buys all his button-down shirts from us. But at the same time, a kid can skateboard in from up the street and buy one of our hoodies."
So what does the future hold for Onyx? Art shows, for one! Stop on by to see the edgy work of talented painter Anna Noelle Rockwell that currently adorns the walls. Follow Onyx on Facebook to keep abreast of upcoming trunk shows. And don't forget to swing by their store for Divisadero's December Art Walk -- more details coming soon!
The brainchild of two friends -- one a former modern dancer, the other the owner of Jade (a boutique in Santa Cruz) -- Onyx first launched its presence in the Mission in May 2012. A small storefront felt appropriate for a new venture, and its owners were pleased business was doing well. However, within 6 months a realtor notified them of a new storefront opening up on Divisadero, where Swankety Swank clothing used to be. Large windows showcased a roomy interior, and in a prime location between the hubs of Lower and Upper Haight it seemed too good of a space to turn down. To the owners of Onyx, the location on Divisadero really felt like "the opportunity of a lifetime." After a quick turnaround of claiming fixtures from Betsy Johnson's shuttered stores to fill the new space, doors opened to the neighborhood in November 2012. Unlike its Mission counterpart, Onyx on Divisadero caters to a large number of European tourists visiting the neighborhood. Carrying unique (and often one-of-a-kind) items made by artisans, each piece in Onyx has a story. Viv & Ingrid jewelry is made locally in Berkeley, Chime necklaces made out of repurposed drum cymbals are created in Venice Beach, and piles of cozy scarves are made from recycled sweaters, sourced and knit in Canada.
