Laurel Burch Studios is closing its flagship Berkeley shop

The brightly colored and whimsical art of Laurel Burch has traveled around the world. File photo: Kelly Sullivan

After 11 years in Berkeley and five years at its current location in the Gilman District, Laurel Burch Studios is closing its flagship store on the corner of Eighth and Camelia streets because the building is being sold. 

The brand sells a variety of goods such as t-shirts, socks, scarves, nightgowns, tote bags, hats, bags, umbrellas, mugs, tea towels, jewelry, calendars  and more — all featuring the brightly colored and whimsical art of Laurel Burch, whose work has been iconic in the Bay Area and far beyond since the 1970s. A few years after Burch’s death in 2007, her daughter Aarin took over the business.

The e-commerce side of Laurel Burch Studios will continue, according to Aarin Burch, operating out of a warehouse in Oakland. And she and her team are also planning to hold more pop-ups in Berkeley and the East Bay.

 ”We’re planning to do at least one a month for the year,” she said. “We’ve got a bunch planned. That kind of gets us out to people, which I’m actually really excited about.”

After coming on board in 2012, Aarin Burch opened the brand’s first flagship store in Berkeley on Fourth Street near Vik’s Chaat in 2014. The shop moved to its Eighth Street location on March 12, 2020, but was forced to close a single day later due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. 

 “But it’s been pretty amazing,” Aarin said of the store’s run. “If they weren’t selling the building, we’d probably try and figure it out. But it’s a good opportunity to really put our focus in new places.”

Aarin Burch goes through inventory in her office in November 2022. File photo: Kelly Sullivan

One area of focus is a documentary she is making about her mother’s life.

Laurel Burch was born in 1945, and was diagnosed with osteopetrosis, a rare bone disease, at a young age, causing her to suffer more than 100 fractures during her life. She began selling jewelry on the streets of San Francisco in the 1960s. Her jewelry was featured in Vogue magazine in 1971, which launched her globe-spanning career as an artist. Her designs were soon sold at Macy’s and Marshall Field’s and other stores across the country, and at Laurel Burch Galleries in Carmel and Sausalito. 

Laurel and Aarin Burch. Courtesy of Aarin Burch

She was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce in 1988, with the award presented by Mayor Dianne Feinstein. She was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1998. And the year before her death, Mayor Gavin Newsom declared April 13, 2006, as Laurel Burch Day in San Francisco. 

“ Her story is just an amazing one,” said Aarin. “She had a way of  creating beauty in the world.”

Laurel Burch Studios held a store closing celebration on March 1-2 with special items, vintage goods and original Laurel Burch art for sale. The store will feature other “clear-the-shelves specials” until it closes for good on March 15.

Inside the Berkeley store. File photo: Kelly Sullivan

“It’s sad to see this space go,” said Aarin. “It’s such a hopeful and joyful space. In a time that is so intense for everybody, people would walk into the store and have such a hopeful feeling.  So that’s hard to let go of. I hope to continue that in the community and online.”

The 75-year-old, red brick office building that’s home to the shop is for sale with a $925,000 asking price.

Laurel Burch Studios, 1345 Eighth St., Berkeley. Phone: 510-395-8865, Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Connect via Instagram and Facebook.