Miranda's Courtyard

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When you walk into Miranda's Courtyard in Old Town, you can almost guess that the store, like Old Town itself has a history. Miranda's Courtyard, a family owned business specializing in home and garden merchandise, was actually renovated and designed by the owners Don and Susie Cash, with the help of their daughter, Monica Putland, and her husband Randy. Don and Susie purchased the spot back in1992, and it took them four years to renovate and reclaim the house that stood there. The building that used to occupy the spot at the corner of Congress and Twigg Street was an adobe house built in the 1940's by a stone mason. The Cash family requested that the San Diego assessor rate the house at zero, and once this was approved Susie began planning a design for the structure. Based off of Susie's design, Don and Randy both worked tirelessly on the reconstruction of the house in which they replaced the walls, roof, deck, and added over 3000 bricks. The house was not just a reconstruction but also a reformation project as an old redwood fence that the family salvaged from their house was used as a wall behind the counter. The kitchen counter and cash register counter were also built using part of the reprocessed floor. Don and Randy also replaced some parts of the old floor with tiles in several of the rooms and refurbished the remaining areas. Finally, with the San Diego Planning Commission and Old Town Planning Commission's approval, Miranda's Courtyard was born and opened her doors to the public in 1996. After four years of hard work, the shop is now one of the most unique and eye catching spots in Old Town. High adobe walls enclose the structure; its outer edifice completely enveloped in striking purple Bougainvillea, a flowering vine native to South America, Peru, and Argentina. Once you step inside you are immediately welcomed to an expansive courtyard which features a large water fountain. Walk along the outer corners of the house, and you encounter the old rooms; the walls tastefully renovated in rustic cedar. Each room is now completely filled with Mexican art, pottery, pots, wind chimes, and the feature item that sets Miranda's apart from the rest of the stores in Old Town; their wide variety of clay and ceramic suns. There are literally hundreds of designs to choose from. Monica manages and stocks the store, and like it's sister store El Centro Artesano also located in Old Town, each room in the house features merchandise that represents a different theme and locale. So whether you would like to purchase a great ceramic sun, pottery, or wind chimes, or would just like to check out a beautifully renovated house, Miranda's Courtyard is a must see stop on your shopping excursion.