By Jessica Hudgins
SDUN Reporter
But don’t be fooled by the name above the door—this isn’t a home décor shop. It’s a vintage clothing boutique with a back-story straight from the heart—Home truly is where the heart is in this case.
The story behind Home starts with co-owner Adrian Ross’ uncle, Richard Ross.
In 1970, Richard Ross opened the original Home at 92nd Street and Second Avenue in uptown New York City—and it wasn’t a clothing store. Instead, this Home was a restaurant and bar where the average person could eat and drink with some of the biggest names in the entertainment business. It was also at Home where those big names would come to escape—to blend in like everybody else.
Ross’ older brother Jack also contributed to the initial success of the original Home. Jack had his own limousine company and often drove the superstars of the day to and from their musical acts, so he would suggest they stop by Home to wind down. Ritchie Havens, Alice Cooper, David Bowie and the bands Blood, Sweat and Tears and Ten Years After were among those who grabbed a bite at Home. But legendary John Lennon was a true regular and really put Home on the map.
Lennon and Richard Ross became close friends. Lennon was even photographed wearing the Home T-shirt numerous times, including in the picture on the inside cover of his 1972 album, “Sometime in New York City.”
Ross decided to sell Home in 1978 as his battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma rendered him too ill to work. He passed away in 1984.
It wasn’t until 2002 that Adrian Ross and his brothers David and Nick decided to reopen Home as a vintage clothing store in Encinitas. And despite getting advice not to open a clothing store with a name that suggests an inventory of home décor, the three nephews insisted on paying homage to their uncle by opening what Adrian calls “the clothing version of the original Home.”
“We’re trying to get a piece of history out. Home was an incredible place where a lot of iconic people hung out. It was my uncle’s life—he loved the place,” Adrian said with a broken voice as he remembered his uncle. “It’s just a place for people to enjoy, and that spreads the joy to us.”
The Ross brothers had been trying to expand Home from Encinitas for years, and North Park was always their target location.
“No place in San Diego captures the right vibe we were looking for the way North Park does. I’ve been watching it for years. It’s where we really wanted to have the store,” Adrian said. “We didn’t want to put the store somewhere just because it was an obvious place and had a lot of foot traffic.”
Adrian was originally looking into the space occupied by Off The Record at 2912 University Ave., but before he could pursue it further, one of his suppliers at Home in Escondido told him Kate Ross (no relation) was closing shop.
“The landlord told us the space would be available at the end of the month, so it was just obvious for us to be there. It was heaven sent,” he said.
At Home, music-lovers and history buffs can find gently owned trendy fashions at bargain prices alongside items that haven’t been on the shelves for years and years. Adrian said he only buys styles if he thinks people can relate to them.
“The bulk of our stuff consists of timeless pieces. Something you can hold onto for years. Its not just all flare,” he said.
Because Adrian is so selective about the clothing he decides to put on the racks, Home offers more money for these chosen pieces. Sellers get 40 percent of what Home sells it for, giving the shop an edge on its competitors.
One of the reasons Ross believes Home is distinctive is because it’s very musically driven.
“We try to capture the downtown New York vibe,” he said. “Our playlists include everything from the Everly Brothers to Motley Crue to Michael Jackson to, of course, the Beatles. The Beatles are a great musical legend, and my uncle was so close to John Lennon.”
The Ross brothers have faith that opening an additional store at this location will make North Park more of a destination spot in San Diego.
“We’re hoping Home will bring more people to the area to shop and hang out all day, then grab dinner and go out at night,” Adrian said.
Dorothy might have said, “There’s no place like home,” but Home says there’s no place like North Park.
