Old World Village Captures Bavarian Flavor

On the one hand, it is clear the Old World Village shopping center in Huntington Beach could use some aggressive marketing. It has few signs, little advertising and a dubious reputation caused by legal and administrative problems. During the week the place is practically deserted.

On the other hand, the village’s low-key image is part of its charm, at least to visitors unaware of the bitter court battles that have beset the center since 1982.

Its subtle attempts to lure customers--through flyers, strolling musicians and the aroma of homemade bratwurst--reflect the small-town nature of the center and its family of resident shopkeepers.

With its cobbled streets, European-style buildings and a profusion of flowers, Old World captures the flavor of a Bavarian village. Plaster mountains rim the entrance, wrought-iron gates separate some buildings and Germanic murals grace many walls. The village’s “old European” image is further enhanced by the fact that most of the shopkeepers are European.

But while the shopping village may look Old World, its problems are very 20th Century.

According to several shop owners, squabbling among the residents and disputes with the developer have prevented the center from outlining marketing goals or even agreeing on advertising strategy. Six years of litigation (primarily concerning the homeowners’ governing board) have dominated village politics and affected marketing efforts, according to shopkeepers.

Old World Village is an unusual condominium-commercial development where residents own their stores and homes and a homeowner association owns and manages the common grounds through assessments. The center has its own church and “city hall” office building.

“This is a village in the true sense of the word,” said Dawn Ellen Pope, owner of the Ellensgate herb and flower shop. “There have been a lot of disagreements.”

But things my be looking up. Since early in 1987 when a Superior Court judge placed the shopping center in receivership, a Santa Ana attorney has been managing the center and attempting to resolve disputes (although many lawsuits are still pending).

Bern Bischof, manager of the Old World German Restaurant and son of the village’s developer, Josef Bischof, is hopeful the center’s stormy period is over.

“We had a huge Scottish festival in February, and that was the first time when, whether they liked each other or didn’t like each other, everybody really worked together,” he said. “So it’s a start. Things are changing, and I’d like to get this point across and forget about all the litigation.” Owners have also fought a location problem. Built in the shadow of the Huntington Center shopping mall near the San Diego Freeway, the center is on hard-to-find Center Avenue, which has little pedestrian traffic.

Regardless of Old World’s future, its present offerings are worth a visit, especially on weekends when all the shops are open and musicians can be heard in the courtyards.

On Sunday the center is sponsoring a Greek Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with folk songs, food and dancing. Later this month (June 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) an “Antique Street Market” will enable vendors to set up booths and hawk their wares. And German Heritage Day will take place July 10.

The village has no trouble attracting visitors come fall, when Oktoberfest events unfold and the center is alive with revelers and oompah bands.

But back to the bratwurst. One of the biggest draws at Old World is the collection of European-style restaurants, most of which have outdoor cafe tables. Before or after a meal of sausages and beer or a snack of homemade pastry and espresso, about 50 shops beckon with imports, collectibles, shoes, clothes and jewelry.

Among the more unusual gift stores are Classy Collectibles and Ellensgate.

Owned by Don and Donna Rand, Classy Collectibles is not particularly European, but it is a fun store that specializes in tole-painted items (by Donna) and hand-painted liquor decanters (collected by Don). “I have a very unusual shop,” said Don with a smile. “You don’t find these things just anywhere.”

Don’s decanters, which cost $15 and up, come from all over the world and in a variety of shapes, including likenesses of famous people (Abraham Lincoln, John Wayne and Henry Ford), cars and animals. A whole shelf is devoted to decanters from brothels in Nevada (Mustang Ranch, the Chicken Ranch, etc). The Elvis bottles command an entire corner of the shop, which also displays a handmade medieval castle created by Kenneth Linsdley. The 13th-Century fortress took 1 1/2 years to build and costs $6,000.

“I hope it doesn’t sell,” said Don, who besides owning Classy Collectibles is an actor who has appeared on TV and stage. “At that price it’s not going anywhere for a while.”

Ellensgate carries dried and fresh flowers, herbs, garden supplies and ornaments in a store reminiscent of an English country cottage.

“We’ve tried to stay away from American country (merchandise),” said owner Dawn Ellen Pope. “But we’ve tried to decorate more like a true English Victorian cottage.” The one Bavarian touch is a pair of metal reindeer with candles as antlers for $175 for the pair.

Other shops to visit include Continental Import Shoes, which carries European leather shoes for children and adults (starting at $16.95), the Clock Shop, which sells hand-carved Black Forest cuckoo clocks, Zobel’s Custom Upholstery, selling tapestry doilies; and Hermanns Crystal & China, specializing in Hummel figures, Waterford crystal and Lladro pieces.

Out-of-the-ordinary shops and services include Encore Wedding Gowns & Gifts, which sells used wedding wear and Old World Psychic Reader, where palms and Tarot cards are read.

The center also has a motel and, for those who like to combine suntanning with their stroll through an Alpine village, the Guys & Gals Suntanning salon.

OLD WORLD VILLAGE AT A GLANCE

Address: 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach. Take the San Diego Freeway to Beach Boulevard south. From Beach Boulevard, take right on Center Avenue and watch for the plaster mountains on the right.

Number of shops, restaurants and businesses: About 50, including six restaurants, a motel and various services.

Most unusual shop: The best part about Classy Collectibles is its line of liquor decanters from brothels in Nevada. But the shop also carries bottles shaped in Elvis Presley, John Wayne and Eleanor Roosevelt likenesses, starting at $15. For those who think big, a giant handmade medieval castle with soldiers and horses can be purchased for $6,000. But besides these attractions, friendly owner Don Rand (who is also an actor and musician), makes the shop worth a stop.

Best place to browse: Ellensgate is a lovely shop of Victorian trinkets, with most of the merchandise relating to gardening and homemaking. Of Scottish descent, owner Dawn Ellen Pope says it is common in Scotland to add the word “gate” to a name when opening shop, hence the name of her store. She sells reasonably priced garden ornaments, patio roses, herbs, books and dried flowers. The store also handles custom-dried flower arrangements and wedding accessories.

Quick Bites: For sausage fans, this place is, er, hog heaven. Try the Old World Espresso Bar for bratwurst on a bun ($3.75), which also carries a jaeger-schnitzel (breaded and sauteed pork tenderloin) dinner for $8.50. Or the sauerbraten lunch for $5.95 at the Old World German Restaurant.