Popular Gift Shop in South Park Partners with San Diego Natural History Museum

The various apparel, kitchen accessories and jewelry at Gold Leaf in South Park that are lauded for using natural ingredients have secured a fitting retail spot inside the San Diego Natural History Museum (The NAT).

The Balboa Park museum also welcomed the Sorrento Valley-based Craft Taco to fill in its recently updated atrium space, which coincides with a new multi-million-dollar Paleontology Center. This fall marks the 150th anniversary of The NAT, which is expanding its amenities and attractions.

“We’re really looking forward to being a part of the Balboa Park community,” said Sonya Kemp, who launched Gold Leaf in 2016 with her husband Kevin. Their original shop is located within the historic Burlingame Garage building at 30th and Fern streets. It will remain in place while selling items that Kemp says are “inspired by nature.”

She added that the museum location will follow the same concept, but with a focus on “all things bird, beetle, butterfly, rock, shell and dinosaur.” She also promises lots of puzzles, books and storytime sessions for families when the 1,700-square-foot space opens this month.

As for Craft Taco, the business operated from a food truck for the past few years. This will be its first brick-and-mortar outlet, where burritos, bowls, and tacos using blue corn tortillas rule the day. The eatery will be afforded a full onsite kitchen and serve food and coffee drinks from a permanent cart in the middle of the atrium.