The Funky Bazaar

This place is absolutely fantastic and funky to the max!!! If you’re an artist or love art, antiques etc. then this place is definitely a place for you!
I came across it about a year ago, even though I’ve been to Idyllwild many times before, and it absolutely took my breath away as well as re-​opened my creativeness which was dormant for sometime now.
This place is a must see in Idyllwild, trust me, you will not regret it and the host is just wonderful and welcoming (had our two fur-​family members, aka dogs, with us and they were more then welcome inside the store).
GO CHECK IT OUT!!!

This place is FUNKY! A great selection of affordable books, CDs, Vinyl, and some fantastic art by locals. Really enjoyed this out of the way emporium. Peter is a marvelous host and we had a great time exploring this fun collection of treasures. Must see the 3^rd floor for unusual and delicate sculptures, candles and paintings. My favorite art pieces were the Iggy Pop painting and a fanciful ray gun sculpture. Prices are very reasonable and this store is worth a look if you dig eclectic and perky collections. Warning: No poopy people allowed :-)

Peter is such a great host, and his shop makes buying local super fun and exciting. I love the eclectic collection of art, trinkets, and antiques that, when combined in one location, makes this shop a must-​see for anyone traveling to/​thru Idyllwild. I’ve bought many things from Peter, some as gifts, and some for myself, and let’s just say, the gifts I’ve given have been a BIG hit! Don’t try to make «sense» of the place. It defies comprehension. Appreciate the collection for what it is (a lovely assortment from local artists), and take some time to talk with Peter (he truly is a pleasure to talk to)!

Captain Funk provides a tour of his eclectic collections, some of which is for sale. He only uses local artists, those that do not paint landscapes. The third floor is a little on the dark side for some but interesting. In the basement find an offering of vinyl records that the Captain has tested to ensure no scratches or skips. On the wall are classic science fiction periodicals. Well worth a few minutes of your time to stop and enjoy. Who knows, you may just find that perfect Christmas gift of someone special.

ESCAPE THE KITSCH and stop in here. Fun place! 3 floors to «stuff»…not sure who’d want to buy anything but sure fun to see the collections. Nice that owner supports local crafts/​artists.

This is a BIG WOW! I tend to love the unusual — the interesting — the people that are not created via cookie cutter — the businesses that are unlike anything else.
Welcome to Peter’s world.
A different place that is full of cool and a little off…
Peter is a wonderful host and and my wife and I enjoyed talking with him for a long while.
We only knew a few other people in town and we immediately shared or Funky Bazaar find with them.
This is a must see — must shop and must leave some time to chat!
We loved it! 6 out of 5 stars please…

Peter is amazing! My friend Alyssa and I visited Idyllwild for the first time last weekend from LA and Funky Bazaar was our first stop. Peter gave us the grand tour, background info on his business and the local arts scene he supports and then gave us tons of suggestions for places to eat/​things to do during our visit. Alyssa and I each left The Funky Bazaar with a $ 5 playboy grab bag (3 issues from the ‘80s or ‘90s – never know what you’re gonna get) and lots of ideas for how to spend our day-​cation. I’ll definitely be visiting again soon.

Peter is a gracious host and allowed me and my dogs to peruse his quaint yet funfilled store. Check it out for eccentric finds although there’s something there for anyone.

Oh my goodness, this is the coolest spot in Idyllwild, with the best proprietor you’ll ever meet. All kinds of off-​the-​beaten-​path art, locally made crafts, and other odds and ends.

This is my favorite store in Idyllwild. Somethjng for everyone. Such a unique venue showcasing local artists. If you want something different than tahquitz rock paintings then this is the place for you.

Bushed, we were on our way home from an Idyllwild hike and I spotted a strange and wonderful looking place so we decided to investigate. We were immediately met by the owner Peter who is as unique as his store — waving his cane-​wand thingie around and spouting off all sorts infobits.
There are several levels of wildly varying goods — each floor has a different feel and theme. A very unique place — you won’t find this stuff elsewhere. My favorite find was a collection of Frank Zappa records — many of which nearly impossible to find.
I’m tempted to give only a two stars rating because there were no elevators or escalators and my legs were too tired to climb the stairs but I won’t. It’s just too cool of a place.
Highly recommended — and even if you don’t buy anything, your imagination will be better for the visit.

Super cool place. Completely unique. Words can’t even describe it and believe me I’ve written a lot of reviews on here but how do you describe something like this? You don’t. Go see it for yourself.

We had a great time here. Peter is a blast! Be sure and visit when you come to Idyllwild.

Ditto all the previous reviews. I was the first one at his shop in the morning and I got the $ 10.00 tour. As Peter says, «If you’re looking for pine, peak, or bird art, this ain’t the place!» That can all be found downtown in the gift shops. What Funky Bazaar offers is one of a kind curios, collectibles, and original art. I loved his Mama Juju collection. Donation Alley is wonderful — take something, leave something, pay what you like — it all goes to local animal shelters. Can’t leave the Hill without checking the treasures at the Bazaar.

In my humble opinion, no trip to Idyllwild is complete without a visit to it’s quirkiest establishment — the Funky Bazaar.
The store /​art gallery /​gathering place is operated by Peter Buhl, who is every bit as interesting as the place he runs. Just sitting and talking with him for a while is worth a trip up the hill!
The Funky Bazaar is divided into several different areas — there’s:
* The «donation alley» area, that contains lots of interesting stuff that is available for purchase on a donation basis. Like something you find in this area, leave a donation in the box. All donations are given to local charities.
* The «girl’s room» area, which contains an assortment of delicately painted dishes and hand knitted items made by local artists.
* The basement area, which houses a fascinating assortment of items. Here, you’ll find everything from an old portable dome hairdryer to antique toys to first edition books. At times, you’ll wonder if you’re in a store or a very cool «pop culture» museum.
* The one-​room art gallery, which is located upstairs. The exhibits in this gallery are rotated fairly regularly, and you never know what will be on display next. One thing to know though, it’s not anything like the art you’ll see displayed anywhere else on the moutain. It tends to be edgy, and at times it can be mildly disturbing, but it’s always thought provoking.
Next time you’re heading up the hill, make sure you set aside an hour or so to pay Peter and his establishment a vist. You’ll be glad you did!

Whether you are visiting Idyllwild or live here, you really need to check out this shop if you haven’t yet. it should really be spelled «funky bizarre,» as it’s the most eclectic collection of the new and the old that you’ll find anywhere in town. Many collectibles. My favorite part is the top floor art gallery. This is not your mama’s art gallery, and certainly nothing like any other art gallery in town. I.e. this is not the place to go find paintings of raccoons, bears, and mountains. the art here is edgy, thought-​provoking, sometimes disturbing, and always alluring. You have to search for this place; although it’s on N. Circle Dr., a main drag of town, it’s way up near the top of the hill, not downtown. Trust me — it’s worth the walk or drive.

I’m using Funky Bazaar and owner Peter’s electric collection to furnish my house in Idyllwild. They have some real gems at this offbeat place — lots of original art, truly classic LPs, original light fixtures from historic hotels, random cool stuff. Very Idllywild, offbeat, counter-​culture. Gotta love it.