Another Local Business Bites The Dust

Another local business bites the dust for shoppers, only a few miles away in San Juan Capistrano.

After 52 years of running the apparel store, The Carved Horse, Sharon Applegarth is closing the business.

“It’s time to retire,” Applegarth said.

The shop began in San Bernardino then moved to downtown San Juan Capistrano 21 years ago.

The name of the shop carrying casual, career and cocktail attire for women is actually The Highlander Shoppes. When Applegarth moved the business south, another shop called The Carved Horse was shutting down. It carried high-end Western wear for women and the owners spent a lot of money on décor, including a carved horse.

Applegarth bought the horse for $5,000 – carved by a famous Mexican artist – and kept the name, though she did get rid of the moose head over the register/desk area.

The store has been a generational collaboration, started by Applegarth’s mother and aided by her daughter, Jeri.

Until the store officially closes, perhaps around Feb. 1, everything is for sale, including unique antiques – among which are a square grand piano turned into a display case for jewelry and a wooden sled – as is the namesake carved horse.