SPOTLIGHT ON DAVID MARKS – OWNER OF PALM SPRINGS BOTTLE SHOP
A Palm Springs transplant by way of Texas and San Francisco, David’s diverse background spans vintage furniture curation, real estate investment, and, most notably, interior design — he shaped the looks of SF’s Casements Bar, WesBurger-n-More, and Virgil’s Sea Room. Drawing on their combined talents, he teamed up with his husband, LGBTQ+ activist/diversity and inclusion consultant Chris White, and their friends, restaurateur Gillian Fitzgerald and Sierra Mitchell, whose experience ranges from childcare to restaurant management, to create Palm Springs Bottle Shop, a whimsically stylish space that celebrates creators and makers from underrepresented communities.
Two summers ago, at an Emerge Palm Springs networking event inside the sprawling Market Market, I wandered into Palm Springs Bottle Shop—and it was pretty much love at first sight. Between the beautifully bottled spirits, irreverent gifts, and charming owner David Marks, I was instantly hooked! I ended up shopping and chatting away for a good hour and even left with a grab-n-go mocktail to sip during the event. (My tolerance is famously low, so I’m always on the hunt for great nonalcoholic options—and PSBS has the best selection around.)
The foursome launched their first PSBS location inside Mojave Flea Trading Post in spring 2021, with a sister shop at Market Market following in March 2023. Both have since become local favorites and community staples.
Read on to learn more about the brand, its mission, and David’s desert favorites.
xo, Lindsay
What brought you to the desert?
My husband Chris and I were living in San Francisco and bought a PS condo in late 2019, which we intended to be a rental property. We spent the next few months fixing it up, and on March 1, 2020, it was “ready to rent.” Two weeks later, the City of San Francisco was one of the first in the nation to shut everything down for COVID. We decided that sheltering in Palm Springs with more indoor and outdoor space than we had in SF made sense. As COVID dragged on, and Palm Springs began to feel more like home, we decided to make the move full-time.
How did Palm Springs Bottle Shop come to life?
While meeting up for drinks with our friends Gillian and Sierra (pictured), we all started to lament over the lack of interesting wine/liquor shops in town, as well as the lack of access to products from LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and women entrepreneurs. This is a larger issue that goes beyond Palm Springs. Over the next few months, we began to explore options and developed the idea of a shop that featured those products. And PSBS was born.
What’s been the biggest surprise about owning a business in the desert?
This community has been very supportive of our mission and we are thrilled! Palm Springs Bottle Shop is focused on brands created and led by Women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs and makers. We use a system of dots to color-code every product we sell so that the customer knows who they’re supporting. We also have a “dot” for brands that benefit/hire people with disabilities and brands that are generally doing Social Good.
What inspired you to branch on beyond alcohol to offer specialty foods?
We consider Palm Springs Bottle Shop to be a “modern-day corner store;” it was always our plan to feature specialty foods and lifestyle accessories to help people enjoy their stay in Palm Springs. Our Mojave Flea location is focused on poolside fun – we’ve got pool floats and organic turkish pool towels, and unbreakable wine glasses to pair with your beer and wine. Our Market Market location (pictured) sells spirits in addition to beer and wine, and it’s more cocktail and grocery focused. We stock barware, mixers, and pantry goods for quick, easy dinners to share in the house you’ve rented for the week – or weekend.
You’re known for your whimsical gift selection. How do you source such unique finds?
There are so many amazing, creative people making great stuff all over the world, and the internet has made it easy for retailers to connect with makers. By keeping our search concentrated on women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ creators, we’re able to support these under-represented groups by introducing their products to our customers.
What cocktail are you loving right now?
My go-to cocktail is a classic gin & tonic, and my favorite gin right now is FUTURE GIN. It is a queer, woman-owned gin that represents California: bright, bountiful, forward-thinking.
Favorite cocktail on your shelves?
Go to gift item currently in stock?
Modern Bloc’s dish towels are stylish, functional, practical, and mid-century inspired.
Tell us about the Pink Bar and the events there.
The Pink Bar is Market Market’s event space and brainchild. We pop up there about once a month with frozen boozy-slushies and glasses of wine. Oftentimes, there are also food and coffee pop-ups and a DJ spinning.
Best business advice for newbie entrepreneurs?
The seasonality of Palm Springs is extreme, and it’s very hard on a lot of small businesses. The difference in foot traffic between “High Season” and the rest of the year means sales drop drastically in the off-season. Be prepared for this/plan ahead.
ALSO – note to Locals: Your patronage at small, local stores really matters and makes a huge difference. Please go out of your way to shop SMALL and LOCAL, especially in the summer.
Favorite time of year in the Valley?
Early Spring. It’s always so cool to be lying by the pool while you can see snow on the mountains beyond the palm trees in the foreground.
Best meal in the Valley
El Mirasol (pictured) – their enchiladas and chiles rellenos meet all the comfort food requirements from my childhood in El Paso.
Other desert favorites?
Three of our favorite local small businesses: Covet, Bobo Palm Springs (pictured), and Phylum.
Thank you David!
Your shop is a true desert delight!
From cocktails to mocktails (and plenty of fun in between!), Palm Springs Bottle Shop is the Valley’s feel-good shopping stop, where every whimsical gift, specialty snack, and beautifully bottled spirit celebrates diverse creators and emerging makers.