Owner Michael Sue Nanos says the decision was forced by a sudden health crisis and an unexpected lease termination. "I had just learned that I need an open-heart surgery within the month when a new property manager came in and gave me a two-month lease termination," she wrote. "Wow, I couldn’t believe my ears. I’ve had a wonderful relationship with my landlord and didn’t see this coming."
Since opening in 1980, the Pacific Beach shop has been a hidden gem for collectors, hobbyists, and families, offering handcrafted dollhouses, miniature estates, and thousands of tiny treasures - plus custom room boxes, flooring and wallpaper, lighting and electrical work. Inside, it’s a whimsical emporium where visitors find lentil-sized cantaloupes, toast-shaped Colonial beds, blueberry-size copper pans, and Pop-Tart-size Turkish rugs. For generations, it has doubled as a clubhouse for San Diego’s miniature-making community, with advice, consignments, and a steady stream of estate pieces.
Beyond the inventory, Nanos says what she’ll miss most is the people. "It’s a feel-good kind of place and I have made many, many friends," she wrote. "The shop has friends from all over the world - they come off the cruise ships or off the planes and come straight here, or it’s the last place they visit in our fair city. I wouldn’t be very happy doing business online - not easy getting those mini hugs that way."
Recently, Ms. Peggie’s Place was featured in the guidebook 111 Places in San Diego That You Must Not Miss - "that was a real honor," Nanos noted. For now, the store is running a 25% off clearance on building supplies, room boxes, electrical components, and dollhouses as it prepares for its final day. After surgery and recovery, Nanos hopes to reopen elsewhere - and she’s inviting tips.
"I’ll have to close for a bit while I take care of myself and recover. But then I would like to reopen in a new location… I only need 800 sq. ft. - after all, a tiny shop for tiny things. She doesn’t need to be out on the main boulevards. Maybe Grandpa's old barbershop that hasn’t been open in years. I know there’s a home out there somewhere." Her dream, she added, is to carry the shop "into her 50th year at least. Then we could have a huge celebration and go out in style."
Ms. Peggie’s Place is located at 5063 Cass Street in San Diego's Pacific Beach, and remains open Wednesday through Saturday until October 31. For more information, visit mspeggiesplace.com.
Originally published on August 26, 2025.
