Caleb Schiff got his first taste of Indian Gardens Oak Creek Market during runs and bicycle trips in Red Rock Country a decade ago. In the fall and winter months, he would stop along the bustling stretch of State Route 89A, grab a seat on the backyard patio and soak in the scenery as he downed an espresso and a Ferrari — a signature sandwich of mozzarella, tomato and basil. For Schiff, owner of Flagstaff’s popular Pizzicletta restaurants, Indian Gardens held a special place in his heart.
“The setting is just beautiful and memorable,” Schiff says. “It has the architecture to make great experiences, and it’s all baked into this one historic location.”
Now, Schiff and business partner James Worden are responsible for adding to the legacy as the owners and operators of a spot visited by locals and tourists since the 1940s. Indian Gardens, its caretakers boast, is the Sedona area’s oldest continually operated general store — and the goal is to respect history and honor those who came before.
Historical accounts credit Frank Jackson and partner Ed Black with building the store in 1947, putting the finishing touches on the building after winter snowstorms pummeled the area. A story at the time said the snow was so deep that workers could stand atop it and put the building’s roof on without a ladder. The store became a catch-all place for a range of goods and supplies, including groceries, adult beverages and outdoor items. It sold gasoline under the bright red Texaco star.
Jackson ran the business with his sons, Wes and Skeeter, providing residents of the close-knit community with the basics and some things not easily attainable at the time. The store also served as a place for area residents to watch sporting events on television.
Longtime resident Robin Cameron says her family were frequent customers when they moved in across the street in 1962. She recalls the time they stocked up on a particularly juicy item from the store’s refrigerated section: plate-sized rib-eye steaks for $1 each. Then, there was the improvised cable-car device used to get her mother across Oak Creek when the water was high. “Every morning, Wes Jackson would come over and pull my mother across the creek, and every night, he would pulley her back,” she says. “He was just amazing.”
Indian Gardens also was the site of a roller-skating rink that became one of the entertainment hot spots for youths in Northern Arizona. “On their ditch days, all the kids would come to us,” Jackson told Arizona Highways in the March 1987 issue. There would be ice cream, 10-cent sodas and music provided by the owner. “Frank Jackson would have this leather apron on and be playing organ music as we’re skating around on these wooden floors,” Dan Garland recalls of the rink, which closed in 1971. “It was a great old place.”
Garland’s father bought the store with the distinctive lava-rock facade in 1984, and family members and others ran the business and added to its offerings as it transitioned into a more traditional café open for breakfast and lunch. Over the years, the place would grow to offer soup and sandwiches, along with a variety of beer, beverages and supplies to those staying or passing through — commonly for a picnic, hike or Grand Canyon trip.
Garland’s son, Daniel, and his wife, Monica, took the reins in 2011 and are credited with moving the venerable spot into modern times and cultivating a vibe that brought in the locals. After 10 years of owning the business, the Garlands wanted to move on professionally, so they sold it to Schiff and Worden in December 2020, but their company, FreeForm Coffee Roasters, still supplies its coffee.
The new owners took over the market and café in February 2021, relaunching it after some remodeling, a fresh coat of paint and a deep cleaning. The pastries are made in-house now, and the menu has evolved, with several former items — including the Ferrari sandwich — reappearing. Plus, there’s soft-serve ice cream. The café is now open for dinner on Mondays, too, with Schiff and Worden bringing in a pizza oven to make their naturally leavened Neapolitan pies.
Plans are for the café to be open seven days a week, with more pizza evenings added to the mix. Schiff also wants to make it more of a community gathering spot, with people coming to the café for music, a lecture series or other events. Despite the additions and changes, Schiff says being a good steward of the decades-old landmark has been his guiding light.
“That kind of nod to history and desire to keep truly one of the most beloved and beautiful places in Northern Arizona great is probably our highest priority,” he says. “It is important to tip our hat to the people before us and ensure that we continue to keep it great and keep it beloved.”