Ahhh… Gustav Schindler and Anne Sherwood have created a place of calm reflection and nurturing peace where you can find just the right gift for a loved one – or yourself.
When entering the Sacred Stone Gallery in the Hollywood Riviera, one feels immediately at home - but this isn’t home; this is a magical cave of gargantuan crystals, faceted touchstones and welcoming smiles.
The consummate Californian is the child who purchases his first surf board at age seven. A Torrance native, young Mr. Schindler was just such a lad, eager to live life to the fullest, and always first in line for excitement.
Drafted into the army at the age of 19, Gustav saw Vietnam as a whole new world filled with marvels and the unusual. It offered him new horizons and personal growth which he took to heart, both business-wise and spiritually. Seeking adventure, he volunteered for Riverboat Patrol duty knowing it was one of the more dangerous jobs during the war. For most of us, the mention of war-torn Saigon still arouses dark memories, yet for others it provided opportunity. During his tour, Gustav noticed that items from the United States were in great demand among the Asian allies, while the reverse was true for him; religious carvings and curios fascinated Gustav. Vietnam had exposed him to exotic, eastern artifacts and started in him a passion for collecting and trading.
Upon his return to the States, Gustav attended UCLA then went to work for McDonald Douglas as an exotic metals specialist. He continued his studies of Persian rugs, cloisonné, and American Indian artifacts, all the while adding to his personal collection. During the ‘70s, while living in Kauai, Gustav spent time at a Sufi healing camp studying their traditions and way of life. This is where he first became acquainted with the use of crystals as healing tools, giving his passion for collecting even more impetus.
When the aerospace corporation folded in the 1990s, Gustav used the lay-off as a chance to start his own healing practice in Palos Verdes Estates at the Malaga Cove Plaza. Working seven days a week, Gustav’s efforts quickly brought success, though his passion for collecting never waned despite the heavy demand for his time. Soon he realized he was outgrowing his 3000 square foot home. He simply had too many relics and too little space in which to store them.
About this time, Gustav met Anne Sherwood, a fellow crystal l over. She had escaped the harsh 
The first item to be moved into the store was a one ton Shivalingam - a naturally occurring, smooth, elliptical shaped rock from the Narmer River in central India where it is considered to be a sacred stone, giving the store its name. Though it is for sale, it’s not going anywhere fast. “When you weigh 2000 pounds, you get to be where you want” grins Anne. This rock is a gigantic version of the sacred stones seen in the Indiana Jones movie, ‘Temple of Doom’. She shows me a few of the many pocket-sized treasures of amber, tektites of meteoric glass, labradorite, garnet, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry and imported statuary that can be found here. “But the customers are the best part,” she beams. “Our clientele is an interesting lot bringing with them knowledge, experience and appreciation for what we offer. Visitors often stop by just to breathe in a bit of tranquility and beauty and leave feeling better. We love to share that with others.”
Store hours are 10am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and noon-6pm on Saturday & Sunday.
Located at 1832 South Elena Avenue, Redondo Beach, the store’s website is sacredstonegallery.com and the phone number is 310.378.8866.
Go have a complimentary cup of tea and see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.
