It seems like you can't close your eyes and swing a dead cat without hitting a Gilbert Ortega Gallery in Downtown Scottsdale. This type of stuff isn't my taste, but I think a lot of people must really dig it for there to be so many of them. I don't know enough about whether or not they exploit Native American culture, but seriously - how many fucking stores do we need to sell kachina dolls, quartz belt buckles and ugly aztec-looking rugs?
Gilbert Ortega is probably more like a one-stop-shop - an anchor store... Wal-Mart with Nordstrom prices. It's not like stopping at the four corners and buying authentic native crafts from actual native americans selling at the wooden trade shacks... this seems more like Native-inspired artwork and stuff. I'm sure it's legit if it says it is, it's just more professional looking and perhaps a little maufactured.
I've never found a single item I would want to buy from these stores... I've never even found anything I would want to aquire for free and stick in my house. I hate this kind of kitschy shit... I see it in a lot of North Scottsdale and P.V. homes and it makes me want to puke. My version of Arizona doesn't include this style. It should've exited with the 1990s.
This place lost one star because there are so many of these stores so close to each other I think they are somewhat of an eyesore. It loses another star just because what they sell is useless and tasteless and I'm simply not into that stuff - not to mention their prices are excessive.
This location also loses one more star for being built over a spot where they had to tear down one of my favorite eateries. When I was a kid, I remember my dad would take me to Main and Scottsdale once in awhile and we would grab a hot dog at this amazing little hot dog place. I've never had a dog that good since in my life and the fact that it's gone just makes me sad. It's one of the few good memories I have of my father who has since passed away.
Main and Scottsdale is a special corner and deserves to have something special built there... Gilbert Ortega isn't special. Though I do remember my dad used to wear quartz belt buckles back in the 70s and 80s and we did have a few horrible aztec rugs and runners in our house back then.
These places serve a purpose which is to provide tourists with a place to shop for souveniers or new locals with bad taste with a place to blow a lot of money on ugly furniture or statues. I think if you're a tourist visitng Arizona, then this is probably one of those places someone might suggest. New transplants looking to outfit their hideous cookie-cutter million dollar southwest spec home with gaudy sculptures and tacky furniture will spend a fortune here. Locals can simply do what most of us do - pretend it isn't even there.
(I originally reviewed this on 9/18/07, but edited it so much I thought I should re-up it to reset the ratings).