Boutiques Bolster City's Status as an International Shopping Destination
business, delores gonzalez, mcallen, mcallen-hidalgo-reynosa international bridge, rio grande valley, sylvia johnson,
Everything’s bigger in Texas, including McAllen’s retail sector. The city has quickly become the shopping hub of South Texas and northern Mexico, luring 40 of the nation’s top 100 retailers to this lucrative developer’s paradise. Ten million consumers reside within a 200-mile radius, boosting McAllen’s per capita retail sales to nearly twice the state average. In 2007 alone, retail sales exceeded $3.58 billion.
While those figures provide plenty of incentive for major retailers to flock to McAllen, small-business owners find themselves equally encouraged by the city’s status as an international shopping destination.
Delores Gonzalez is one such entrepreneur. In 2005, the Mission native opened the trendy Stay in Style boutique at 1101 W. Pecan. The store carries exclusive ladies’ lines including Maria de Guadalajara and more, along with cutting edge clothing and accessories from the nation’s most elite markets.
“Customers know the Valley is big on international fashion, and that’s why I decided to open my own store,” Gonzalez says. “I try to find unique things from different places, because women here want to be unique.”
The success experienced by Gonzalez and others is due in large part to Mexican nationals willing to travel for the latest in high-end fashion. Today’s commute to South Texas is easier than ever thanks to the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge linking McAllen to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, which boasts a population of nearly one million. Retail tourism is expected to grow even more with the opening of the Anzalduas International Crossing at Granjeno. Scheduled for completion in mid-2009, the 2.7-mile bridge will provide a direct route from Mission to Monterrey, which is Mexico’s third largest city. The crossing will include two southbound lanes, two northbound lanes and a pedestrian crossing. Officials anticipate the new bridge could trim as many as 45 minutes off a trip to or from Monterrey.
“I know it will be great for business,” says Sylvia Johnson, owner of Sylvia’s and Uniques boutiques in McAllen.
The clothing and accessory boutiques at 4300 N. 10th St. offer exclusive lines for women of all ages. Sylvia’s boasts a large selection of styles from special occasion to dressy casual, extensive shoe and Brighton departments and much more. Next door, Uniques draws trendy shoppers with fashion denim from Seven and True Religion, and clothing from Juicy Couture and other high-end labels.
Johnson says style-savvy shoppers willing to drive from Monterrey often prefer the extra attention provided by boutiques and specialty stores. And since she carries more unique items than most large retailers, Johnson says their presence poses little threat to hers and other small businesses.
“When there are larger stores here it’s to our advantage, because it keeps consumers in the Rio Grande Valley,” Johnson says. “A lot of cities do well with large national retailers, but McAllen seems to be good for the small-business owner, as well.”
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Story by Jesse Knish
Photo by Jesse Knish
