Buying local? Four new stores are open in River Park, elsewhere in the Fresno region
If you prefer to do your holiday shopping in person instead of online, we’ve got some good news.
There’s a handful of new stores that just opened in Fresno, just in time for the holidays. They range from new stores in River Park and Campus Pointe, to one in northwest Fresno.
For fans of buying local, two are brand-new concepts that are independently owned. Others are franchises with local owners.
One sells women’s clothing. Others offer flip flops, creative socks and sports jerseys. All are permanent stores, not just here for the holiday shopping season.
Here’s a look at who’s opening and what they sell.
Pink Valley boutique
This little shop on Figarden Drive carries what many would call women’s clothing and accessories, but really, it’s for anyone, said owner Analin Haley.
“It’s inclusive clothing,” she said. “Anybody can wear it if they like it.”
The shop includes jeans and tops, soft fuzzy pink sweaters, leather jackets and plaid “shackets.” Those are the combination of shirts and jackets that are popular these days as outerwear.
Pink Valley carries some larger sizes too (Haley prefers the term curvy instead of plus size).
Some things about this store are a little different than your average clothing shop.
About half the items are made in the United States, and many are either fair trade or made by women-owned companies. There’s also an emphasis on giving back.
Some of the items purchased give $5 to a nonprofit. For example, certain hats give a money to the Poverello House. A portion of the $30 T-shirt that says “Disobedient Woman” goes to fighting poverty.
Most items are priced $15 to $80.
Details: Pink Valley is at 4025 W. Figarden Drive. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 559-668-1079.
Flip Flop Shops and Shoes
At Campus Pointe next to Fresno State, there’s a store dedicated to selling all kinds of flip flops – and a lot more.
Flip Flop Shops is a franchise with stores all over the country, but owner Rene Madrigal wanted to put his own Fresno spin on things. So he’s carrying a lot more than flip flops and has added “and Shoes” to the name of the business.
For people who wear flip flops year round here, there are hundreds of flip flops inside, including brands such as Havaianas, Rainbow, and OluKai.
You’ll also find Crocs (including rainbow tie-dye ones), slippers, hiking boots and warm Bearpaw boots in styles similar to UGG boots.
The shop also carries clothing (including the Salty Crew and RVCA brand), sunglasses, hats and the popular Puravida bracelets.
The store has a wide selection of flip flops, similar to what you may see in a coastal store, Madrigal said.
“By far I have the most inventory in Fresno,” he said. “You basically won’t have to travel to the coast anymore or buy online.”
Details: Flip Flop Shops and Shoes is at 3050 E. Campus Pointe Drive. Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. 559-326-7683.
Crazy Socks
A pair of newlywed teachers has opened a store selling creative socks in River Park.
Crazy Socks sells exactly what it says – all kinds of socks featuring everything from tacos to T-Rexes.
Tommy Her and wife Cheelee Yang, a Fresno City College English instructor and a kindergarten teacher, respectively, like to bring home creative socks when they travel.
“We don’t just want a solid plain color, we want something extraordinary, something a little bit abnormal,” Her said. “Why not just open up a sock store in Fresno?”
It opened last week in one of the small spaces attached to the parking garage. It carries men’s, women’s and children’s socks, most between $8 and $15.
The most popular socks have saying we can’t print in a family newspaper, like “I (poop) glitter.”
But socks that reference hobbies like books or plants are popular too, along with socks featuring Wonder Woman, Aquaman and various anime characters. And there’s everything else imaginable, from holiday- and food-themed socks, to ones with rainbows and butterflies.
The store is also encouraging customers to purchase and donate socks to Valley Children’s Hospital.
Details: Crazy Socks is at 192 E. Via Del Parque. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Contact them via Instagram.
Pro Image Sports
Got a favorite sports team? Chances are the new Pro Image Sports in River Park has something with its name on it.
The store opened in the former The Broilers spot next to Blaze Pizza last month after the restaurant closed. It’s a franchise owned by locals Chris and Esme Aguilar.
It sells sports jerseys, hats, T-shirts and other clothing, cups – even vehicle floor mats with the Lakers logo on them.
In addition to familiar NBA and MLB jerseys, the store also has retro jerseys. Those are the jerseys that basketball players like Shaquille O’Neal, for example, used to wear in college.
Most jerseys cost over $100, but other items in the store are more affordable.
Pro Image gives a 15% discount to first responders and military members, both active and former.
Details: Pro Image Sports is at 215 Paseo Del Centro. Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
