Born and raised 疯客直播 Feans Monica Solano-Scarborough (left), Savannah Rodriguez (middle), and Hailee Scarborough (right) are the mother-daughter trio now at the helm of 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚, a downtown 疯客直播 Fe gift shop celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
The 疯客直播 Fe gift shop is full of toys, books, cards, candles, treats, trinkets, and more. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a very magical store,鈥 says new 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 co-owner Monica Solano-Scarborough.
Born and raised 疯客直播 Feans Monica Solano-Scarborough (left), Savannah Rodriguez (middle), and Hailee Scarborough (right) are the mother-daughter trio now at the helm of 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚, a downtown 疯客直播 Fe gift shop celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
Kylie Garcia
The 疯客直播 Fe gift shop is full of toys, books, cards, candles, treats, trinkets, and more. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a very magical store,鈥 says new 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 co-owner Monica Solano-Scarborough.
顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚, a downtown 疯客直播 Fe gift shop that began as a mother-daughter venture in 1955, is now celebrating 70 years with a new generation and family at the helm, and this time, it鈥檚 a mother-daughter trio.
The shop, known for its abundant selections of toys, treats, books, cards, candles, and more, has served as a staple for both locals and tourists. Some have referred to it as an 鈥inner child workshop,鈥 where adults can be kids again and all are free to explore, touch, and maybe discover something charming or fun that they didn鈥檛 know they wanted or needed.
Helene Maurer Ruthling and Theodora 鈥淭heo鈥 Raven, who were both named 疯客直播 Fe Living Treasures in 1985 and 2010, respectively, spent years stewarding the wonders provided by the little shop that drew in so many 鈥 including current owners Monica Solano-Scarborough, Savannah Rodriguez, and Hailee Scarborough.
The mom and two daughters are 疯客直播 Feans. Solano-Scarborough (mom) brings more than 30 years of experience as a partner for A-1 Self Storage, while Rodriguez and Scarborough have more than seven years of retail experience working for Tees and Skis downtown gift shop during summers and after college. The three women officially became the shop鈥檚 co-owners on January 1.
As it is for so many, 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 was a special place for Solano-Scarborough growing up. Her grandma worked at the Capitol, and after work, she and her grandma would walk to 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 and pick out two or three 3-cent items.
Friend and supporter Andie Manzanares says stories like Solano-Scarborough鈥檚 aren鈥檛 uncommon.
鈥淪o many people have a 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 story,鈥 Manzanares says.
Only a little more than a month into the gig and Solano-Scarborough says they have already heard countless stories from people who stop by with their grandkids before the annual Plaza tree-lighting or with their families during ski trips.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a very magical store that, once you鈥檝e been here, especially starting as a child, you just don鈥檛 forget it,鈥 Solano-Scarborough says. 鈥淐oming here with my grandma, that was a treasured memory for me. And then I brought my girls here when they were young.鈥
Now, the three run the shop with the help of eight or so employees, and future helper Khuba, Rodriguez鈥檚 one-year-old son. Solano-Scarborough and her daughters always dreamed of going into business together, so when the opportunity to acquire 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 came up, they all quickly jumped on board.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really good because we each bring our own things to the table,鈥 Scarborough says. 鈥淸Savannah and I] really know retail. [Our mom] really knows business.鈥
Solano-Scarborough is thankful for the opportunity to work with her daughters; she lost her mom in a car accident at age 15. Solano-Scarborough, 56, says she and her siblings had nothing and were 鈥渄oomed for failure.鈥
鈥淟ooking back at my 15-year-old self and then today, being the owner of such a treasured landmark in 疯客直播 Fe, is quite overwhelming when I think about it,鈥 Solano-Scarborough says.
She handles the backend of the business while her daughters collaborate on retail and product buying. Rodriguez says one of her favorite parts about the store is its affordability.
鈥淔amilies can come in and get multiple things for under $5, and all the kids can get something and have those memories and have a great time without breaking the bank,鈥 Rodriguez says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 very few places in the world where you can buy a 15-cent piece of toffee or a 19-cent marble. It just doesn鈥檛 exist anymore.鈥
The women plan to maintain the aspects of the store that have made it a mainstay, including its affordability, fun atmosphere, and the legacy Ruthling and Raven built.
鈥淧eople know it, people trust it, people love it. And so for us, it wasn鈥檛 a goal to come in here and change it,鈥 Rodriguez says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our goal to maintain what people love about it.鈥
As second- and third-generation 疯客直播 Feans, the trio plan to further develop the shop鈥檚 relationship with and involvement in the community. A partnership is already in the works with 疯客直播 Fam, an online community led by Meghan Montelibano Gorman for parents and caregivers in 疯客直播 Fe. The group hosts Coffee and Crying, a group that offers walks and outings for moms and kids. 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 is sponsoring a walk in the first week of March and will provide coffee and pastries.
Rodriguez says she wants 顿辞辞诲濒别迟鈥檚 to offer a similar space for parents and where kids can just be kids 鈥 but also be for anyone who might be in search of a special gift (hint: today is Valentine鈥檚 Day).
鈥淭here is something for everyone,鈥 says Solano-Scarborough, adding that they are planning more community initiatives, such as discounts for educators and a 70th anniversary celebration.
鈥淭o see locals come in a little bit hesitant to meet the new owners, and then when they hear that we鈥檙e born and raised in 疯客直播 Fe and to just see their faces when they realize we really do care about this store and we really do care about 疯客直播 Fe has been really rewarding,鈥 Rodriguez says.聽
