Mexican gift shop opens in downtown SLO. Take a look inside
A Mexican-inspired store that sells jewelry and gifts and hosts arts-and-crafts workshops has opened in downtown San Luis Obispo.
Hola SLO celebrated its grand opening this past weekend with piñatas, enormous paper flowers and local handmade jewelry as part of the festivities.
Owners Sandra Olea-Courter and Sara McGrath have been friends for years — when McGrath was setting up her own business Corazon Café, Olea-Courter was the first to answer the call to help set up.
“We share a wavelength creatively, have similar visions, interests, tastes and passions,” McGrath told The Tribune. “And when my husband and our business partner and I were starting the cafe two and a half years ago, Sandra was the friend who called up at 8:30 in the evening and said, ‘Where are you right now?’”
Now, it’s Olea-Courter’s turn to open up her little shop, or tiendita in Spanish. The jewelry maker started embroidering Mexican dresses on Etsy in 2018, expanding to balloon arches, decor and classic Mexican gifts at local craft fairs.
Both Olea-Courter and McGrath had been eyeing the space next door to Corazon Café, waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
When Premium Barbers permanently closed this year, the two owners took the leap and took over the space’s lease.
“We support each other and encourage each other, and when this opportunity presented itself, we just said, ‘It’s now or never,’ and it’s nice to share that vision with another creative person like Sara and we collaborate on many other things,” Olea-Courter told The Tribune.
Hola SLO sells Mexican-inspired gifts including cards, candles, mugs, tote bags, kids books, sacred heart decor, wallets, Mexican sweets, ornaments and Olea-Courter’s signature colorful jewelry.
Beyond the long list of gift merchandise, Hola SLO also hosts arts-and-crafts workshops, such as making Christmas ornaments and painting sacred hearts.
“It’s a beautiful thing, along with the art exhibits and other community events we’ve hosted, just to share that alcove and entryway with a gift store that’s going to have that cultural focus,” McGrath said.
Hola SLO’s ambiance has been described as cozy, warm and a place for visitors to come in and feel at home, Olea-Courter said. The shop is her dream come true, and its colorful walls and decor reflect that.
“It’s something that I’ve been manifesting for such a long time and the stars just needed to align,” she said. “This would not be possible without Sara. I think when I just needed that little extra push, Sara just said, ‘We have got to do it, and we have to do it now, and it’s now or never.’”
For more information
Hola SLO at 845 Higuera St. is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is expanding its hours from Wednesday to Friday. For more information about the shop, visit its Instagram at hola.slo.