Grande Shopping Along the Rio

Nature isn’t the only big draw in the Rio Grande Valley. Tourists have long used the Valley as a base for shopping expeditions into Mexico.

Photo by J. Griffis SmithNow, thanks in large part to the new Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets in Mercedes, the Mid-Valley region is a shopper’s paradise. But if you venture away from the crowds to explore the one-of-a-kind shops in Mercedes, Weslaco and tiny Progreso Lakes, you’ll discover a wealth of surprises. In fact, it’s possible to find antique American butter churns and Depression-era glass, Mexican pottery crafted by renowned artisans, Russian jewelry, ostrich-skin boots, and hand-cranked phonographs.

One of South Texas’ best-known bootmakers, Rios of Mercedes, has for decades made custom boots for hard-working cowboys, along with such hardworking celebrities as Lyle Lovett and Dwight Yoakum. Today, Rios of Mercedes sells its handmade footwear to distributors nationwide, but the factory in Mercedes runs a small outlet store stocked with boots in a dizzying array of colors and styles.

Just a few blocks away, is Cavazos Boots. During a visit to McAllen in 1998, former President Bill Clinton commissioned Cavazos bootmakers to create a pair of two-tone, ostrich boots adorned with images of the White House, the presidential seal, and a saxophone. Clinton’s thank-you letter hangs in the front of the store.
Down the street at Camargo’s Western Boots, you’ll find some of the wildest designs in the Valley. Head to Camargo’s for boots embellished with images of vintage cars and motorcycles, sports and other imaginative flourishes.

More shopping fun awaits in nearby Weslaco. In the town’s tidy historic downtown area, you’ll find Bugambilias Marketplace, where 36 specialty shops offer everything from mahogany office desks to books, children’s bedroom sets, costume jewelry and scented candles.
Bugambilias owner Patti Dittburner makes frequent buying trips to Thailand to find unusual furniture—wagon wheels turned into coffee tables, polished benches and stools, and chairs fashioned from railroad ties. She specializes in life-size, bronze statuary of children, which make their way into gardens across the Southwest.

About two blocks south of Bugambilias, 27 vendors offer goodies from around the world at a treasure-trove called Mimi’s Attic. Vendors Floyd and Patricia Stratton keep a booth at the front of the store, where their menagerie of curious items might include an antique spinning wheel, a train set, a mid-1800s foot warmer, and a vintage butter mold. “We specialize in the old and the unusual,” Floyd explains.

Across the street, at Antiques and More, history also enthralls owner J.J. Villarreal, who specializes in antique furniture, which is good news for customers searching for French display cabinets, 1930s drop-leaf tables, hand-carved American armoires, or restored pianos.
A short walk down the street takes you to a shop called Antiques and Collectibles, where owner Mi Belia Mena offers antique American and European furniture and cut glass. Mena scours estate sales and auctions nationwide to find her diverse collection of vases, bowls, plates, and decanters, along with unusual sewing machines, hall trees, vanities, poster beds, and chests-of-drawers.  
The Mid-Valley’s diverse collection of antique furniture, Mexican handicrafts, leather goods, jewelry, and ceramics makes the area an exciting place for your holiday shopping. Treat yourself to a weekend of exploring the area’s nooks and crannies, and chances are you’ll find a fortune in treasures and handmade goods at bargain prices.

See the full article in the December 2008 issue.

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