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Friendly Hills resident shares 12 of her favorite shops and suggests 5 great Whittier restaurants.
At Elias Photography, we were with our customer Yvette Martinez when we mentioned our new Web Site, ShopWhittier.com. We explained that it was created to inspire residents to support the local economy by Shopping in Whittier.
Later, we visited Yvette in her Friendly Hills home to talk more about how she made a conscious decision to Shop in Whittier. Her testimonial was such an inspiration we wanted to share her experience. Yvette explained that Whittier is the place she and her husband, Randall, decided to make their home. Yvette's family first moved to Whittier when she was in the first grade, she remembers walking down the hill to concerts at Whittier College and Central park. Now she takes her two year old son to the same places.
Kudos to Whittier Businesses for their Excellent Customer Service
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This year, Yvette shopped in local businesses instead of traveling to the West Side for Christmas gifts and her son's safari themed birthday party. She was amazed at how many things she found here in lieu of driving to Pasadena or Beverly Hills. She commented that the customer service was excellent, in her experience, so hats off to the businesses mentioned here, for their excellent customer service.
A Few Favorite Places to Shop
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For her son's themed birthday party, the Martinez family went to Oceanic Arts on Whittier Blvd. “I'm so glad you're still here!” she told them. They also shopped at Orbit Party Rentals.
She purchased a toddler's rocking chair at Baby & Youth Store on Whittier Blvd, “They are a great specialty store for furniture, bedding and toys; if and they don’t have what you are looking for, they will find it and order it for you”.
After taking her digital photos to Monte's Camera for printing, Yvette went next door to Vinatero Wine Shop for a glass of wine. While she was there, she found a Perrier-Jouet Champagne Flower Bottle gift set with two matching gasses, and they also recommended the right chocolates to compliment her wine selections.
At Chef's Corner Store, Yvette bought her friend a leopard print apron with matching martini glasses, and for herself she purchased a box of animal shaped cookie cutters made by Nordicware.
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The Wishing Well Toy Store helped to grant many wishes for Yvette's son. There, she found a Radio Flyer Trike, a toy piano and a spinning top. They have great stuff for moms too, so she got a photo album with Svarovsky crystals and a great diaper bag made by La Bella Ragazza that she uses when she travels out of town with her son. Everyone loves that bag so much that she keeps buying them as gifts. “I used to have to drive out of town to find this brand of diaper bag,” she said.
Here are some comments Yvette had to say about businesses in Uptown Whittier:
Lovell's: At Christmas time, Yvette purchased the hard to find Chipmunk Christmas Album at Lovell's, on Greenleaf Avenue.
Rattle and Roll: “Has unique detailed items that I don't see everywhere, and vintage pieces.”
Havana House: “I found cigars here for family members who enjoy cigars. They have two stores, one of which is in Alhambra on Main Street.
Uptown Antiques and Gifts: “Has beautiful teacups and unique jewelry, and they wrap nicely.” One of Yvette's favorite purchases here was an elegant, table top lemonade server.
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So So Cute Boutique: “They specialize in Hello Kitty. My friend was visiting from San Francisco and was looking for items for her Hello Kitty party and found them all here.”
Whittier Restaurants offer Great Food and Service
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Phlight: “We brought our friends who were visiting from Argentina to Phlight for Tapas and Wine – they enjoyed the food, atmosphere and the Brazilian music.”
The Red Oak Barbeque: “A special treat we stumbled across. They have delicious food; a special hickory chip process and sauces. We’re having them cater a party for us.”
Crepes and Grapes: “They make you feel like you’re part of the family and it’s comfortable and elegant.”
Dattilo's Italian Restaurant:“The restaurant always looks wonderful. Its good food and a beautiful environment”
Village Sweets: “A fun place. I bought a couple of my holiday gifts there. I’m working with Monica now for my son's birthday party”
Shopping Local has Benefits
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It goes without saying that shopping locally has many benefits. For one, it fosters small businesses, one of our country's greatest sources of better jobs. We make a contribution to the local economy every time we make a purchase in Whittier.
We are close enough to Los Angeles and Orange County to get the benefits of diversity in products, but at the same time, we have our own local flavor – and that's not something you can find just anywhere.
It is interesting to reflect on how much people in our lives make a difference. In this case, it's about the businesses, the owner's style, and the service they provide. To the residents who live here, it makes a community feel like home. And that's another good reason to “Shop Whittier.”
Story by Rene Hader & Rick Elias
Photos by Rick Elias
