Margie’s

“We have things you wouldn’t probably find in a department store,” said Owner Margie Lowe-Francis. “We ferret out the special things. My daughter Elizabeth and I go to shows to get very unique, one of a kind, American artisan jewelry and clothing.”

The mother daughter team attends shows all over the country, looking for designers and artists who create apparel that is well-made and beautiful.

“One of the rules we try to follow is that if she likes it and if I like it, it’s a for sure go,” said Elizabeth Saldebar, Business Manager/Buyer. “I tend to take her lead as she is the constant stylish professional in this community. We are definitely looking for a sense of style, sense of color, well-made, timeless pieces, something that someone can buy today and wear 10 years from now.”

Margie’s carries clothes for women of all ages. “It’s very interesting, because we have customers who might be in their 20s, and customers in their 90s,” said Lowe-Francis. The constant is that their clients love fashion and have a unique sense of style.

“When you have your own sense of style, you don’t want to look like the next person walking down the street,” said Saldebar. The store caters to women who “have your own unique flair, that you feel confident and comfortable in and then you can present yourself to the world in that manner.”

The two women want to create a shopping experience for the patron, often going that extra step to look for something special for an individual. “It’s very nice when people come in and they are open to letting me help them,” said Lowe-Francis.

“We want to make sure that when you come here it’s a wonderful experience. We want to make sure we have the time to give them,” said Saldebar. “We want [customers] to walk away with packages in hand, feeling like they have found something that’s going to work for them long term, and that they will want to come back and find more, and that when they wear them they will feel fabulous about who they are and what they are wearing.”

Margie’s is truly brimming with hidden treasures. “I’d like people to know that they need to come in and look around,” said Lowe-Francis. “There’s a lot in a small space. A lot of people will come in that I know, and they’ll look around and have to come back because they know they missed something.”

Margie’s, 2156 Huntington Dr., San Marino, (626) 300-9047.