[Phorto coutesy the unicorn store]
The Unicorn Store is an online kids’ boutique with an extensive range of unicorn and fairy-inspired products. The collection boasts items from such brands as Glitterville Studios and Great Pretenders. The store, located at 26 Smith Alley, is open six days a week, with adjusted hours on Sundays.
Founded by Flower Cole in 2016, The Unicorn Store’s mission is to share the magic of fantasy creatures with the world. The owner spoke about the inspiration behind the store and the experience customers can expect.
“I was a child of the eighties and my mother did the most beautiful Easter baskets, and in my Easter eggs, I would often get jewelry in there. And she gave me a gold unicorn charm in one of the eggs,” Cole said. “And that is really kind of what just started my childhood obsession. Later in life, I had always wanted to do a little, a specialty boutique. My late grandmother came to me in a dream and she said, ‘let’s open a store.’ And I thought, ‘oh, that’s silly.This is a dream.’”
In 2016, Cole saw a resurgence of unicorns and decided it was the perfect time to create The Unicorn Store.
The response to the online store was overwhelming, but after experiencing the yearning for a personalized shopping experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cole decided to open a physical store in Pasadena.
Living in Eagle Rock bordering Pasadena, she researched the area and found that Old Pasadena lacked children-specific destinations.
“And when I found One Colorado, which is just so beautiful and has the courtyard and you feel like… you just feel safe in there,” she said. It’s a whole different experience because you come off of Colorado Boulevard into this little magical space in there, and there’s an ice cream store and there’s the movie theater, and it just seemed like the perfect place to be. And that’s how I chose it.”
The Unicorn Store’s pop-up store in Pasadena offers an enchanting experience filled with whimsical products. Cole highlighted some of the unique and popular items customers can expect to find, like a rainbow twirler, a low-price iridescent pencil wand that changes shape when twirled; unicorn plush toys that come with a hairbrush, books with gilded covers and illustrations, and rainbow makers that create sparkly rainbows when attached to windows.
The owner curates the products herself, selecting items that are unique and not commonly found in mainstream stores.
“I purchase everything wholesale,” she said. “So these are all items that I have researched myself. I’m a huge researcher. I like to do a deep dive. I like to find things that are beautiful and fascinating and something that sparks a little bit of happiness.”
In addition to the wide range of products, The Unicorn Store also plans to host special events and promotions during the holiday season. Visitors can look forward to One Colorado’s trick or treat event on Halloween.
Situated at 26 Smith Alley in Pasadena, The Unicorn Store is open from Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays, 12 noon to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.theunicornstore.com.
