The Artisano Store Wants You To Take Your Selfie With 'Catrina'

JOLIET, IL — In July, Leo Gonzalez opened up a new retail clothing and accessory store in downtown Joliet called the Artesano Store where he sells handmade clothes imported from Mexico. Gonzalez recently added a nearly 6-foot-tall statue known as La Catrina, or Catrina.

"It's related to the Day of the Dead," Gonzalez told Joliet Patch during Tuesday morning's interview. "It's a representation of where we come (from) but not 100 percent what we are. It's a reminder that we have a life to live."

Now, Gonzalez is displaying Catrina outside his storefront during peak hours of business every day, typically from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., he said.

"I still got to get a sign that says, 'Take a selfie," Gonzalez said.

The Artesano Store is at 103 North Ottawa St., Suite B. It's one of the retail stores in the Plaza 66 owned by Joliet commercial property investor Noe Patino.

Gonzalez said Catrina is synonymous with the Day of the Dead celebration, which takes place Nov. 2.

Gonzalez does not plan to sell his new Catrina figure anytime soon.

Instead, Catrina will be featured for marketing and promotional purposes, to draw more attention to his new downtown Joliet storefront.

He has been displaying Catrina the past few weeks, and several people have stopped.

"People stop by and are busy taking selfies, and that was the main reason, to attract them," Gonzalez said. "I'm so happy to see everybody is happy to see it."

Bringing Catrina to Joliet was no small feat.

In fact, it was quite a journey.

Gonzalez said he had to drive from Joliet all the way to Mexico City to obtain his Catrina statue, which is made of fiberglass. The distance from Joliet to Mexico City is 2,013 miles, and the drive takes almost 33 hours by automobile.

"I had to go drive more than 30 hours to see it and bring it back to have it," he said. "At some point, it helps promote my business. So many people will be taking selfies and posting them on Facebook."

As for his new retail store, the clothes being sold at the Artseno Store are made by indigenous people in Mexico, according to Gonzalez, who has lived in Joliet since 2004.

Gonzalez said The Artesano Store will be hosting a meet and greet for the Will County Democratic Party Latino Caucus from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 23.

"I expect at least 30 people over here," he said.

The Artesano Store is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Gonzalez said he's noticing more and more foot traffic in downtown Joliet as more and more young entrepreneurs are now opening new retail stores. "Little by little, this place is bringing life back," he told Joliet Patch on Tuesday. "I would like to work with the city (for) evenings, to have some activities, so they can bring more walking traffic around the businesses."

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

New Joliet Store: Merchandise Made By Indigenous People