New Joliet Store: Merchandise Made By Indigenous People

JOLIET, IL —As the economy continues to recover, Leo Gonzalez has opened up a new retail clothing and accessory store in downtown Joliet called the Artesano Store. His store at 103 North Ottawa St., Suite B, sells handmade clothes imported from Mexico.

"We're here, and we're open," Gonzalez told Joliet Patch during last week's interview.

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.

He is excited about the Artesano Store's chances for success, saying he wanted to locate close to Joliet's new mammoth Will County Courthouse, which opened in November.

Gonzalez said his products range in price from as little as $3 for a bracelet to about $220 for some of the leather boots.

Prior to opening his Artesano Store in late July, Gonzalez said he had been involved with online sales for the past three years.

"We just want to keep spreading the culture and histories through each item that is handmade," Gonzalez told Patch. "I love Joliet and want to put my little bit of me to help this town to make it alive because I know Joliet sometimes it looks so dead."

Gonzalez said he is proud the Artesano store carries handmade table runners.

"It takes almost two days to make one of these," he remarked. "Most of our stuff is handmade or made on a sewing machine."

He also carries several styles of leather boots. Several of his T-shirts focus on different Mexican tribes and history. The Artesano Store carries a variety of jewelry, dresses "and cowboy style as well."

He also carries accessories of Mexican holidays. There's a variety of Mexican candies that Gonzalez said he imported "to sell in the U.S."

"We feel proud to help the indigenous people from Mexico by importing their products to the U.S.," Gonzalez said.

The Artesano Store is now open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Gonzalez is located in the two-story building at the corner of Ottawa and Van Buren Streets. The property is owned by Joliet businessman Noe Patino, who continues to renovate different portions of his building now known as Plaza 66, in honor of Joliet's ties to historic Route 66.

Gonzalez wanted people to know that his products are not just exclusive to people of Mexican heritage. In recent days, some of the employees who work across the street at the Tomczak Law Group visited the Artesano Store to purchase several clothing accessories, Gonzalez said.

"It's for everyone, basically," he said.

Gonzalez said that Patino plans to open a Mexican breakfast and brunch restaurant in Plaza 66 in the coming weeks that will aim to draw even more visitors to downtown Joliet.

"We're hoping by September that he opens that restaurant," Gonzalez said. "He's put in a lot of work to make (the building) look better, to just help Joliet's downtown to attract more people to the town."

On the other side of Gonzalez is The Niche, a clothing store that re-opened for business in June.

Gonzalez said the Artesano Store has received awards from the Grundy County Fair in Morris, where he has had a vendor's booth and tent for several years.

"The Grundy County Fair," Gonzalez began, "they love us. We've received a lot of support from the people in Morris."

In the coming weeks, Gonzalez plans to unveil a nearly 6-foot-tall statue known as La Catrina that will be displayed outside his business.

He said La Catrina is synonymous with the Day of the Dead celebration, on Nov. 2.

The business phone for the Artesano Store is 815-630-3467. The Facebook page for the new business has already reached more than 720 followers.