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A Palace of Treasures

Friday, 05 February 2010 00:21

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A breath-taking boutique full of vibrant colors and beautiful jewelry, Maya Palace sells clothes and accessories from all over the world. 

With much of the wardrobe being inspired from Mexico, the boutique carries fashions imported from many Mexican designers. 

Ana Rosa, one of the store’s top designers, sells her clothing line from Guadalajara, Mexico. One of Ana Rosa’s ensembles on display was a white dress made from a light and airy linen - perfect for a summer in the hot, Sonoran desert - and decorated along the bottom with colorful flowers of red, orange and green. 

A family business, the owners of Maya Palace took a long path to get to where they are now. Owners John and Susana Kopplin met in Susana’s hometown of Guana Coste, Costa Rica. Susana owned a small boutique that she bought with the money she won in the Costa Rican lottery. John was a member of the Peace Corp. 

The two met as Susana was busy selling John a pair of Levi jeans that he did not need. John bought the jeans not because he loved the fit, but because he found a sudden interest in the salesperson. The relationship eventually blossomed into a long-lasting partnership.

A couple of years later, the two got married. Susana sold her shop to her sister, and the newlywed couple moved to the U.S. The couple bought a Volkswagen bus and hit the road on their way to Tucson. On their way up the continent, the two began buying and selling merchandise as wholesalers. This eventually led to the opening of their retail shop, Maya Palace. 

Today, the Kopplins still run the boutique at two different locations in Tucson - one at El Mercado at 6332 E. Broadway Blvd. and the other at Casas Adobes at 7057 N. Oracle Rd. CommunityWalk Map - Maya Palace

Written by Laurann Robinson You are reading A Palace of Treasures articles

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