What’s better than overnighting yourself a shipment of new clothes? Having a truck that’s fully outfitted with wares and accessories roll into your driveway so you can shop at your own leisure. That’s the idea behind South Florida’s new mobile boutiques: swapping traditional storefronts for RVs and trucks that can travel to customers and even pop up at your favorite outdoor market. Keep your eyes on the road, because your next big find might come from one of these souped-up rides.
The city’s only floral shop on wheels helps Miamians make a statement beyond fashion. “Chief Petal Pusher” Priscilla Gonzalez converted a 2000 GMC truck into a blooming paradise, where customers can walk in and create their own hand-tied bouquet of hydrangeas, lilies, snapdragons and baby’s breath or, for the confused and apologetic boyfriends out there, a simple dozen fresh-cut roses. Prices range from $2 to $25 if you purchase on the spot, though custom orders are available. You can find the truck at local markets on the fly or contact it yourself for any personal or corporate affair.
What do you get when you take a 1991 school bus and fill it with secondhand purses? A hippie’s dream. Or, if you frequent the Miami Flea every month, you may know it as Stevie’s Stagecoach. Owner Stephanie Farokhnia, who has spent a good portion of her life collecting vintage handbags, decided on the idea for Stevie’s when her own closet became dangerously full. This Americana-style bus boasts gently used shoes, purses and clothing fit for any bohemian with a penchant for brand names, like Coach and Salvatore Ferragamo, plus no-name leather bags in pristine condition. Plenty of styles sell for $20 or less.
Marisa Folz took her love of travel and channeled it into a mobile shop filled with tropical-inspired frocks and printed tees that instantly transport shoppers to faraway places. The former event planner handpicks all the men’s and women’s fashion and lifestyle items in her 1963 Airstream Overlander, which she considers to be a place for discovery rather than just a store. “Celebrate the unknown” is the shop’s slogan. Since launching in April 2016, the Wander Shop (the original remains parked at Eucalyptus Gardens in Wilton Manors) has grown to include a second truck, the Vagabond, that travels to special events.
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