HOUSTONIA
Rice Village Party Supply Store Emerson Sloan has always been full of fun and whimsy—think giant balloons filled with rainbow-colored confetti and more shaped like tacos or pugs, unicorn horns and sparkly piñatas, dinosaur temporary tattoos and cactus-shaped paper plates—but now has room for even more.
The uniquely curated shop, which first opened four years ago, has moved from 2414 to 2438 Rice Boulevard—just 10 doors down the street, but nearly double the space. The new 2,448-square-foot location—formerly home to the now-closed children’s shop Giggles—is flooded with natural light thanks to exterior walls full of windows. There’s also better parking, with designated parking spots in front of the corner shop, plus the option to pick up party goods curbside or have them delivered to any location.
Owner Kim Etheridge opened her new doors on Tuesday, and the celebration continues into the weekend: For National Teddy Bear Day, Emerson Sloan is partnering with non-profit foster care and adoption agency DePelchin Children’s Center on Sunday, September 9 to host a teddy bear drive. From noon to 5 p.m., the store will collect stuffed bears to be gifted to local kids in adoptive and foster care.
Universally loved by all kids, teddy bears are a natural fit for the cause as they symbolize “love, tenderness, comfort, care, and philanthropy,” according to DePelchin Children’s Center marketing director Traci Patterson, all especially important to adopted children or those still in foster care.
“These children often go into a new home and have very little to call their own. DePelchin gives children these very special bears as a way to help them have a feeling of security and sense of ownership as they transition into a new home,” Patterson said. “The bears have been a meaningful way for children and families to give back to some of the most vulnerable children in our community.”
On Sunday, Emerson Sloan will sell DePelchin’s signature “Sunny Bear” for a $20 minimum donation—the purchasing family can take the bear home themselves or donate it to the cause to be gifted to a DePelchin child. The drive will also accept other (new) teddy bears, and all monetary proceeds will benefit DePelchin.
“Emerson Sloan is excited to host such an important event at our new location,” Etheridge said. “We believe the Teddy Bear Drive will make a difference to so many children at DePelchin Children’s Center. We are hopeful that many children and families will come by the store, and purchase or donate a bear to support this worthy cause.”
https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2018/9/7/emerson-sloan-moves