Sew Bonita, From Stitch to Storefront: Islander Alumna Elena Flores ’03, ’07 takes Non-Traditional Path to Successful Brick-and-Mortar
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In a colorful Corpus Christi storefront filled with souvenirs, novelty items, and home goods bearing distinctly Spanglish phrases and Tex-Mex slang, Sew Bonita owner Elena Flores ’03, ’07 works diligently to prepare for the morning rush just before the store’s first hour of operation. It’s the middle of summer, and Flores and her husband, Gerald, attend to every detail to ensure no sales opportunity is missed.
Flores, a proud Island University double alumna with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a Master of Science in Community Counseling, initially pursued a career in case management for adults with special needs. Despite the satisfaction her work provided, she always felt something was missing. From a young age, she had envisioned herself as a store owner.
“I’ve always been in love with Tex-Mex culture — the color, the food, the smells, everything,” said Flores, a native of Eagle Pass, Texas. “I’ve always felt like this was something that I want to do, but I put it on the back burner.”
In 2014, Flores’ husband gifted her a sewing machine, a gesture that would become a turning point in her life.
“My mother, Esperanza Ruiz, passed away in 2008 right after my time in grad school,” Flores said. “She always wanted to teach me how to sew, but I was a rebellious teenager, so I never learned. When Gerald gifted me the machine, I signed up for some sewing workshops and I finally learned how to sew.”
Flores works closely with her husband, a graphic designer by trade, to realize her design ideas. As she honed her skills, Flores began creating T-shirt designs that featured references to Latino culture as well as prideful souvenir items bearing fresh takes on the city’s name and familiar places. Before long, those designs could be found on coffee mugs, stickers, keychains, and magnets.
“At first, it was just for fun, making things and then learning from the mistakes,” Flores said. “And then, it just took off. Starting in 2021, we did pop-up markets and I hosted quarterly markets called ‘Loca for Local,’ which is a phrase I have since trademarked. So, here I was working full-time in social services, and I also had a thriving side hustle.”
Given their growing customer base, the couple decided to launch a brick-andmortar retail space where buyers could easily browse and buy items from the store’s eclectic line of products. The couple opened Sew Bonita in a 500-square-foot storefront in Hamlin Shopping Center in late 2021.
“I signed a one-year lease because we just didn’t know; I was still working full time during the week and opening the shop on weekends. I worked seven days a week for a whole year just to test the waters,” Flores said.
Demand for the store’s products, which includes popular items from Mexico, proved so strong it prompted the search for a larger retail space. The couple moved the store to its current location in Meadowbrook Shopping Center on Alameda Street near Airline Road in October 2022.
Sew Bonita’s strong social media presence has attracted customers from as far away as Detroit, New York, Norway, and even Japan. The store was featured on the ABC show “Good Morning America” and was profiled by Texas Monthly.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be in a printed magazine that my dad subscribes to,” she said.
Flores said she encourages entrepreneurial-minded Islanders to listen to their heart but remember to plan accordingly.
“I know the fear of leaving the safety of constant income, health insurance, and retirement,” Flores said. “Jumping out of that world and into self-employment is scary, but with proper planning, it’s entirely possible and totally worth it.”
