New artisan market opens in Indio as downtown revitalization gains momentum

A new indoor marketplace featuring dozens of unique small businesses has opened in downtown Indio, marking another step in the city’s ongoing efforts to transform the downtown with music, art, and culture.

“The Place,” at 45145 Oasis St., showcases artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs – many of them local – in a department store-style setting that gives small businesses affordable retail space in the revitalized downtown district. The marketplace held its soft opening last week, with a grand opening planned for next month.

From 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday — the current hours — the massive space is dotted with bright colors from the many artists displaying their work, interesting textures on vintage and reworked clothing, and many different fragrances from homemade candles. 

The department store is unlike your typical corporate store: The Place features craft supplies, skateboards, vinyl records, pottery, jewelry, cosmetics, and so much more.

Among the businesses setting up shop is Hermano, a flower shop complete with tasteful apparel designs featuring bold typography with phrases that invite one to romanticize their everyday life.

Hermano is owned and run by two Coachella Valley natives, Sesar Orozco and Adrian Romero, who are relocating their operation from Palm Springs to Indio. The two started their business as a pandemic project run out of Orozco’s apartment, five years later it has bloomed into a brand with a message.

Romero, who was born in Mexico, pointed to one of the shirts on display featuring the words “Romanticize Everything.”

“Flowers are beautiful and living life having these opportunities in America, you have to be grateful and blessed for everything that you have, and celebrate every day,” he said.

“Men get their first flowers at their funeral,” said Orozco. “So I say to the girls, buy your men some flowers!”

Romero designs the apparel and said he takes a lot of inspiration from Mexico. Everything from the wooden display at The Place to the font choice on the hats are inspired by that.

“Because of our heritage we try to emphasize the culture of who we are as Latinos,” Orozco added.

Hermano Flower Shop will continue to serve the whole valley, “But our main focus is going to be this side of the valley,” Orozco said. “It’s calling us, we just follow a calling.”

Romero said the location of The Place is perfect, right across the street from his other venture, Rosemary HiFi, an impeccably designed, one-of-a-kind vinyl listening lounge and bar.

“The Place” operates under a similar concept to other local marketplaces and provides space for businesses that might otherwise struggle to afford standalone retail locations.

The opening of “The Place” continues Indio’s downtown revitalization efforts, providing local entrepreneurs with opportunities to grow their businesses while contributing to the area’s cultural and economic development.

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