PHOENIX (December 21, 2023) — Visitors to the Phoenix Convention
Center & Venues can now look no further than our very own West Building
for handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, artisan souvenirs from local Phoenix
makers.
Retail Therapy AZ, a gift shop offering work exclusively from local
artisans, Aventura Catering, an exclusive brand of Aramark Sports +
Entertainment (Aramark; NYSE: ARMK), and the Phoenix Convention Center
announced today plans to open a new Retail Therapy AZ storefront inside
the Phoenix Convention Center. The shop, located at the Phoenix
Convention Center’s West Building facing 2nd Street, is expected to
open in early 2024.
“We are excited for Retail Therapy AZ to open at the Phoenix
Convention Center” said the acting director of the Phoenix Convention
Center & Venues Jerry Harper. “ Retail Therapy AZ supports local
makers, and we are grateful for their partnership to create a storefront
for the thousands of people who come through the Phoenix Convention
Center for meetings, events, and conventions each year. We are proud to
partner with yet another local business and provide handmade, artisan
goods to those looking to take a piece of Phoenix home with them.”
The one-of-a-kind shopping experience is a testament to the mission of
Aramark’s Aventura Catering, the convention center’s exclusive food,
beverage and retail operations provider, and the Phoenix Convention
Center to support local businesses and creators. Retail Therapy AZ marks
the third locally owned business to open in the Phoenix Convention
Center in partnership with Aramark’s Aventura Catering, joining Huss
Brewpub and PRESS Coffee.
“The Phoenix Convention Center is at the center of it all in downtown
Phoenix, a premier destination for visitors from around the world,”
said Danielle Lazor, Vice President, West Region, at Aramark Sports +
Entertainment. “The opportunity to partner with Retail Therapy offers
a new and unique shopping experience that reflects the city, its
artisans, and the community, adding to the existing range of authentic
and diverse offerings for guests.”
Retail Therapy AZ co-owners Erica Jerido and Jacqueline Thomas are
thrilled to be opening a downtown Phoenix storefront.
“We began our business in 2021 as a mobile clothing boutique, vending
at local pop-up events and we found that we weren’t passionate about
the clothing, but really we were excited about all the connections we
were making with other local businesses,” Jerido said. “We then
started coordinating community markets throughout the Valley, but we had
the dream that one day we would have a storefront where all the small
businesses we loved could have a permanent space to sell their
products.”
The duo’s storefront dream became a reality after 40 local businesses
showed interest in partnering. The Phoenix Convention Center location
marks the company’s fourth location and will offer products from 80
local businesses and feature space for classes or team building.
“We are so grateful to be able to have this amazing space at the
Phoenix Convention Center,” Jerido said. “We’ve definitely
realized throughout our journey that we attract people from out of town
who want to take something truly local back from Arizona. The Phoenix
Convention Center landed perfectly in that realm, we are excited to be
able to reach people from all over the world and offer them unique and
custom gifts.”
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About Retail Therapy AZ
Established in 2021, Retail Therapy AZ is a one-stop local supporting
local makers throughout Arizona. Within our four locations throughout
the valley, we now are the home of 210 small business owners. We have
become a destination for local tourism to take home a unique piece of
Arizona. Within our stores, we offer private art classes, such as
painting, jewelry, candle making, and more. We are also community
event coordinators who host several pop-up markets throughout the valley
as well as private shopping experiences for seasonal shopping.
About the Phoenix Convention Center & Venues:
The award-winning, GBAC STAR™ accredited, Phoenix Convention Center is
one of the largest convention venues in the United States. It boasts
nearly one million square feet of rentable meeting and event space. As a
department of the City of Phoenix, the Phoenix Convention Center is a
vital economic enterprise for the state and local economy. The Phoenix
Convention Center and venues include the Phoenix Convention Center,
Symphony Hall Phoenix, Orpheum Theatre Phoenix, and nine downtown parking
facilities.
About Aramark Sports + Entertainment
Aramark Sports + Entertainment serves more than 150 award-winning food
and beverage, retail, and facility service programs in premier stadiums,
arenas, convention centers, cultural attractions, performance venues,
and unique entertainment destinations across North America. The company
has received accolades for industry innovations including autonomous
markets, dining concepts powered by artificial intelligence, and
high-profile events like NBA All-Star and MLB at Field of Dreams. In 2021,
Aramark entered into a strategic collaboration with the
Philadelphia-based STARR Restaurants, led by entrepreneur and James
Beard Award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr, which will bring the
renowned culinary visionary’s highly sought-after concepts to clients
throughout Aramark Sports + Entertainment’s portfolio. Aramark has
been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired
Companies,” DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and
“Top Companies for Employee Resource Groups,” Newsweek’s list of
“America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023,” the HRC’s “Best
Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and scored 100% on the Disability
Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us
on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
