Vital Pomona, a small boutique located at the heart of the Downtown Pomona Arts Colony is now open and is exactly what the local community needed to come to life.
Store owners William and Janine Bissic opened the store with the intent to bring life to the downtown area. The night life is dominating the area as a whole, so the boutique’s mission was to give the community a reason to come around during the day.
“We really wanted to add to the community in a way that was unique,” Janine said. “And so we thought of a space that would do all of the things that we are passionate about, which is giving people a platform to grow, and gifting them with a space and an opportunity. So everything that we do is about that.”
Items that are sold and displayed in the boutique comes from vendors around the community. From the vintage clothing hand-picked at thrift shops by a local woman, to handmade jewelry and homemade vegan muffins and yogurt.
Mentioned on the boutique’s Instagram: “Whether it’s the gift of an inclusive space to hang out, a place to find the perfect gift for someone or a place you’ll come to share your gifts of a talent with others, Vital Pomona wants to be the center of it all.”
The boutique consists of clothing, jewelry, ceramics, purses, body and face products, decorative wood works and so much more.
Aside from this, Vital Pomona also has its own version of a mini-coffee shop. A place to sit down and unwind with a relaxed ambiance. The coffee sold comes from a coffee shop nearby, Mi Cafecito Coffee, friends of the Bissics.
One of the food selections provided are “Mom’s school lunches.” These lunches are only $2.50, made especially with a “note from a mom” written by Janine. She wanted these lunches to be affordable, especially for students, and she wanted them to come from a place like home.
William Bissic graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2011 as a music industry studies student, and has owned businesses in the past with his wife before. He never saw himself owning a store of this kind until about a year ago. Vital Pomona started with an idea by Janine, and William decided he would be the entrepreneur behind the process. From there, as William said, “The rest was history.”
His ultimate goal for the boutique is for people to feel at home when they walk into the store.
“When they think of Vital Pomona, they will think of a place that is theirs, not ours,” William said.
He made it a point to say that everything that this boutique consists of is intentional. The open space, the smell and the food choice. Everything comes together to make the guest feel welcomed and appreciated.
Vital Pomona also holds several events throughout the month like embroidery and tea blending workshops, craft beer exchanges and holiday themed nights. All information is located on its Instagram, @vitalpomona.
Ultimately, the future for this small business looks bright. The boutique is trendy and very different from anything else in the area. It has character and is worth swinging by to experience something new. The store hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.
