Magnolia Unique Boutique has been in business for more than 26 years in Arcadia. The founder and the owner, Karen Crisci, spent many years working in the travel industry. When she finished that career she wanted to do something locally in her neighborhood, and so she decided to start this business. When she saw the location she could imagine herself opening a business there.  

Some of the goods she has are gifts, clothing cards, and all kinds of books. She has a big variety and the items are very unique. She also cares a lot about personalized service. She makes a hat in order to match a dress, and prepares items for all the important life events, like baby showers, birthdays, weddings, and even funerals. For customer‘s parties, she often decorates the whole house with flowers and her items. 

In spite of her desire to be connected with her customers, it has been very challenging because people now tend to order things online through companies like Amazon. She is worried that her store might not exist in the future, but she hasn’t given up.  She has done more than 550 fashion shows, including some at hospitals to promote her items. She often travels abroad to purchase unique goods in hope that her customers will be interested in them.

Thank you to the English as a Second Language (ESLN) students from Pasadena City College for partnering with us on this special project. As part of their U.S. Cultural Traditions and Social Change class in Spring 2024, the students gathered stories and information directly from local legacy businesses, capturing their unique contributions to our community. We are proud to showcase their authored profiles and celebrate their hard work. A special thank you to Fen Dong and Haiyan (Rebecca) Li for working closely with Magnolia’s Unique Boutique. Your dedication has brought these stories to life beautifully!