A New Space for Local Small Businesses to Find Community
Written by Vi-Anh Nguyen and Vi-Linh Nguyen | July 23 2026
The notorious Texas heat proves an unrelenting obstacle for makers’ markets and outdoor craft fairs. Given that these events foster community and encourage makers of all disciplines to hone their respective crafts, local artists and small businesses continue to put themselves out there regardless of inopportune weather. This situation creates the need for an indoor venue, maintaining the purpose of traditional outdoor markets in a way that protects both the customers and sellers from the elements. That's where Ingram's newest attraction comes in: The Shops on Park Lane encourages the importance of supporting local businesses and the sense of community fostered behind that.
The founders of this upcoming space are Joseph Garett and Christian Giron. They created a 25-square-foot venue which replicates the atmosphere of an outdoor market inside the Ingram Park Mall. This indoor space provides a reprieve for artists and makers, no longer having to worry about potential heat stroke or dehydration while preparing to sell their wares. Garett's work as a realtor, the founder of Pride Center SA, and the founder and former director of Woodlawn Pointe Center for Community informs his consideration of how the space could be used, as well as the logistics of such a large-scale project. His experience in community work ensures the Park Lane shops are in good hands to truly build a sense of community for those in Ingram. Giron's work in the hospitality industry helps in considering the needs of both the customers and the vendors. Giron's additional expertise in the fashion industry and with content creation is utilized in spreading word of the new space. Giron and Garret’s efforts keep the needs of everyone in mind, assuring everyone has a good experience in the new space.
Highlighting local businesses comes with the added benefit of facilitating the meeting of like-minded individuals, local to San Antonio or otherwise. Shopping at big department stores can be anonymous and impersonal, as customers are there to find what they need and get out. In a space like the Shops on Park Lane, there's a better chance to get to know both the shoppers and the vendors themselves. In comparison with the commercial stores found in big malls, customers and vendors can develop actual relationships by building a genuine rapport.
The Shops on Park Lane is an opportunity for the founders, Garett and Giron, to further their own creative ventures alongside the vendors who will establish themselves there. Garett has been selling wind spinners designed by Giron for a few years now, so this new venture is an opportunity is simultaneously helping further establish their creative brand and helping other locals to do the same. The best way to do this is through marketing; Giron's creativity is the backbone behind the marketing efforts, evident in the Shops on Park Lane ability to emphasize local and in-house marketing. Not only will their new venue offer a place to sell and purchase wares from small businesses, there will also be a photo studio. The studio helps with the marketing aspect, meaning marketing is a group effort to help get the word out about what can be found at the Shops on Park Lane.
With the dependence on mega corporations, a physical space like the Shops on Park Lane will put both the consumer and entrepreneurial power back in the hands of the people. This way, consumers can look to one another to direct more of the economic flow into local businesses, allowing the people to go beyond the cookie-cutter standards established by mega corporations. With third spaces free of corporate imposition, there’s room for creativity, creativity that is driven by community. Join in the excitement to see what this new attraction will bring. The Shops on Park Lane soft-opening is August 1st.
Learn More About The Shops on Park Lane
Instagram: @theshopsonparklane
Website: theshopsonparklane.com
