Lobbying For Local
If you have been following us for a while you will know by now that at Boardwalk it is our mission to support the local community and embrace initiatives that better the local economy. As part of that mission, we recently revisited an area in our Lobby, designed as a small Lobby Café where guests can grab an assortment of food & drink items on the go, or sit down in the cozy corner. In this blog, you can learn about the mini store featuring local products, arts & crafts.
The Lobby Shop
This tiny shopping gem inside the Lobby tucked between the indoor palm tree and the entryway to the main pool deck, offers a variety of local arts and crafts, jewelry, bags and beach wear. Local artists, small business owners and even some of Boardwalk’s very own staff members, found their way to The Lobby Store, showcasing their handmade Aruba souvenirs, keepsakes, and colorful passion projects. In no time they’ve all proven to become best sellers which prompted the hotel to make even more space available for these local, creative entrepreneurs and at the same time provide Boardwalk guests the opportunity to shop for unique and locally made souvenirs.
LOCAL PRODUCTS WITH A STORY
The stories behind the creators of the local merchandise in The Lobby Store are as remarkable and diverse as the arts and crafts themselves. Aruba-born Monica Franken is the designer and creator behind the jewelry line Mersea. She found herself working all types of different jobs, yet always had a creative spark and zest for jewelry in the back of her mind. From the age of ten, Monica started making jewelry. Her longtime hobby took a different direction after someone complimented her on her self-made earrings while she was waiting tables. That someone happened to be the owner of a local resort who invited her to their craft market. It was the start of a process in which Monica slowly transitioned her crafts into a small business.
All of Mersea’s jewelry pieces, made from gold-plated metal, semi-precious stones and glass beads are hand-made by Monica solely. She offers different collections, which are mainly inspired by Aruba, and especially by Monica’s deep appreciation for her surroundings and the elements. She tries her best at translating her deep fascination for Aruba’s nature and ocean into her designs. The most recent collection “Otro Mundo” was inspired by the underwater world, and the world on the surface, and where they collide. Monica just completed a soldering course and Mersea is looking to expand real soon.
Mersea’s collaboration with Boardwalk started in 2022 when Monica created an exclusive line of bracelets. Besides The Lobby Store at Boardwalk, Mersea can be found at Bula Surf Shop, My Gallery, Sunset Shack, Vela Sports Aruba and at the webshop.
Matching Gems
Other locally produced and hand-made products on display at The Lobby Store are colorful leather accessories by the creative hands of Sascha Nieuwenhuis. Dutch-born Sascha arrived in Aruba almost two decades ago and over the year crossed paths with Boardwalk, even staying at the hotel as a guest. Sascha creates high quality leather pieces in bright, happy colors, called Sassy Aruba, which are a total match with Boardwalk’s Caribbean vibe. And that’s how Sascha transitioned from a local guest to a local supplier at Boardwalk! You can also shop Sassy Aruba on various craft markets on the island, and find inspiration online.
Boardwalk, situated on the lush grounds of a former coconut plantation, couldn’t be happier with the addition of Marlies Don to the local suppliers list with her hand-painted coconut pieces. Marlies transforms locally sourced coconuts into true art pieces with various purposes: from decorative bowls to Christmas ornaments in the season. Broken coconuts and left over materials are also repurposed and given a second life as funky Aruba-themed key chains. Marlies donates part of the proceeds of Coconut Bowl Aruba to Animal Rescue organization Sgt Peppers Aruba.
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
We also have a little surprise in store for you, as some contributions in The Lobby Store are hand-made by Boardwalks’ very own Reservations Manager Katarina Brkovic Willemsberg, and Assistant-General Manager Mickael Mesker.
Katarina found inspiration for her collection of hand-made necklaces in her five-year-old son JJ. One day as they were walking down the beach, JJ found a shell and asked if they could use it to make a necklace. Many moons ago Katarina used to make jewelry, and this simple question by her son sparked her interest for her abandoned passion again. And then, recently a guest mentioned that they liked her necklace, not knowing Katarina made them herself and this prompted her to start selling her hand-made pieces, exclusively in The Lobby Store.
Busy-bee Mickael Mesker, non-stop zooming around the property when on duty at Boardwalk, spends his free time at home sitting at a picnic table in his backyard. Here he hand-paints Caribbean houses on locally sourced driftwood.
Growing up in Aruba, Mickael already started painting driftwood in bright colors at the age of eight. He continued his practice over time, as the vibrant colors of the Caribbean make for just the right souvenir to bring as a souvenir to family members abroad. With that in mind, Mickael thought Boardwalk guests might also want to bring a piece of Aruba’s warmth and vibrant colors home.
On long walks along Aruba’s North Shore Mickael can spend hours on secluded bays, finding just the right shape and size pieces of driftwood for his colorful paintings. While at work the colorful surroundings and details of Boardwalk’s casitas inspired him to paint locally inspired houses on his driftwood finds. Occasionally, his hobby and professional life intertwine even more, as Mickael also assists in painting the driftwood signs and room numbers in use at Boardwalk. His art is exclusively for sale at The Lobby Store.
