Amols' on a Saturday afternoon. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios
👋 Madalyn here. I'm deep in Fiesta prep — plotting my itinerary, picking outfits and making my annual pilgrimage to Amols'.
Catch up quick: Amols' has been a San Antonio staple since 1949. While it has moved locations a couple times, its status as a stop for party pros is unchanged.
The vibe: The aisles, draped in papel picado and bursting with paper flowers, are packed this time of year. Fiesta diehards buzz around, hunting for the perfect decor to make door wreaths, flower crowns and more.
If I saw this kind of crowd at any other store, I'd probably turn the car around and try again later. But this is different — I want to be part of the pre-Fiesta hype.
The energy is infectious and familial, like a shared ritual.
This year was the first time I saw a police officer directing foot traffic from an overflow parking lot to the entrance — it's thatserious.
The bottom line: It's more than party supplies. It's a moment of citywide anticipation and tradition.
