We had the good fortune of connecting with Whitnye Raquel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

What was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I had always dreamed of having my own shop. I envisioned a small, market style boutique with an eclectic, advant-garde aesthetic. However, in my current season of life this dream was just not feasible. I wanted to travel. The time and energy it would take to run a brick and mortar shop wasn’t practical for me. I had seen a video on Facebook of a Portland native, Taylor Valdés, who had started her own vending company, The Venderia, She filled her machines with quirky handmade treasures, thrifted goods, and locally made art. Some months later I had picked up a gig MCing a bingo night at Wild Acre Brewing company where I saw a brightly colored, hand painted vending machine tucked away in the corridor entrance. The treasures inside looked oddly familiar, and after speaking with the general manager of the company at the time, I discovered that the creation belonged to his wife, Tamera Castaldo, who had been working closely with Taylor in order to get her own machine up and running. When the pandemic hit, the Brewery was forced to reduce their operating hours, and Mr. and Mrs. Castaldo had decided it was time to let their machine go. My partner jumped at the chance, and purchased the machine, It was a bargain at twice the price. We added a credit card reader, and secured its new location at Lola’s Trailer Park. I joined a Facebook group called Creative Vending Revolution ran by Ms Valdés and began connecting with people from all over the country who were also journeying into the vending business. Inspired by my newfound group of creatives, we began curating and packaging items for the machine, which we later named Portobello Road. A year later, we had a fully stocked machine filled with hand crafted items from local artists ranging from jewelry, to soap, and more.

What should our readers know about your work?
The contents of our machine are constantly rotating. One week you may find a hand curated Japanese Snack Pack, the next, an envelope of Mystery Socks. Our name, Portobello Road, comes from the 1971 classic “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”, where they joyfully sing  “Anything and everything a chap can unload is sold off the barrow in Portobello road.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would start with a big breakfast from West Side Cafe. After, we would head over to Lola’s Saloon to catch a Rock N’ Roll Rummage sale with a side of live music, and pay a visit to my vending machine, Portobello Road. For lunch, we would stop into FOOD at Lola’s for a Philly Cheesesteak and visit Sam behind the bar for a cold beverage. That evening would be spent at the country’s largest floating bridge, located just 25 miles west of Fort Worth in Weatherford. Miles and miles of blooming lily pads create a stunning foreground for a golden sunset.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

Tiffany Ortiz Parish – owner of Honey Suckle Rose Vintage

Sarah Patterson – local fashion model @countrybabee

Contact information:

 

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.