by Kate Murphy
Daily Lobo
Albuquerque's newest secondhand boutique brings West Coast style to the high desert.
Dori Martin, the owner of Pink Rhino 50/50 Trading Co., had her dream come true two weeks ago when her shop opened for business.
"It's always been one of her dreams to open a clothing shop," Martin's sister-in-law Michelle Romero said. "She's been planning this for over 10 years."
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A native of upstate New York who lived in Beverly Hills, Calif., for years, Martin loves all things West Coast -- and the shop does have a distinct California vibe.
"I handpicked everything in the store myself," she said.
Much of the shop's merchandise came from Los Angeles' Rodeo Drive and Melrose Avenue, and she also picked up clothes in Arizona and New York City.
Pink Rhino houses racks of colorful clothes and cases of glamorous costume jewelry, in addition to other accessories. The walls and dressing rooms are painted shocking pink, and Martin plans to have local graffiti artists tag the walls. She also encourages local bands to stop in and put up flyers to advertise upcoming shows.
Like UNM-area mainstay Buffalo Exchange, Pink Rhino buys and sells secondhand clothing, accessories and shoes.
Pink Rhino is interested in buying "stuff that everyone likes to wear, but can't really afford to buy at the mall," Romero said.
Manager Eric Gardner said the shop caters to the college crowd.
There is a small selection of men's clothing.
Gardner said half of the clothing in the shop will eventually be for men.
"We're preparing for Armageddon," Gardner said. "Except that instead of food, it's clothes.
Martin, a former bartender and exotic dancer who used her earnings in those careers to send her son to Pennsylvania State University, has always been ambitious. She would eventually like to turn Pink Rhino into a chain, with stores in Austin, Texas, Los Angeles and Seattle, she said.
Martin's clothing line is also in the works. She wants to design clothing that will appeal to everyone.
Hand-painted, airbrushed T-shirts of her own design will be available in the shop within the next few weeks, Martin said.
Pink Rhino allows fashion entrepreneurs to rent a three-foot or five-foot booth to sell their own items. Booths have a minimum six-month lease. Six months' rent runs from $200 to $250.
"I like that it's not just a bunch of new clothes," student Caitlin Codini said. "I like that it's not so corporate, and that there's not six of everything. I like the variety."
Romero said Pink Rhino may also open a small tattoo parlor in the shop.
Pink Rhino 50/50 Trading Co.
2720 Central Ave. S.E.
Sunday-Thursday
10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday-Saturday
10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
