Providence’s Pinata Center: Party Animals

All piñatas are not created equally.

That’s what you realize the moment you walk into Sussy DeLeon’s Piñata Center. Giant, brightly colored, and intricately detailed piñatas smile cheerily from the windows, the walls, and the ceilings. It’s every birthday boy and

girl’s dream come true, and it makes you reconsider whether you really knew what a piñata was before you entered the shop.

A Savvy Mom

DeLeon was planning her son’s first birthday party when she realized that she couldn’t find the beautiful handmade piñatas of her native Guatemala in the United States. Unlike the mass-produced cardboard piñatas readily available here, Guatemalan piñatas are constructed from wire and newspaper and decorated with colorful tissue paper. They’re easier to break, so kids can actually get to the delicious innards without the intervention of a frustrated parent wielding a baseball bat.

DeLeon brought piñatas all the way from Guatemala for her son’s first three birthdays, and her Guatemalan and American friends alike were thrilled to see such gorgeous piñatas in Providence. When year four rolled around, however, she realized that she had the perfect idea for a business. DeLeon opened up shop on Broadway in Providence's West End last May, and soon expanded

her business to include handmade jewelry, accessories, and housewares from Guatemalan artists and artisans. The intricately woven and embroidered fabrics on display are not only one of a kind—they also serve a humanitarian purpose: “We are giving opportunities to Mayan women. By creating jobs for them, they can help their families,” noted DeLeon.

Thinking Big

DeLeon is always thinking of creative ways to expand her operation. “The feedback has been fantastic,” DeLeon says of her store. “I want to take it to the next level.” That’s no joke. Last fall, she was

featured in USA Today. DeLeon also designed a new line of smaller, collapsible piñatas that are easy to ship—ideal for her goal to begin a nation-wide distribution of handmade Guatemala piñatas.

DeLeon has enjoyed the opportunity to share Guatemalan culture with Providence and build a successful business that she can leave to her children. “We can share something beautiful here,” she said. “For us, there’s satisfaction in that.”

Pinata Center and La Tiendita is located at 300 Broadway in Providence. You can also visit the online stores at http://www.pinatacenter.com/ and http://www.guatemalafinehandcrafts.com/. For more information, visit their Facebook page.