Tickled Pink at Presley Paige

If you were to plop an alien from outer space into a Hyundai and set them driving down North College Avenue in Fayetteville, AR, the creature might be inclined to think they’re just in any ol’ lackluster, mid-America town. You know North College Ave: that big utilitarian thoroughfare hedged for miles with all the commerce one could want - mini-malls, big box stores, and small businesses peppered in here and there. It isn’t exactly reflective of this beautiful, funky little town that I love. Is it functional? Yes. Could it use a little zhuzhing? Definitely.

As such, I was nothing short of delighted one afternoon last winter while running some banal errand to behold the most spectacular, unexpected sight. A medium-sized street front building just South of North Street completely covered from ground to roof in majestic pink sparkles. What kind of sparkles you ask? I don’t really know. But they were big. They were pink. They were sparkly. And they were just blowin’ in the wind, creating a mesmerizing waving blanket of shimmer, dancing, and undulating in the gentle breeze.

As I neared, I noticed the pink sparkles were composed of reflective, flat, magenta discs attached to some sort of woven fabric—kind of like something one might see on a cheap disco skirt. And when I say it covered the whole building, it really looked as if someone stood on the ground and shook a giant sparkle blanket over this store like a crisp bedsheet.

As my awe subsided, my curiosity strengthened. What was that store? Why was it so sparkly? Who put it there? Gosh, I love it.

A quick internet search revealed that the colorful store is Presley Paige, a locally owned gift shop that features unique treasures ranging from greeting cards and custom stationery to Greek gear, home goods and candles, and playful gifts for kids. They also offer party planning services and bespoke balloon garlands big and bright enough to make any Type A parent swoon.

I made a mental note to swing by some listless afternoon, but like most, got consumed with the holiday season. Yet, every time I passed by Presley Paige, those magenta sparkles billowing in the wind caught my attention. It was as if Dolly Parton had just set up shop right here in Fayetteville, waving howdy doody from the side of the road.

And then one day - just like that - the sparkles were gone. Sure, the building beneath it was a bright Barbie pink - still lovely. But what happened to the sparkles?

“Maybe it was causing too much of a distraction for drivers.” my boyfriend pondered that night over dinner.

“Maybe,” I said, “Or maybe someone stole them. Sparkle thieves. The worst kind of thief.” I quipped.

We went back and forth with some silly theories, but the truth was, we didn’t really know. Would we ever?

Life went on, but I missed the magenta sparkles and thought of them often. My boyfriend commented every time we drove by, “They really need to bring those sparkles back.”

Surely, we were not alone in our grief, and the listless afternoon I had been waiting for as an excuse to pop in was finally upon me one day. I set out on my mission to solve the mystery of the missing sparkles.

As I entered through the front door of Presley Paige, I was greeted by a cheerful young woman standing behind a large counter lit by a chrome chandelier with rainbow-colored bulbs. Displays of rainbow-colored wine glasses climbed the shelves of a large wall, with chic white candles, coffee table fashion books, and colorful oddities arranged neatly throughout. A turquoise glass hand the size of a hors d'oeuvres platter cradled a selection of gold earrings in its palm. Small pink tables stacked with daily planners, colored pens, tea towels, and more candles filled the store, resembling little blush-colored wedding cakes. Greeting cards lined another wall, and toward the back of the store, an entire section dedicated to Sorority goods. Big bubblegum balloons bobbed along the ceiling. Streamers and sparkles and banners and garlands hung all about.

“Welcome in!” the store associate called. ”Sorry, the inventory is so empty right now.”

If this is empty, I’m afraid to know what it looks like. She informed me that their inventory is typically ‘way more stocked’ but that they’re getting ready for Pinkmas.

Pinkmas?

“Oh, we shut down the store for the last week of October - completely close it down and empty it out, put everything in storage. Then we spend a week decorating for Christmas, and everything is pink,” she says.

“Everything?” I ask.

“Everything. It’s Pinkmas!” she exclaims adorably.

She goes on to tell me that Pinkmas starts November first, and they display the magical pink winter wonderland until around the New Year.

It sounds like Elle Woods’ fever dream, and she confirms that Legally Blonde is indeed a source of inspiration for the owner, Maggie Paige, who was on a much-needed vacation after the exhausting Sorority Rush of September. When I asked what kind of tiring work that entails, she told me,

“So many balloons. Enough balloons to send you into outer space.” That sounds trippy, and I’m into it.

The store is nothing short of charming, and I shop for a bit and pick up a few gifts. As we’re the only two in the store, we’re chatting all the while, and at long last, I finally ask about the pink sparkles.

“Oh, it was just for the holidays!” she tells me, and notes she gets that question at least three times a week. I confide that we speculated it was due to driving hazard, and she says they indeed had a few people express concerns. Not complaints, per se, but for due diligence they followed up with the city, who assured them the pink sparkles were fine.

“Us employees actually aren’t even privy to the decorations until the week we close down to decorate”, she tells me. “The owner keeps it a secret. So I’m not sure if the sparkles will return this year, but I do know whatever we do, it’ll be really special.”

While the owner was unreachable for comment, I did learn from their website that they opened their new location at 930 N College Ave in January 2023. They took over the previous tattoo parlor and spent a year renovating it into the magical pink palace it is today.

They also state their mission as:

“Presley Paige makes celebrating fun. We focus on creating an inclusive and inspiring place to shop and make you smile. We believe details make the difference and champion celebrating yourself and those you love.”

“Come back for Pinkmas!” the associate cheers as she hands me my purchases, which are wrapped in bright pink tissue paper and tucked inside matching gift bags adorned with heavy pink grosgrain ribbon.

I sure will, as I can’t wait to see what Pinkmas is all about.

Adrienne Lumb is a tech consultant and hobbyist writer based in Fayetteville, AR. She enjoys discovering all the little nooks and crannies of NWA. If she is not on a chilly morning swim or out stomping around the Buffalo River, you might find her cruising the aisles of Asian Amigo or Dickson Street Bookshop.

You can find more of her work on LinkedIn or Instagram.