Alma Vasquez is convinced that a printed and mailed invitation has the utmost importance – because it sets the tone for an entire event. She spent years in event planning and always took extra time to choose just the right invitation, because she said that the invitation can seal the deal when someone is deciding whether to attend or stay home. 

“And a beautifully produced invitation is the most exceptional thing someone can receive in the mail,” she said. 

When the inspiration struck to start her own business, Vazquez naturally gravitated towards opening a stationery shop. That Absolutely Fabulous Paper Emporium, located at 126 Vintage Park Blvd. in Suite C, serves up everything clients need to send beautiful mail. The shelves are stocked with exclusive stationery lines, invitations and fine writing instruments. The store also offers custom printing and design services – with excellent turn-around time and impeccable service as hallmarks of the business.

The boutique is one of a number of independently-owned businesses that call Vintage Park Shopping Village home. The restaurant, retail and entertainment center is joining the national movement for Small Business Saturday, a shopping holiday held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 

Small Business Saturday started in 2010 as a counterpoint to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, both of which usually benefit big box stores instead of small, local shops. A number of tenants at Vintage Park will offer specials for the occasion on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Vasquez said there aren’t a lot of options to produce custom invitations in the area. “There are not many stationery places in all of Houston – and it’s a huge city,” she said. “Stationery stores have become very rare.”

She first opened her store in the Spring area in 2008 – and moved to Vintage Park three years later. “The first time I drove up, I thought, ‘It would be awesome to be here,” Vasquez recalled. “It’s so gorgeous.”

She enjoys serving brides planning weddings, birthday party hosts and those on the hunt for perfect bridal or baby shower invites. 

Vasquez said her clients want quality products. “They’re drawn to anything tactile, the texture of the paper and the type of ink,” she said. “They want something special. They want to make an impact.”

Other clients want unique stationery for written correspondences. “A lot of our customers are just paper people,” she said. “They like stationery -- and when you get something in the mail, it’s just so exciting.” 

Vasquez said she has found her ideal job. “I love parties,” she said. “Everyone who comes in here is happy, planning a special event – and we get to be a part of that.”

She said the custom printing and unique designs set the business apart. “We do all kinds of things in very artistic ways,” she said. “We have extremely fine paper and exceptional printing processes. Put it together and you get amazing invitations.”

For more information about That Absolutely Fabulous Paper Emporium, call 281-257-0009 or visit www.abfabpaper.com. For more information about Vintage Park, visit vintageparkhouston.com.

About Vintage Park Shopping Village

Vintage Park Shopping Village is Northwest Houston’s premier destination for business, shopping, dining and entertainment. Vintage Park is a visual transport to an Italian shopping promenade, with the Piazza, a nearly one acre pedestrian area, as the heart of the center. The Piazza features a series of fountains and beautiful landscaping that can be enjoyed by diners from one of the many venues that overlook the area. Where else can you find award-winning restaurants; world-class healthcare; unique entertainment options and a variety of boutiques and shops available in one location? There’s always something happening at Vintage Park; 110 Vintage Park Blvd. (Located at Hwy 249 at Louetta Rd) Visit vintageparkhouston.com