City Shoppes Embroidery has been at their current location for about three years now. That will all change when they switch to their online business platform in October. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

City Shoppes Embroidery has been at their current location for about three years now. That will all change when they switch to their online business platform in October. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

When Charlie and Tatiana Sellner opened City Shoppes Embroidery in Mesquite in July of 2003, they had no idea what the future would bring.

Charlie and Tatiana Sellner moved to Mesquite from Southern Florida in 2003, wanting a small town to raise their children in and build a business that would benefit many. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

Charlie and Tatiana Sellner moved to Mesquite from Southern Florida in 2003, wanting a small town to raise their children in and build a business that would benefit many. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

They started off by providing used clothing and dollar shop with a trophy engraving service in the Brick Yard Plaza on Mesquite Boulevard. Road construction on the boulevard hindered their business in 2006 (for the City’s ‘beautification’ master plan with medians), forcing them to move to the Riverside Road shopping center and to morph the business into what it is today, offering Mesquite souvenirs, custom gifts, embroidery, plaques, trophies and more.

Finally, in 2009, a spot opened up on Sandhill Boulevard in the Jensen Property Management center, a location that would give them the ‘foot traffic’ they were lacking by being on Riverside. Originally, they were stationed in Suites G and H until three years ago when they downsized and moved into Suite B. There, they have continued to maintain a successful business.

The time has come once again, however, for the Sellners to make another change due to economic and personal reasons. They will be closing their storefront and moving their business to a mobile platform, relying on the internet and telephone to continue their service in Mesquite and beyond.

“We will have the capability of making and doing everything that we do now,” Charlie said. “There will be the basic inventory on hand that we can go out and show the people. Sometimes it’s tough to promise people that we’ll have what they need the next day, but generally we’ll still be able to provide a fast turnaround with our products.”

The products that City Shoppes has provided over the past twelve years is endless, ranging in hats and other clothing to bags and accessories. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

The products that City Shoppes has provided over the past twelve years is endless, ranging in hats and other clothing to bags and accessories. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

Charlie Sellner has taken great pride in his trophy collection, with this only being a portion of what his supplier provides him for local customers. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

Charlie Sellner has taken great pride in his trophy collection, with this only being a portion of what his supplier provides him for local customers. Photo by Stephanie Frehner.

Offering their services online with a full compilation of catalogs in one place, will allow for easy shopping for their customers and will suit everyone’s schedules.

“If people aren’t comfortable with us coming to their home to show them, we’ve made arrangements to meet them elsewhere. The Chamber has graciously agreed, as well as the Veterans Center, to allow us to meet them there to show them the products,” Charlie added. “It’ll be a simplified thing if they would call us and tell us what they want [beforehand] so I can bring what may fit with they want.”

When asked about how the City was in handling the changes over the course of their business history, Charlie enlightened the Mesquite Local News on when the major problems began. “The City’s business regulations and grief that everyone heard about began in about 2005 with the City Manager that came in,” Charlie said. “The sign regulations and enforcement were a joke, just totally ridiculous. I even had to get a sign permit to put lettering up on the outside of the window of the business. I could reverse the vinyl and place it on the inside of the window and not need a permit. That’s what had businesses all upset. Ever since this current council and mayor, even with Mark Wier, it’s much more business friendly.” That is the reason, Charlie said, of why he had run for City Council in 2010, to make changes for the businesses. Now, however, he says that it’s no longer necessary since the problems have worked themselves out and the business environment in Mesquite is much better now. “I’m going to run away from council,” he joked.

“I enjoy the people I meet and talk to,” Charlie said. Tatiana added that “we’ve been doing all of the work at home for the past three years anyhow, so this will be a good move for us. It will give us more time in the long run. We aren’t closing the business, just the storefront. It will allow me to take care of my mom and provide for the customers like we always have, if not even better.”

Providing that their current inventory is reduced greatly, the Sellners plan to have their online and mobile business will go into effect on October 1, 2015. Until then, customers can browse their products by stopping by 114 N Sandhill Suite B.  If they still have a lot of inventory, then they may keep the storefront open a month longer. Their current store hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., although they may change depending on how the transition goes. Either way, the website, www.cseamerica.com, will be open and ready for business. Customers needing to call City Shoppes can call 702-862-9536 to schedule an appointment or order products.