Chelsie Evaldi moved back to her hometown of El Paso after realizing there was no place quite like home. She recognized the greatness of her city and wanted others to see it, too. In 2014, she purchased Chuco Relic, which has now expanded to three locations across El Paso.
As any El Pasoan can agree, there isn’t another place like “El Chuco,” and Chuco Relic embodies this authenticity by promoting the city and providing a platform for local artists to showcase their work. Chuco Relic features the creations of about 20 artists, offering various products, including t-shirts, totes, mugs, placemats, coasters, caps, sunglasses, and earrings – all crafted by talented local artists.
“We have such amazing artists that (even) just to showcase their art in our store is really a privilege and honor for me, and so it’s been just a celebration,” said Evaldi.
The idea of 915 Day came about in 2018, when Chelsie was planning the store’s anniversary and realized it fell near September 15th, which can be abbreviated to 915, El Paso’s area code. In its first year, they walked around El Paso, visiting different tourist attractions, shops, and restaurants. From there, it progressed into something more that even the community celebrates the day in their own way.
Now that 915 Day is approaching, Chuco Relic is again preparing for the celebration. A unique shirt available starting September 15th at the 915 Chuco Market will be given to the first 200 people, along with a tote bag, available for purchase, that has a map of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. This tote comes with a star that you can heat press onto the map to show which side of town you are from, making the tote bag unique to everyone.
El Paso holds a special place in Chelsie’s heart, not just because it’s her hometown but also because it’s a community that supports her business. This support has enabled her to collaborate with nine local non-profits and give back to the community. Visit Chuco Relic during your next shopping trip and support local business owners.
