GRAVETTE -- Gabe and Yao Antillon, the owners of Lili's Bubble Waffles, at 123 S.E. Main in Gravette, opened a new children's store in late January in the back of the waffle shop. Diners of all ages enjoy the tasty waffles, bubble tea and ice cream treats at Lili's, but many of their customers are children and the new venture seemed an ideal offshoot for the shop.
The name of the new store is Mei Mei's. The owners are well aware of what interests the younger set and they have stocked the new shop with all sorts of entertaining toys and games.
The store carries a large selection of stuffed animals and there are many games, fidget toys and puzzles for both boys and girls. Youngsters interested in electronics can select headphones, some decorated with cartoon figures like Super Mario and Hello Kitty and others adorned with cats, unicorns and other icons. Boys might be particularly interested in the model aircraft offered.
School-age children can find lunch bags and backpacks suitable for carrying their lunches and school supplies when they head off to class. They can also choose chairs for their room at home or suitcases they can carry on a family vacation.
There are items in all price ranges and children wishing to shop for themselves can find several smaller items they can purchase with their allowance. There are stickers and lots of keychains, watches, barrettes and other hair ornaments, even Croc shoe charms to adorn their footwear.
Two Gravette boys, Jaden Knapp, a freshman at Arkansas Connections Academy, and Lane Holt, who is homeschooled, are employees at the store. They are both very knowledgeable about the inventory and quite capable of helping customers make their selections.
They invite all in the area to drop in and explore the new store and its selections. Come enjoy a waffle cone, some bubble tea or a dish of ice cream, then head on back to shop for the youngsters in the family. Store hours are the same as those for Lili's Bubble Waffles, 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Persons wanting to preview store inventory before their visits may check Mei Mei's posts on Facebook and Instagram.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Several shelves in Mei Mei's, the new children's store recently opened at 123 Main St. S.E. in Gravette, display the wide variety of stuffed animals available for purchase. The pegboard at right displays many keychains and smaller items. The store opened in late January in the back of Lili's Bubble Waffles, and is open the same hours, 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Lane Holt (left) and Jaden Knapp, both of Gravette, stand behind the counter at Mei Mei's, the new children's store recently opened in the back of Lili's Bubble Waffles. Lane and Jaden are employees of the store and are always ready to help customers make their selections. The screen behind their heads displays products available at the store.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Balloons are often used to decorate for a festive occasion and party planners can find several at Mei Mei's, the new children's store which opened recently in the back of Lili's Bubble Waffles. These blue Baby Shark balloons would be a welcome gift for a sick child or could be used to congratulate a youngster for a special accomplishment.
Susan Holland/Westside Eagle Observer
Persons furnishing a child's room can find child-size chairs at Mei Mei's, the new store recently opened in the back of Lili's Bubble Waffles, on Main Street in Gravette. Any youngster in the Gravette area, particularly a prospective athlete at Gravette schools, would probably enjoy sitting in a lion chair and dreaming of being a future Gravette Lion.