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Richard Alcalá, co -owner of Alcala’s Western Wear, spent the weekend learning what the “Beyhive” can do.
Beyoncé was in the city by presenting at Soldier Field as part of his “Cowboy Carter” tour, in his last show on Sunday, which meant that the concert attendees sought to carry their best Western outfit. And the “Beyhive” – the nickname of the Beyoncé fans base – appeared at the West Town store, famous for its clothes, accessories and Western boots, which resulted in sales that were twice the best usual weekend in the business.
“We never waited for so many people, so many fans,” said Richard Alcalá. “They are very loyal, and everyone wants to be dressed from head to toe.”
The Robert and María Alcalá brothers in the Alcala’s Western Wear family business.
Loyal can be euphemism. Some buyers, looking for the perfect cord tie, visited the store from as far as Australia only for the concert. And were willing to spend hundreds of dollars to dress properly.
“Honestly, it was such a huge and diverse crowd of people going to their concert,” said Mani Alcalá, Marketing Director of Alcala’s. “The diversity that I brought here was quite impressive to see. You had old and young people, anyone who can imagine here in the store and everyone was interacting. You could simply see smiles in everyone’s faces.”
Last week, it was in the hats section where much of madness occurred, said Mani Alcalá. And buyers adorned their unique ways with brooches and tapes.
The women’s section was also “booming,” he said. “It was very difficult to walk in this place with so many people were here.”
He also mentioned that the slots of the store were overloaded due to the boom in business, but managed to meet orders on time.
On Monday afternoon, shelves and showcases, normally full, were still being resumed by staff.
“This is normally full, but it has been empty,” said Mani Alcalá, while pointing out the selection of cord ties. “Everything is for the concert.”
The family business, located in 1733 W. Chicago Ave., has been selling Western clothing and accessories since 1972 and has a collection of footwear of more than 8,000 pairs of boots. He has received several famous clients such as Robert Plant from LED Zeppelin and the late Mexican singer Vicente Fernández.
Vaqueras boots for sale in Alcala’s Western Wear, in 1733 W. Chicago Ave.
Mani Alcalá’s father, his uncles and aunts are the owners of Alcala’s. His grandfather Luis, of Mexican origin, founded the store and died in 2014.
While the business has dressed Chicago for more than 50 years, this was a different beast, said Mani Alcalá.
“Honestly, this was a different crowd. You could notice that the people who entered were true fans,” he said.
Many fans prepared for the concert at the beginning of the year, when tickets went on sale. But shopping in the store increased in the last two weeks, he said.
“(I) I think many people was even the first time they used Western, but they were having fun. You can notice with the outfits. They had a style, and that was their own game park.”
Richard Alcalá, Mani’s uncle, was presented in a Tiktok video that is now viral, expressing his gratitude to Beyoncé and his fans. “Thank God for Beyoncé,” he said in the video.
Richard Alcalá within Alcala’s Western Wear located in 1733 W. Chicago Ave.
The busiest of the year for Alcala’s is usually around Father’s Day, which this year is June 15. The business organizes a three -day sale and event that includes live music and food. But Mani Alcalá estimates that the increase in sales promoted by Beyoncé is twice what typically generates the weekend of Father’s Day.
“(My father) is quite new throughout the Beyhive … I think I did not expect that fans base as they were, coming and being so loyal,” said Mania Alcalá. “That is, she mentioned country, and everyone (they came) to be country.”
The store was so busy that even the people who work in the office came to help.
“Everyone was working double,” he said. “We have people who even came free just to lend a hand.”
Other cowgirl clothing stores, such as the Western Wear and Fashion Arriero in the Logan Square neighborhood, also saw an increase in sales during the weekend.
“We are very grateful and surprised,” said Yuliana Sánchez, whose husband is the store owner.
Buyers entered mainly to buy cowboy hats, he said.
“We are a small business; we have never seen an increase in sales like this,” he added.
Sánchez and Mani Alcalá pointed out the diversity of Beyoncé’s fans base and commented that they hope their stores continue to see a variety of customers.
“We have some really great new customers, that was the incredible part of this,” said Mani Alcalá.
Translated by The Chicago voice With artificial intelligence (AI)
