The building went through renovations to replace the front face of the building.

After a temporary close for renovations, luxury clothes and gift boutique, Sacred Trésor, is open for business.

Located at 105 E. St. Peter’s Street, Sacred Trésor reopened its doors Oct. 7 after owner Cinthia Peña took sole ownership of the burgeoning business. Peña initially opened the boutique with former business partner, Griselda Palacios, but since took on the boutique as a solo venture.

“Our area is a melting pot,” Peña said. She wanted to add to it by bringing handmade culturally-relevant items from Latin American countries. The brands in her store reflect this. For example, Coco and Consuela supply handmade bags from the indigenous of Mexico, El Salvador and other Latin-American Countries,” Peña said.

“I wanted to bring luxury items and brands that were significant to my culture,” Peña said.

Peña chose Consuela specifically because the bags are produced by indigenous people which keeps them employed and keeps their traditional practices alive. She chose another, Saint, because the owner’s close friend was diagnosed with cancer, so the proceeds from the items they sell go to St. Jude Hospital.

“That’s why I targeted Consuela and her, because they give back to their communities and they actually keep jobs for indigenous women there as well,” Peña said.

Peña said she also wants to blend traditional styles from Latin American cultures with the distinct Louisiana culture. The French name, Sacred Trésor, was born from this idea.

Peña is Latin-American and bilingual, but in school, she learned French, a language deeply rooted in Louisiana culture. She chose Sacred Trésor because she believes every little gift we give and receive is sacred to us.

Peña was born and raised in Patoutville, Louisiana. Her grandfather came from El Salvador in the seventies with his family to find work. At first, he ended up in New Orleans, but he was later hired by the Patouts to work in the sugar cane industry, a major industry back in his home country.

“Growing up poor and not having a lot of new things kind of opens up my mind to wanting to be more. That’s the reason I want to launch my own brand, to evolve, to create and to do more,” Peña said.

Peña grew up in a poor sugarcane farming family, so she always held dear the special items she received. That belief extends not only to the customer, but to the business itself. As a first-generation Latina business owner, Peña said she is incredibly proud of what she’s accomplished.

“Being a business owner is a sacred treasure for me,” Peña said.

But, she isn’t done yet. Peña wants to not only expand the options in the boutique, but she wants to introduce her own brand of Latin American products gathered from across the Latin world. She wants to start with handbags and jewelry, but eventually expand into a whole range of items you’d find in a boutique.

Peña said she prefers contemporary Bohemian themes for her clothes and storefront, so she chose brands relevant to her culture that maintained the modern styles of the theme.

Peña decided to choose a location on St. Peters Street instead of Main Street because of its relative affordability. With Main Street on one side and the church on the other, the block could serve as a relative hotspot for activity, similar to nearby Church Alley.

“I wanted to start with something small and economically comfortable,” Peña said.

Peña also said that she’s excited about the idea of revitalizing the block. She wants to add a mural to the back of her building. Similar to the evolution of Church Alley, Sacred Trésor entirely revived the abandoned building sitting on the block.

“I want this block to really open up like it did in the 80’s, or so I’ve heard,” Peña said.

When Peña launched the business with Palacios, they sold items out of their homes. As the business expanded, Peña found it was time to move into a physical storefront.

Before Peña leased and renovated the building they chose, it was subject to an automotive accident, which left it tattered and abandoned. Luckily, when Peña reached out to the owner, they were interested in leasing the property.

“This is my hometown, and you know, I know both worlds: here in Louisiana and where my parents come from, El Salvador,” Peña said.

At some point in the future, Peña would like to add a mural to the back of the building to bring a colorful mix of Latin folk art and Louisiana designs to the structure.

“I’m starting to see that it’s popular. They are doing the same thing in downtown Lafayette and it’s really cute. I really want that vibe here, that culture shock here,” Peña said.

Ultimately, Peña wants to grow the brand to leave a lasting impression on New Iberia and the parish.