On recent trips to River Park, I had noticed a banner hanging in front of the one vacant shop. The banner read “Zaytoona – now hiring”. I was curious as to what Zaytoona was, and last weekend, I got my answer firsthand.
Zaytoona, which is now open, is a locally-owned boutique and gift shop. It is filled with items that would make the most perfect hostess gifts for a friend or loved one. These are special pieces that you’d love to receive and that always feel thoughtful and a little luxurious.
What Do They Offer?
The highlight of the shop is a wall filled with large dispensers of olive oil, infused with a wide range of flavors from savory to sweet. (If you haven’t tried baking a cake with olive oil as the main fat inclusion, you should – it makes for a rich and dense, spongey cake that’s excellent!) You can dispense, or purchase in pre-bottled amounts. While shopping, I learned that Zaytoona comes from the Arabic word for olive oil, a staple ingredient in middle eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.
In addition to the oils, Zaytoona offers a variety of unique and special cookware and serving items including olive wood serving bowls and boards, glassware, Turkish coffee pots, marble cutting boards, ceramic mugs and pitchers, and mortars and pestles.
Perfect For Gifting
Neutral, minimalist style vases and dried floral filler decorate the tables in the store. They are also available for purchase, along with dried floral bouquets. A children’s gift section includes toy baskets, plush animals, silicone serving dishes and bibs, and soft little moccasin style slippers.
The shelving along the wall as you enter the store is filled with ceramic planters and at fair prices, too. Near the register to the left, you’ll find a display of handmade soaps and bath and body care items featuring natural and botanical ingredients. Behind the register, is a selection of beautiful geodes in a range of sizes and colors for the crystal collector.
The employees working during my Saturday visit were very kind and helpful, and happy to tell me about the store. I’m certain they’d be happy to help any guest choose a perfect gift for someone, too.
Zaytoona is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30-8:00, and Sundays from 11-7. The store is located at 85 E Via Del Oro in the River Park Shopping Center on Blackstone and Nees in north Fresno. Happy shopping!
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