Fashion Fueled by Passion
Carmel Valley, CA – Ronda Chowaiki opened Ronda’s Closet, a women’s clothing and accessories store, at the Piazza Carmel Shopping Center in Carmel Valley nine years ago. We talked to her about how she inspires women to shop — and found out she is quite an inspiration herself.
You opened the store in 2004 but you’re a retail veteran. Yes, I’ve been in the clothing business my whole life, from working retail as a teenager to many years at the L.A. Apparel Mart.
Why “Ronda’s Closet”? When I had my girls I wanted to stay home but I couldn’t sit still since I’d always worked. We moved to San Diego and I started doing clothing parties out of my house, literally opening a closet in a downstairs room. It got really popular so I decided to open a store near home and my kids’ schools.
