Page 76 The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch August 16, 2013 Four Decades Later, Paco’s Paradise Still Going Strong By JOANNE SHRINER STAFF WRITER John Hastings, pictured with his wife and partner, Teresa, opened Paco’s Paradise in downtown Ocean City in 1973 before moving to the Village of Fenwick one year later. They also own Krugerrand. Photo by Travis Brown OCEAN CITY – Paco’s Paradise is celebrating 40 years of bringing one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted clothing to returning and new customers alike. When John Hastings, owner of Paco’s Paradise, graduated from college in 1971, he traveled to Mexico with a fraternity brother and ended up living there for nine months. While in Mexico, he bought hand-embroidered shirts from an Indian market in Southern Mexico, Oaxaco. When Hastings returned to the United Stated, he gifted two hand-embroidered shirts to his brother, David, while he attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina. “Every time he wore the shirts, people would ask where he got them, and he talked me into going back to Mexico and start exporting these shirts. That’s how it all started,” he said. Throughout the entire decade of the 1970s, Hastings worked in and out of Mexico exporting hand-made clothing until 1973 when the first Paco’s Paradise opened on Somerset Street in south Ocean City. It was only a year later when the clothing store moved to the Village of Fenwick in Fenwick Island. Hastings explained his brother named the store Paco, which is a nickname for Frank in Spanish. Hastings met his wife, Teresa, a couple years later in 1976 who worked at a necklace SEE NEXT PAGE HERE’S MY CARD HOME IMPROVEMENT PAINTING FOR MORE INFORMATION, Zimmerman •• C D Painting & & Son Powerwashing •• W CONTACT PAMELA GREEN Serving Delmarva for Over 35 Years D PHONE: 410-641-4561 FAX: 410-641-0966 EMAIL: CLASSIFIEDS @MDCOASTDISPATCH.COM AUTO SALES Interior & Exterior Licensed & Insured USTOM PAINTING RYWALL REPAIRS ALLPAPER REMOVED ECK & HOUSE STAINING • HOTEL & CONDO PAINTING Specializing In: Custom Additions, Kitchens, Baths, Duradek And All Types Of Remodeling KEN WALSH – 410-641-3762 EST. 1977 • MHIC 8465 www.WalshHomeImprovement.com BLINDS/SHADES No job too big or too small! Free Estimates Let’s get thru the hard times together Where quality and service is our guarantee Bill Zimmerman • 410-213-1134 10% Discount with this ad. HOME IMPROVEMENT QUALITY CARS, INC. BOUGHT-SOLD-TRADED A FAMILY TRADITION BANK FINANCING MILLS WE BUYS CARS BALLY SERVICES, INC. Let Us Impress You With Our Award Winning Workmanship General Contractors MHIC Lic. No. 19442 OC Lic. No. 35650 References Available QUALITY USED CARS, TRUCKS, VANS & 4 X 4’S 410-749-0477 OR 410-742-3338 FAX 410-548-7402 www.millsqualitycarsandtrucks.com 202 N. Fruitland Blvd., • Fruitland, MD 21826 Douglas S. Cymek 410-723-0100 Quality Home Improvements And Custom Homes For Over 30 Years ROOFING FLOORING BUSINESS ENTERTAINMENT High Tech World, Inc. OC’s Leading Technology Company Commercial DirecTV for Business CCTV, Private Cable TV Mounts & Installation SERVING... APARTMENTS, CONDOS, MULTIPLE DWELLING PROPERTIES, BARS & RESTAURANTS, MEDICAL FACILITIES, LOBBIES & WAITING ROOMS & MORE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES OF ALL TYPES For information call... Main Office 410-574-9279 / Mobile Direct 410-236-8973 Local 410-250-0873 / drdish@aol.com PROFESSIONAL MOVERS HOME IMPROVEMENT HOME IMPROVEMENT BUDGET MOVERS 7 DAYS A WEEK SAME LOW PRICE Professional Moving Residential or Commercial 24/7 OCEAN SEABREEZE MHIC #70113 • • • • • Remodeling Additions Decks Painting Masonry Work • New Home Construction • Stamped Driveway & Pavers Artistic Renovations Inc. “The Premier Renovation Contractor at the Beach” Kitchen and Bath Remodels Complete Renovations Allen Deward 410-352-3882 P.O. Box 41 Bishopville, MD 21813 443-664-2650 SERVING EAST COAST 443-880-3346 • 410-524-1986 30 Years Experience Locally artisticrenovations.com MHIC#76938 Del.#2007215731