WAUKESHA — Small businesses are what makes downtown Waukesha visible and unique. Two shops, The Dollhouse and Casa Luna, located on West Broadway, are part of the charm of the city’s downtown.
Diana Gamboa, owner of both shops, has always had a love for flowers and healing stones, so when she had the opportunity to open The Dollhouse in 2022, she took it. Not long after, on Sept. 23 of 2023, she opened Casa Luna just two storefronts down.
“We have more than we thought we’d have,” said Gamboa, explaining the second shop. The Dollhouse was a store for flowers and unique gifts, but it was soon being overtaken by crystals. Casa Luna became the new home for crystals and spiritual gifts, while The Dollhouse became a hub for gifts, plants and flowers.
Casa Luna is packed with thousands of gorgeous crystals in a variety of polishes, shapes and sizes. Gamboa said the collection contains stones for healing and self-care. She also said prices are kept as low as possible, to keep items accessible to the people.
“We have a little bit of everything,” said Gamboa. “We (try to keep) prices for everybody’s budget.”
Shoppers can find anything from stones the size of their hand or larger, intricately carved stones and perfectly polished orbs of crystals to dainty jewelry, pocket-sized stones or tiny fragments of crystals priced at just 50 cents each.
Gamboa said she hopes the community and the city can support Wet Broadway businesses more. With the street being further away from the river and with the heavy construction over the last summer, businesses on West Broadway aren’t as likely to be found by people window shopping. She said she’d love for the city to host an event on West Broadway.
“Small businesses are what makes downtown more visible,” she said, adding that local independent businesses support the community.
As if two stores weren’t enough, Gamboa was already running DNA Painting when she opened The Dollhouse and Casa Luna. She painted the walls and murals and placed all the decals in both stores.
“It’s insane, but I really enjoy everything that I do,” she said of her schedule. Gamboa makes and arranges all the planters and antique displays in The Dollhouse and Casa Luna.
The Dollhouse and Casa Luna are both open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. They are located at 128 and 124 W. Broadway in downtown Waukesha.