NEWMAN — A new boutique with a deeply personal name and a focus on size‑inclusive fashion has opened on Main Street, bringing fresh retail energy to downtown Newman.
Ida e Volta — Portuguese for “going and coming back” — opened this week at 1403 Main Street. The shop is owned by longtime substitute teacher Sandi Solano, who said the idea arrived unexpectedly and simply refused to leave.
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” Solano said. “Usually when I get an idea, it goes away. This one never did.”
With her youngest child now a high‑school senior, Solano said she found herself looking for a new direction. What began as a passing thought quickly grew into a full boutique concept, complete with a family‑rooted name. “Ida” was her mother’s name, and “volta” means to return — a nod to both her heritage and her hope that customers will come back again and again.
The store’s yellow airplane logo is a tribute to her father, and the boutique’s interior is decorated with vintage family photos to create what Solano calls a “homey, welcoming space.”
Solano said she built her inventory around what Newman shoppers told her they wanted most: color and inclusive sizing. About 80 percent of the shop’s clothing is available in both regular and plus sizes, ranging from small through 3X.
“I know how it feels to walk into a store and see only two items in your size,” she said. “I wanted people to feel like they can buy anything here.”
Ida e Volta carries jeans — including Risen, Judy Blue and Kut brands — along with sweaters, casual wear, special‑occasion dresses, jewelry, candles and bath bombs. The shop also sells fresh flowers, which sold out on opening day and will be restocked weekly.
Solano said the process from idea to opening moved quickly. She made the decision in early January, then traveled to market with her daughter and husband to select merchandise. Family members helped wallpaper, decorate and prepare the space for its opening.
Solano plans to host paint nights and other small events in the store and hopes to stay open during theater events to capture downtown foot traffic. She said she welcomes community suggestions as she continues shaping the shop.
“I’m new at this, so everything is new,” she said. “If the community says, ‘Try this,’ I’ll try anything.”
Ida e Volta is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday.
