CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Shops at Treasure Island is one of the newer attractions at Buc Days.
With dozens of vendors spread out across the American Bank Center exhibit hall, shoppers are likely to find something to bring home after a day enjoying the festival.
Treasure Island is included with gate admission and can be accessed straight from the carnival.
Vendors in previous years said customers were hard to come by, since people didn't know how to get there.
Well, this year, they say that's a problem of the past.
"Our stand is real hard to miss,” said vendor Sergio Chavez “So, a lot of people see it, and they'd be like; they just know us now. So, it's really important for us to get ourselves out there, just to bring more popularity to us."
Sb.Cowboy is one of the vendors at The Shops at Treasure Island. Sergio Chavez said the business travels from rodeo to rodeo and is based out of Montgomery.
They started selling western attire in 2019, and Chavez said he enjoys introducing shoppers to the style.
This is the shop’s second year at Buc Days, and Chavez said customers can find them more easily now compared to last year.
"People were having difficulties finding us,” he said. “But now, now that they have, like, the big signs and everything like that, now a lot of people know where we are, and they come down here and they see us."
Chavez said some customers from as far as Las Vegas will follow them to rodeos like Buc Days and to Fiesta in San Antonio.
Another vendor at Treasure Island is Fulton Kettle Corn.
It opened nine years ago off SPID, between Kostoryz Road and Carroll Lane.
Debbie Clark said this is Fulton’s third year as a vendor and credits more customers this year to improved signage and people talking more about Treasure Island.
"It's going to take a while for people to get into the routine of knowing where something is, so, the awareness is definitely there this year," she said.
A few years after starting at a farmer's market with just regular kettle corn, Fulton Kettle Corn grew and now has about 12 flavors that it sells at events.
Clark said they try to keep flavors new, unveiling new ones at events such as Buc Days. She said they have recurring customers at Buc Days thanks to Treasure Island.
"People from last year. . . . remembering who we are and remembering that they like our flavors, and they still buy from us,” she said. “So, it's very nice."
After a strong start Thursday, Clark said Treasure Island was packed again Saturday.
She said it's amazing to be a part of Buc Days and grow with it, and appreciates support from local customers and those visiting from out of town.