'Let’s Go' shopping: Chalo & Co lands at Hobby Airport

With playful designs and city-first flair, the woman-owned brand opens its first Houston kiosk inside Gate 21.

Sep 15, 2025

Passengers bound for Gates 20 through 23 at William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) now walk past a miniature storefront that looks less like a mall kiosk and more like a jewel box. The wooden-framed shop, tucked in the concourse across from Gate 21, is topped with a bright yellow sign: Chalo and Co. Travelers dragging roller bags pause to study the display of colorful totes, mugs and pouches, and some linger long enough to buy one. Chalo & Co. is a travel-gift and lifestyle brand born of dissatisfaction. Danialle An started the business in 2010, designing for other companies while slowly growing her ambition. “When I used to travel, I would see souvenir stores that didn’t represent a city the way they should,” she said. “Every city, like a person, is unique. I wanted to celebrate cities in a different way.”

Between 2010 and 2015, Chalo & Co. mostly did contract design work. But An believed there was a gap in the market. “There was space in the travel gift industry that wasn’t meeting the needs of people who don’t buy traditional souvenirs,” she said. “We cater to people who care about aesthetics, are passionate about their city and want something more elevated and fun. And it’s not just travelers. Locals are ambassadors. If you can excite the locals, they’ll excite everyone else.”

The name Chalo comes from India, where An lived for seven years. In Hindi, chalo means “let’s go.” “I loved how happy people were when they said chalo,” she said. “To me it’s not just about travel. It means let’s go with life, let’s go elevate our city, let’s go do something. It’s powerful and playful at the same time.”

Her little mascot, Chalo Man, will soon step into the spotlight. “He’s observant, good-hearted and a little mysterious,” she said. “He has legs but no mouth, because he transports his ideas through our products. In 2026, he’ll be officially launched. I think people will fall in love with him.” She could have sold magnets or postcards. Instead, Chalo became known for its bags. “Women love bags. They’re easy to pack and carry, and they feel more elevated than key chains or magnets,” An said. “I wanted to make a statement that we were different. Bags are functional, but they also let you show pride. When you carry one, you’re saying, I love this city.”

At Hobby, that pride hangs on racks: totes printed like old boarding passes with “TO: HOUSTON” in bold yellow letters; pouches resembling stamped envelopes addressed to “Mr. Bush, 1837 NASA Road”; and oversized canvas shoppers decorated with comic-strip pigs advertising Texas barbecue. Opening at Hobby Airport wasn’t just another expansion. It was personal. An’s sister has lived in Houston for 40 years, and that local insight helped shape the first Houston collection. “We always do research before we enter a city,” she said. “We talk to locals about what really represents their home. In Houston, we wanted to start with designs people would immediately recognize, but there’s more coming. You’ll see bluebonnets, barbecue, space travel and hospitality themes. As we grow, we’ll expand into lifestyle collections with home goods, children’s wear and textiles.”

The early lineup blends whimsy and identity: tote bags patterned with postage-stamp cartoons of Texas icons, mugs labeled like boarding passes,and luggage tags shaped like baseballs, cows in cowboy boots and rockets. Even the baby section nods to Texas swagger, with onesies reading “Rootin’ + Tootin’” stacked neatly on shelves. Chalo & Co’s kiosk at Hobby Airport officially opened on Thursday, Sept.11, 2025. The launch was emotional.

“It took a while to get here,” An said. “We first started talks in 2022, but we faced challenges along the way. Seeing it finally open, I was so happy. We designed the kiosk to look like a tiny shop, not a mall kiosk. When the construction walls came down, the final result turned out better than I expected. The community at Houston Airports came by and said, We love it. That was so satisfying.”

An is already planning the next stage. “We’re starting with gifts, but eventually Chalo will become a lifestyle brand,” she said. “In Seattle, we have children’s wear and home décor. In Houston, we’ll add more depth each season. The goal is to create spaces where people can surround themselves with Chalo products.” Chalo Man will be part of that future. “He creates curiosity,” she said. “When people see him, I want them to think, That’s Chalo.”

Chalo & Co is woman-owned, minority-owned, and still a small business. Securing a spot inside an airport like Hobby is no small feat. For An, the opportunity is more than commerce.

“It means representation,” she said. “It’s the chance for my design voice to show up in people’s lives and for local makers to be seen, to be carried.”

Now, tucked among the departure gates, Danialle An’s products wait like stories on display. Travelers heading to Gates 20 and 21 grab a boarding pass mug. Families pause to point at a tote covered in stamp-sized Texas landmarks. Locals smile at the cartoon cowboys lassoed across pouches.

Every sale is a moment of “let’s go.”