If you have an active imagination, you could easily imagine you’re staring at an enchanting window display at Macy’s in San Francisco. The strategically decorated Christmas tree, gifts, and holiday decorations are blended with colors of purple, silver, and green. The brightly lit window is tucked under the large purple awning bearing the name Chozen by BC, which has been open for two years. I walk
ed through the front entrance and felt like I’d entered an exquisite boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California. Only BC Cabangbang, the owner of Chozen by BC, can provide such a wonderful adventure. He has hand selected several unique gift items from California, New York, France, China, and other locales throughout the world and brought them to 120 W. Fourth Street in Royal Oak. Chozen by BC offers Michiganians the opportunity to take a journey into the world of designer gifts made throughout the world. As I stood in the foyer, I could not help but notice photos of Oprah and wondered if she had visited Chozen. The photo of Oprah is of her proudly wearing gold bangles by Barbara Boz on the front cover of O magazine. Oprah and many other fans adore the organic hammered gold bangles of StyleNaturale, a line of 18-karat gold plate and silver plate jewelry and semi-precious gems and crystals. My journey started as I browsed around the small shop trying to see everything on the shelves, walls, racks, floor, tables, and inside cases. I told BC that there was a moment when I flashed back to my days of shopping at the Bombay Company.
“I suppose you could say my shop is similar to Bombay, but more of a specialized, more upscale Bombay,” BC said. “Although Bombay didn’t have specialized greeting cards.”
When I asked BC if he would like to talk about particular items, he stated, “It’s not really one thing. It’s really hard to just say one item.”
Then I asked, “What is the most unique item in the store?”
“French furniture,” said BC. There is a unique designer Nesting table handcrafted in France and other gifts from France. There are beautifully crafted “heirloom” mirrors designed in France, but manufactured in Indonesia.
“These are not regular mirrors. These mirrors are meant to be handed down,” said BC. If unique designer furniture is appealing, you will be very interested in knowing you can save 25% off of an eye-catching bar, leather daybed, sofas, lamps, and chairs. A designer ice bucket with glasses decorated with shimmering crystals would look great on the bar. Gentlemen will love Justus Boyz trunks and briefs by Phill Elam and Mikek Boila. The designer swimwear and underwear can be purchased in France, Australia, Switzerland, Spain, or right here in Royal Oak at Chozen by BC. If you’re seeking a unique, memorable and affordable gift for yourself or for anyone on your list for any occasion Chozen by BC is the place to visit. You will find bejeweled photo frames; diamond shaped soaps made of walnut and maple; elegantly crafted greeting cards; gift bags; holiday CDs; fragranced candles; perfumes and fancy perfume holders; egg shaped paper weights; designer wallets and purses; business card holders; Ralph Lauren drinking glasses; fashionable money clips, keychains, reading glasses, sunglasses, and purse holders; stylish bowls, vases and candle holders; artwork to adorn your walls; a collection of porcelain frogs covered in colored stones and crystals; a computer mouse covered in glimmering crystals; and lots of dazzling designer jewelry by designers like Kathy Ireland. After oohing and aahing over all of the gifts and making mental notes of what I would like to buy, there was something on the wall that captured my attention that was not for sale. Behind the counter there is a large portrait of BC’s mom.
“Purple was her favorite color,” said BC. His mom passed away many years ago, but her spirit lives on as she inspires BC’s stylishness and upbeat persona. BC was born in Hawaii and raised in the Philippines. He is an attractive gentleman who spent about two decades working as a designer for Marshall Fields before using his talents to open Chozen by BC.
