American Girl Store Opens its Doors in Southwest Miami-Dade

The store opens on Saturday at 9 a.m.

Nine-year-old Gaby Gonzalez and eight of her friends got a sneak peak at the new American Girl doll store in southwest Miami-Dade.

She darted around in the store in wonder early Friday.

"This store is driving me insane!" she said. "Because I love it so much."

Doll after doll, accessory after accessory, caught her eye in the brand new store opening at The Falls in Saturday.

The 16,000 square-foot site includes a books section, a hair salon for dolls, and a bistro for dolls and girls.

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Gaby has been a collector of the cultural phenomenon since she was 5. She has four dolls, and now she's searching for one with curly hair, like her own.

For each marquee doll, researchers spend two to three years coming up with a fictional story based on true events in American history. Each doll comes with a dose of education about its time period.

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Gaby's mom, Vivian, said that although the dolls are expensive, (more than $100 each depending on the set) she appreciates her daughter and friends can "put down the iTouch," she said.

It also helps her connect with her daughter over a pastime she remembers from her own childhood.

"They can just be kids," said Vivian Gonzalez.

The store opens to the public at 9 a.m. Saturday.

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