SAN FRANCISCO — If you’re in search of the ultimate rubber duck destination, look no further than KWAK in San Francisco. Joanne Calabrese, CEO, and founder of KWAK, proudly states, “We have ducks for every occupation, every sport, movies, celebrities, everything you can think of.”
Located on Pier 39, the vibrant store boasts the largest assortment of rubber ducks west of the Mississippi and caters not only to kids but also to adults. According to Calabrese and her partner, store designer John Walton, adults often visit their store and get incredibly excited about the array of duck options available.
“Everyone has a story about rubber ducks from their childhood. The rubber duck has been around in various forms since 1935, but its popularity soared in the ’70s with characters like Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street and the famous rubber duck song,” explained Walton.
The duo has been working together for decades since their days at Gap corporate. Calabrese said she was thinking about this idea for years and finally took the plunge and left her job. Walton joined and they created the rubber duck superstore with the goal of making people laugh, smile, and have fun.
There’s a duck for every customer and with a relatively low price point from $3 and up.
KWAK ducks make the perfect souvenir. “We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. But it’s more about just people enjoying the experience. It truly is,” said Calabrese.
Learn more on their website.
