Calling Stockton Home Since 1973
Written by Roya Soleimani
As you pass by the colorful and iconic Parvin’s Hopeland Preschool on the corner of Swain Road and Pershing Ave, you’re seeing a school with over three decades of love, care, and teaching. Further down the road on Pershing and Robinhood, Mansoor Master Furrier Tailor attracts clients from Stockton and Northern California who appreciate the owner’s expertise, talent, and craft. These two Stockton institutions are more than just your local Mom & Pop shop, they’re my own Mom and Dad’s shops.
My parents, Parvin and Mansoor Soleimani moved to Stockton in 1973 to pursue their doctoral education in Psychology and Sociology at the School of Education at the University of the Pacific. They have incredible memories of Stockton during that time, and were enriched by the academic vitality and community at UOP. They planned to return to their hometown of Tehran to put their new education, resources, and language skills to work. But given political events in Iran during the 1979 revolution - it was safer for them to stay and continue to build their new lives in Stockton.
Parvin’s Preschool first started as a small home daycare and quickly transformed into a full childcare center that is a beacon for early childhood education in Stockton and beyond. My mom lead’s by example, and her passion and love for the children, families, and her staff are unmatched. “Our school now has a second generation of students. I had the joy of teaching children twenty years ago who now bring their own kids to the school. It’s an incredible feeling.”
My dad turned his childhood talent of sewing into a small business by opening the tailor shop where he is famous for his sharp eye and precision. As the only furrier and leather expert in Northern California, he has regular clients who make the trip from the San Francisco Bay Area for their unique tailoring needs.
“We love our community, and are proud to have built our lives and raised our children in Stockton,” Mansoor shared. At the age of 78, my dad not only runs Mansoor Master Furrier Tailor, but is also a seasoned real estate agent for PMZ Real Estate in Stockton. While sewing is his first love, he hopes to sell his 30 years+ business to spend more time on real estate.
So the next time you’re driving down Pershing Ave, stop by and say hello at the Tailor shop, or if you have little ones, call the preschool for a tour! Mansoor Master Furrier Tailor is located at 5650-A North Pershing and Parvin's Hopeland Preschool is located at 5965 N. Pershing Ave.