The rocky economy has taken its toll across the Bay Area, and stores in Palo Alto come and go with the seasons. Verde decided to explore some of downtown’s newest shops that have opened up this spring. Here’s a look at a few of our favorites.

Vans: 222 University Ave.

Vans is an internationally known company whose roots date back to 1966, when founder Paul Van Doren set out on a mission to create a durable and affordable shoe made with his rubber right out of his own factory. Since then, it has grown into a multi-million dollar skateboard corporation.

Despite its worldwide notability, Vans Inc. has opened California’s first and only stand-alone store right in the heart of downtown Palo Alto. Employees welcomed the store to business on Friday, May 7; however, the company is planning an official grand opening on Saturday, June 5 with a live appearance and art with Bay Area artist Mars-1.

The location has the same feel as other Vans stores do, despite the fact that it is smaller and sells less of an assortment of Vans gear.

“Because we are a stand-alone, we sell less apparel than other Vans stores,” floor manager Albert Hernandez says.

Paly seniors Axel Palmas and Ryan Flanagan are employees at the store.

“It’s cool to work here because there are only seven other stand-alones in the company,” Palmas says.

Stop by Palo Alto’s very own Vans store for your typical skateboard apparel, footwear, and accessories.

Monique’s Chocolates: 539 Bryant St.

Cupcakes and frozen yogurt need to watch their backs; there’s a new kid in town. Monique’s Chocolates has made a seamless entry into the specialty shop scene that has taken Palo Alto by storm the past few years. Created by chocolate maker Mark West, Monique’s offers creative truffles made to satisfy the sweet tooth of any chocolate fan. The truffles are categorized by cocoa percent, varying from an assortment of milk chocolates that consist of about 34 percent cacao to dark chocolates consisting of up to 100 percent cacao. There are 12 different types of truffles, each with a unique name that tells the origin of the cacao used.

“Each country’s cacao has its own different taste and spice,” West says.

The shop also offers other chocolate treats such as West’s own rendition of the s’more (French s’more, $3), which consists of a large, fluffy marshmallow swirled together with bits of graham cracker and chocolate — all hand-made, of course. While it is certainly not cheap, the chocolate made at Monique’s is unparalleled to that offered in the rest of Palo Alto.

So chocolate lovers, rejoice! And stop by Monique’s Chocolates on your next excursion downtown to treat yourself to a handmade delicacy. Try the Brazil (65 percent cacao, $2) or the French Dark non-dairy made with hazelnut milk (50 percent cacao, $2).

Crepevine: 367 University Ave.

Not a newcomer to the breakfast scene, Crepevine has been serving customers classic California cuisine for the past 15 years. With eight other locations spanning the state, the chain’s newest location recently opened its doors in March to the Palo Alto crowd. The vast menu evidently centers around crepes, but the restaurant also offers a wide variety of sandwiches, pancakes, and omelettes.

Crepevine’s crepe menu boasts both sweet and savory crepes, most of which feature unique combinations that other crepe restaurants do not offer. My favorite is the Santa Fe ($9.50), which consists of grilled chicken apple sausage with scrambled eggs, green onions, provolone and salsa. If your sweet tooth is getting the best of you, try the Stanford ($6.25), which has strawberries, bananas and nutella, and is served with whipped cream and vanilla ice cream on the side.

While somewhat on the pricey side, Crepevine is ideal for Sunday brunch close to home. The portions are much more than enough, so share a couple of crepes between a group of friends.