By Natalia Vega, Nova Southeastern University
The paint is fresh, the equipment is installed, and the smell of a new store fills the air. Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More is expanding its presence by opening new locations in South Florida; Cooper City is next on the map. The franchise’s newest location, owned by Alex Papastamatis, opened on December 17, joining the other 75 and counting. The store gives customers the opportunity to personalize apparel with their own designs. Anything from images, logos, and phrases can be imprinted for any occasion.
For Papastamatis, the new store represents more than just a business venture. After more than 20 years of working in marketing in corporate America, he was ready to do something that felt creative, community-driven, and personal.
“I wanted to be part of the community,” he said. “And hopefully I’ll be able to give back to the community. There’s a lot of charity events where we’re going to be able to either donate or make a fundraiser for churches, for schools and help them raise money.”
His journey to entrepreneurship was not without challenges. Like many business owners, he faced uncertainty when launching his store, from navigating permits, talking with lawyers, to spreading the word about his opening. But with each step, Papastamatis found support from the Davie-Cooper City Chamber of Commerce, whose network of local business owners helped him make valuable connections.
“It’s great for networking,” Papastamatis said. “[The Chamber] is great because we can help each other out.”
The heart of Big Frog’s mission is to bring the community together to connect. The store specializes in custom apparel printing and embroidery, serving both individuals and local organizations. Their product line extends to scrubs, uniforms, hats, backpacks, drinkware, and more. Whether customers want a detailed sewed-in style design on a hat, or to simply print a design as a sticker, there are many options to choose from. Customers can walk in with a simple concept, for example, wanting a shirt for a family trip celebrating a relative’s birthday, and watch it transform into something tangible. The store allows local creatives to bring their art to life, and it is a way to give back to the community that Papastamatis grew up in.
Papastamatis began meeting other entrepreneurs through the chamber and met other Big Frog owners. He started collaborating on events and even brainstorming ways to cross-promote local businesses. As he started to strengthen his relationships, he felt sure that joining the Davie and Cooper City Chamber of Commerce was ideal for him and Big Frog’s new location. The more events and networking he did through the chamber, the more Papastamatis saw that his store would be able to thrive through collaboration and not competition.
While custom apparel is Big Frog’s signature, Papastamatis’s vision stretches beyond the product. He wants the store to become a creative hub, a place where schools, charities, and small businesses can bring their branding and fundraising ideas to life. He lights up when he talks about being asked when he will be ready to open his Cooper City store.
“People want to place orders, and they want to come in and support me,” he said. “I’m excited for people to see what we can do in the store.”
Papastamatis also cares about sustainability and quality, so he chooses eco-friendly printing methods and materials whenever he can. Each decision Papastamatis makes for his location shows his goal to build a business that can thrive in the graphic design world.
As Big Frog joins the Davie and Cooper City community, it becomes a part of the city’s story, as well as the story of their customers. He is already planning to join local events for businesses and Chamber mixers and bring custom apparel to fundraisers and school spirit days, and more occasions.
For Papastamatis, success is not just about sales; it’s about belonging.
“We’re [going to] deliver great products and good customer service,” he said, “I want to help by being a good community member… [I] like that human connection.”
As the afternoon light filters through the store windows, the first T-shirts will roll off the press machines, bright and bold. Papastamatis straightens a row of freshly printed shirts, each one with a unique design. The machines are quiet for a moment, and in that calm, it is not just the start of a business; Big Frog Custom T-shirts and More is a place where new beginnings take shape, one custom design at a time.
Natalia Vega is a student reporter in NSU’s introduction to print journalism course taught by Dr. Megan Fitzgerald in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts.
