9-30-2022 3:32am

It's Vintage Shop Hop for Fall 2022!

It’s Vintage Shop Hop time again! Every year for the last nine years, enthusiastic shoppers (mostly ladies) have gotten together for a unique, self-guided road trip featuring the best shopping experiences of the year. The next date is Friday and Saturday, Oct. 7-8.

From as far away as Green Bay to the north, Lake Michigan to the east, south to I-80, west to the Mississippi, and out to the Chicago suburbs, thousands of shoppers grab their maps and their gal pals and head out to spend the day or the weekend enjoying unique shopping experiences. This year, over 400 shops and boutiques are participating.

According to Ann Stiffler Campos, creator and owner of Vintage Shop Hop™, some groups of women have even been known to get together throughout the year for pre-Vintage Shop Hop Wine Night parties to plan their routes. For GPS users, an interactive Google Map is frequently updated with all the participating shops - zoom in and out to see all the closest ones.

Campos is a graduate of Hononegah Community High School and lives in Roscoe. She has plenty of experience in promoting businesses. She was Director of Marketing for the Illinois Bureau of Tourism in Rockford, and worked for the Rockford Convention and Visitors Bureau and United Way of Rockford.

The event is always held the first Friday and Saturday in October and March. This year the fall date is Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8. Doors will be opening around 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Twelve stores in Roscoe, Rockton, and South Beloit will be putting out the red carpet for shoppers, providing treats, discounts, raffles and door prizes. (Vintage Etcetera-A Needful Things Market has moved from Rockton to Beloit).

You win $180 in gift certificates when you have your card punched at all nine shops in Rockton and Roscoe - it's called the Roscoe-Rockton Roundup.

Roscoe:
MeMe's Upscale Consignment Boutique 1447 2nd St, Roscoe
Meyer's Canine Colony 10985 Main St, Roscoe
Rockton:
Rockton Garden Works 130 S. Blackhawk, Rockton
Frosted Farmhouse 112 Hawick St, Rockton
Local Blessings 1225 Prairie St., Rockton
JR Finally Art Studio & Gallery 210 W Main St, Rockton
Piccadilly Antiques 120 W. Main St, Rockton
Home-In Rockton 10985 N. Main St, Rockton
Home on Hayloft 109 W. Main St, Rockton
South Beloit:
Angela’s Attic 1020 Gardner St. South Beloit
Helsell’s Antiques 1302 Gardner St. South Beloit
Best of Beloit 1019 Gardner Street South Beloit

Small business owners pay an advertising fee promoting their store and where they are located. Owners can co-op with other businesses as well.

Campos said shopping is not limited to vintage ware. Home décor, upscale consignment and lady’s boutiques qualify for the sale. To qualify as a vintage shop, items must be at least 75% vintage.

“All have to be locally owned. No franchises. Our goal is to support small businesses,” she said. “Small businesses really need to recoup their losses and get back on their feet.”

“The Vintage Shop Hop has really grown organically,” Campos said. Last year, 385 businesses participated in the fall sale, and 400 businesses in the spring sale. Over 400 stores are signed up to participate this year.

Maps and additional information about the Vintage Shop Hop can be found at https://vintageshophop.blogspot.com and https://www.facebook.com/VintageShopHopEvent/.

More News from Roscoe

Velvet Robot Coffee Lab is coming to town Grand opening in Roscoe, IL is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, 2024, 6:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Photos: Hononegah's 2024 prom - "Our Last Summer" Hononegah High School students celebrated their 2024 prom on Saturday, April 20 at the Tebala Event Center.