What?! You missed the video launching Helen’s shop local project? Enjoy the next 90 seconds HERE and then check out all the information below.
CARDS
The cards shown ranged in price from $3.25 to $6.
Community AND Convenience: Every one of the three stores featured for cards — Rooted, Rockford Art Deli, and J.R. Kortman Center for Design — has a selection of gift options in a range of prices. If you’re pressed for time, each could be a one-stop shop.
💵📍Rooted
Address: 1408 N. Main St., Rockford
Hours: Wed 10-2 | Thurs & Fri 10-6 | Sat & Sun 9-3
Phone: (815) 494-3649
Social media: @rooted_rkfd on Instagram; Rooted on Facebook
Check out more of Rooted’s Valentine collection HERE
What else to know:
- E-gift cards, starting at $10, are available HERE
- There’s an in-house flower shop – Picked by Rooted
- Rooted is co-hosting Galentine’s Weekend on the North End: 11-3 Saturday, Feb. 7 and 9-12 Sunday, Feb. 8
💵📍 Rockford Art Deli (RAD)
Address: 402 E. State St., Rockford
Phone: (312) 725-4723
Hours: 10-7 Thurs-Sat | 11-5 Sunday | 10-6 Mon-Wed
Social media: @rockfordartdeli on Instagram; Rockford Art Deli on Facebook
Check out more of RAD’s Valentine collection HERE
What else to know:
- There’s a friendly shop dog: Pepper
- You can also get coffee here: RAD Coffee Club
- From 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, RAD is hosting Men of Rockford – V-Day Night, a two-hour $75 event for guys who need last-minute help getting themselves and a gift prepped for the big day.
Address: 107 N. Main St., Rockford
Hours: Tues-Fri 11-6 | Sat 11-5
Social media: @jrkortman on Instagram; J.R. Kortman on Facebook
What else to know: The card in the video – which shows Symbol, Rockford’s iconic piece of public art – is one in a new series of Valentine’s Day cards designed by shop co-owner Doc Slafkosky. Each card is $3.25; the cards in this series are all shop exclusives.
CANDY
💵📍 Guanajuato Market
Also available: Mazapán singles without chocolate — 25 cents apiece
Location: Southwest side of Rockford, less than a mile north of Klehm Arboretum
Address: 519 Marchesano Dr., Rockford
Hours: 7:30-7:30 Mon-Sat | 8-8 Sun
What else to know: Mazapán isn’t marzipan. Mazapán is a melt-in-your-mouth, crumbly treat. It’s not pasty nor uncomfortably sweet. That’s because this Mexican cousin to the better-known European confection is made of ground peanuts gently combined with powdered sugar. It’s not the sugar-saturated almond paste that it sounds like. Covered in chocolate, it’s something perfectly special.
💵📍 The Little Chocolatier for housemade truffles
Price of the shirt box shown: $30 for 1 pound
Other heart-shaped boxes available: $17 for half a pound; $11 and $12 for a quarter pound
Location: Southeast Rockford, next to Wammy’s Kitchen in the strip center behind Banana Cherry Bakery. This is on the east side of the five-points intersection, in the center that once was the Colonial Village Mall.
Address: 1262 S. Alpine Rd., Rockford
Hours: 10-5 Tues-Fri | 10-3 Sat
Phone: (815) 395-1114
Social media: The Little Chocolatier on Facebook
What else to know: Little is the last name of the owner, Dennis, who has been making and selling chocolate and other sweets in Rockford, at the same location, for 25 years.
Making CHOCOLATE-COVERED STRAWBERRIES for big gift-giving occasions is one of Dennis Little’s traditions. You can call him – or stop by and visit – by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 to place an order that you can pick up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 14:
$17 for half a dozen chocolate-covered strawberries; $30 for a dozen.
You can choose milk or white chocolate, and whether you want drizzle.
💵📍 Artale & Co. for Cacao Cuvée artisan chocolate
Price for the box shown: $39 for 16 pieces
Also available: A 4-piece box for $10
Location: A strip center on the NW corner of Perryville and Spring Creek, near Salt and next to The Raven
Address: 6876 Spring Creek Rd. #128, Rockford
Hours: 11-6 Sun, Mon | 10-8 Tues-Sat
Phone: (815) 877-9463
Social media:@artalewine on Instagram; Artale Wine Co. on Facebook
What else to know: Cacao Cuvée is one of two brands from Rockford-based The Chocolatorium. The other is Dark Secret Chocolate. Each of these local brands has made Oprah’s Favorite Things list; the first in 2012, the second (gift box shown in the video) in 2017. Options from both brands are available at Artale – a shop open every day of the week.
💵📍 Artale & Co. for a fine wine with a heart on the cork
Price: $25
Description: Sangiovese, a dry red from California’s Central Coast
Location and other details: See above
COZY VIBES
💵📍 Rockford Art Deli for the Midwest Is for Lovers blanket
Price: $45
What else to know:
- The blanket comes in a second color (carbon). The red we show is called pomegranate.
- You can also buy it online and have it shipped: Midwest Is for Lovers Blanket – Rockford Art Deli
Location and other details: See above under CARDS.
💵📍 Culture Shock for mood music
Price: $15
Description: The vintage vinyl shown is one of several Barry White albums in stock.
Location: On the Charles Street corridor, southeast of downtown; midway between Sam’s Pizza and Stockholm Inn
Address: 2239 Charles St., Rockford
Phone: (815) 229-2997
Hours: 11-6 Tues-Sat
Social media: @cultureshock_ on Instagram; Culture Shock Shop on Facebook
💵📍 One Love Candle & Bath for body butter
Price: $21
Description: Handmade in small batches by the shop owner herself, who starts with unrefined shea butter from fair trade women's co-ops in North and West Africa. Of the 10 scent profiles available for the resulting whipped product, we chose Man… You Smell Good! – bergamot, basil leaf, oakmoss and white patchouli.
Location: Perryville Square center in northeast Rockford, just south of Riverside; between Meg’s Daily Grind and Crave
Address: 3863 N. Perryville Rd., Rockford
Phone: (779) 774-4200
Hours: 10-6 Mon-Fri; 10-4 Sat; 10-2 Sun
Social media: @onelovecandlebath on Instagram; One Love Candle & Bath on Facebook
What else to know:
- The body butter is one of dozens all-natural pampering products the owner and her husband make. Read more about them in the Valentine’s Day gift guide I compiled for Rock River Current in 2024.
- This business is another that can be a one-stop shop for Valentine’s Day gifts.
- If you’re looking for a Shop Local button, you can get one here: $1.50 each.
💵📍Secrets for lube
Price: $33
Description: Specialty packaging of a premium, high-grade, name-brand product
Location: A set-back shopping center off East State on the Valli Produce side of Mulford; in the strip behind Culver’s and Arby’s.
Address: 280 N. Phelps Ave., Rockford
Hours: 10-midnight Mon, Fri, Sat; 10-9 Tues-Thurs; 11-9 Sun
Phone: (815) 399-8500
Social media: @secrets_of_rockford on Instagram; Secrets of Rockford on Facebook
💵📍 Secrets for the red lace teddy
Price: $40
Description: The red-lace teddy shown is part of an ensemble that includes a red sheer cover-up and red fishnet stockings.
Location and other details: See above.
ONE-OF-A-KIND HEART NECKLACES
💵📍 J.R. Kortman Center for Design | Betsy Youngquist necklaces
Price: The two larger pendants (blue and red backgrounds, respectively) are $250 each; the smaller pendant (white background) is $240.
Description: Betsy Youngquist is a sculptural mosaic artist from Rockford known for her beadwork when crafting jewelry; eye motifs are a signature.
Location and other details: See above under CARDS.
💵📍 Proper for the hand-forged Brass/Sterling necklace
Price: $560
Description: Vintage brass and sterling, this reversible necklace is hand-forged by C.E. Golden, a metalsmith born and raised in Rockford. A Boylan graduate who now lives and works in Massachusetts, C.E. also graduated from the Art Institute of Boston. Proper is one of few U.S. shops to showcase her work.
Location: Far-east side, past Hard Rock Casino Rockford and across from AMC Rockford 16
Address: 109 N. Show Place Dr., Suite 125, Rockford
Phone: (815) 601-9493
Hours: 10-6 Mon-Fri; 10-4 Sat
Social media: @proper.on.state on Instagram; Proper on State on Facebook
What else to know:
- The artist’s mother is on staff at the shop. You can find her proudly wearing some of C.E.’s pieces.
FOR YOUR PUPS
💵📍 Wayne’s Feed Store for dog bones
Price: You can find bones of various sizes. We bought the largest — $20.
Location: West side: a mile and a half west of the Main/Auburn roundabout; quarter mile east of Taqueria La Katrina
Address: 3435 Auburn St., Rockford
Phone: (815) 963-7678
Hours: 8-5 Mon-Fri; 8-2 Sat.
Social media: Wayne’s Feed Store on Facebook
One-stop Shopping for pups
💵📍Bark on Mulford
A destination for pampering dogs and the humans who love them, Bark on Mulford isn't shown in this video, but for an idea of the range of goods typically carried there, see #27 in Rock River Current's 2023 Holiday Gift Guide, #12 in Rockford River Current's 2024 Valentine Gift Guide and #4 in Rock River Current's 2024 Stocking Stuffer Guide.
Location: In SE Rockford, a mile northeast of the new Syrian restaurant, Yasmeen Al Sham.
Address: 2002 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford
Phone: 815–558-2275
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-5; Sat 10-3
Social media: @bark_on_mulford on Instagram; Bark on Mulford on Facebook
FIT CHECK
All the clothes and accessories worn in the video were bought in Rockford.
💵📍 Eurostyle+ for the handbag starring in the video
Price: $90
Description: Tightly woven raffia, lined with cotton twill.
Location: Edgebrook shopping village, less than 2 miles from Anderson Japanese Gardens
Address: 1639 N. Alpine Rd., Rockford
Phone: (815) 222-7384
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6; 10-4 Sat
Social media: @eurostyleplus on Instagram;Eurostyle+ on Facebook
What else to know: This shop for women’s clothing and accessories is in the same shopping complex as two other women’s boutiques: B Jones and Roxy Carmichael.
4-8 on Saturday, Feb. 7, Roxy Carmichael Boutique, 1617A N. Alpine, is hosting Galentine's Night, which will also feature items from Eurostyle+.
💵📍 Rockford Art Deli for the LOVE trucker cap
Price: $30
Location and other details: See above under CARDS.
Shop Local extra: You can also buy this from Art Deli’s website and have it ready for pickup or shipped. Click HERE to shop online and still support local.
💵📍 Rooted for the earrings
Price: $28
Description: 18-karat gold heart drops with flowers
Location and other details: See above under CARDS
Shop Local extra: You can also buy these from Rooted’s website and have them ready for store pickup or shipped. Click HERE to shop online and still support local.
💵📍 Winnie Nutter for the gray turtleneck
Price:$16(for reference; a vintage item – same not available)
Description:All wool, from the original quality of United Colors of Benetton
Location: North End – next to Rooted, two doors down from The Norwegian
Address: 1410 N. Main St., Rockford
Hours: Fri 10-6; Sat & Sun 10-3
Social media: @winnienutter on Instagram; Winnie Nutter on Facebook
What else to know:
- Winnie Nutter is co-hosting Galentine’s Weekend on the North End: 11-3 on Saturday, Feb. 7 and 9-12 on Sunday, Feb. 8
💵 Glissknits for a local take on an Italian fashion-house brooch
Description: An Italian fashion house is selling a safety-pin brooch with a row of needlework and a charm for $775. A local maker is recreating it with a higher grade of yarn.
Price: $10 at a vendor booth at Snømarket, the annual holiday festival at The Norwegian
Maker: Lois Schlueter, a Rockfordian who is a regular at local markets; follow Lois to see where she will be next.
Social media: @glissknits on Instagram
😔There’s no pin dot for the ROCKFORD crewneck.
Division & Co., the store where the heirloom crewneck was bought, is no longer in business. The downtown Rockford shop had opened in July 2019 in the location where Smiley's Vintage Supply is now. They sold high quality men’s and women’s apparel along with equally high-quality goods made in the on-premises specialty sewing shop. They rebranded to Thirdmark Supply House during the pandemic and by early 2022 closed.
The first five years are especially critical to a small business.