Grasshoppers Gatherings jumps into the event venue business

LeCLAIRE – The Grasshoppers “family” of businesses owned by LeClaire residents and investors Rodney and Kim Collier is hopping to a new beat these days. Grasshoppers Gatherings, a venue for parties and celebrations, has opened at 208 N. Cody Road. It’s in the historic McCaffrey home that had housed the Grasshoppers gift shop for many […]

LeCLAIRE – The Grasshoppers “family” of businesses owned by LeClaire residents and investors Rodney and Kim Collier is hopping to a new beat these days.

Grasshoppers Gatherings, a venue for parties and celebrations, has opened at 208 N. Cody Road. It's in the historic McCaffrey home that had housed the Grasshoppers gift shop for many years until this summer. After Monica Schons closed the shop in August, the Colliers briefly put the property up for sale. The expansive Victorian home also houses the Grasshoppers Guesthouse 1 Airbnb on the second story. “I had always had it in the back of my mind; I thought this could be the most beautiful venue space,” said Ms. Collier. She opened the original Grasshoppers gift shop there after the couple purchased the home in 2001. She envisioned a space for hosting bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, family reunions, graduation parties, and even work-related meetings. “We thought we would do a really nice gathering space,” said Mr. Collier.

Eclectic, cozy seating

The former Grasshoppers gift shop space has been refreshed with an eclectic collection of tables and chairs and cozy seating areas. Refinished hardwood floors set off the green walls (the color is “soothing and calming,” says Ms. Collier). And large windows bring in lots of natural light and afford a view of downtown LeClaire and the Mississippi River. There is a beverage bar setup and a kitchen area. If features a retro-look refrigerator, a sink and microwave.

Those who rent the venue can bring in their own food, and the Colliers also can provide recommendations for caterers. “It took awhile for people to understand,” said Mr. Collier. “People have been coming here for 25 years to shop, and we still get people coming up and asking what happened.” Cindy Bruhn, of LeClaire, hosted a bunco party at the new venue in early October. “It was really fun, like being at somebody’s house,” she said. “There are little nooks and crannies. … We had a dessert station in one room, drinks in another. We had about 20 people, and there were plenty of little tables. It was comfortable and it was fun.”

Pups on Patio a hit

A Pups on the Patio fundraiser for K9 Kindness also was held there in October, and a holiday craft show with multiple vendors filled the meeting space in early December.

Ms. Bruhn, who is LeClaire’s tourism manager, said Grasshoppers Gatherings helps enhance what LeClaire offers in terms of event venues. One of its unique features is the large wine cellar in the basement – an open area that lends itself to a variety of gatherings. Capacity at the venue depends on what type of event is being held, Ms. Collier said. The home is open during the day for people to walk through. A full gallery of photos is on the Grasshoppers Gatherings Event Venue Facebook page. The space is rented on an hourly basis, and there is a two-hour minimum.  Those who book the Guesthouse 1 upstairs at the same time can receive a discount on the venue rental. For information on pricing, or to book an event, contact Ms. Collier at (563) 370-7367. And while the Grasshoppers gift shop is no longer at the site, a new shop has opened in the adjacent space (originally the summer kitchen for the home). It can be accessed through Grasshoppers Gatherings or its own front door, directly off the back parking lot. Cindy Whitaker opened Ember on the Hill on Sunday, Nov. 5, just in time for the holiday shopping season. The “Ember” in the shop’s name has a special meaning. It refers to a long-time dream of Ms. Whitaker to own a business. “Ember represents the dream in me that wouldn’t burn out,” she said.

Deep roots in LeClaire

Her connections to the LeClaire retail community go back several years as she was employed in the past by the former Posh Home and then later at Bela.

“I loved the environment,” she said. “I’m an empty nester now. I had heard about the Grasshoppers transition and reached out to Rodney that I wanted to lease some space.” She emphasizes product lines made in the Midwest and companies owned by veterans. Popular offerings include: Spiral Light candles, Iowa Smokehouse products such as meat sticks, jams and barbecue sauces, and an array of Chicago-based Collins cocktail mixes and garnishes, drinkware, handmade soaps, Two Gems jewelry, and clothing items such as T-shirts, sweatshirts, mittens and knit caps.   “I feel the store enhances what is in LeClaire,” Ms. Whitaker said. And she refers customers to other businesses to add to products they buy at her shop. For example, she suggests they pair an Old Fashioned cocktail kit with a bottle of Cody Road Bourbon that they can purchase from the nearby Mississippi River Distilling Co.  Hours at Ember on the Hill are noon to 5 p.m., Sunday and Monday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. In January and February, the shop will be closed Monday through Wednesday. The Colliers also own two additional guesthouses in LeClaire — Grasshoppers Too and Grasshoppers III — as well as the Root 67 Shops retail development at 423 N. Cody Road. That project brought the couple the Brick and Mortar award from the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce at its annual meeting in January 2023.