Fresh from their successful inaugural Arts Alley Holiday Market, Rock Island Downtown Alliance partners are turning the colorful area at 1719 Second Ave. green for its first-ever Shamrock Market on Saturday, March 15. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day just off the St. Patrick’s Day Grand Parade XXXVIII route, pop-up vendors will be […]
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Fresh from their successful inaugural Arts Alley Holiday Market, Rock Island Downtown Alliance partners are turning the colorful area at 1719 Second Ave. green for its first-ever Shamrock Market on Saturday, March 15.From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day just off the St. Patrick's Day Grand Parade XXXVIII route, pop-up vendors will be serving tasty treats, festive finds and Irish vibes as well as sharing the luck of the Irish with visitors and parade-goers on the alley, which celebrated its grand opening in November, an alliance news release said. Atlanta Dawn, right, a Quad Cities artists, speaks Nov. 20, 2024 at the grand opening of Arts Alley in downtown Rock Island. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON“The Arts Alley Shamrock Market was inspired by the Arts Alley Holiday Market hosted in November-December 2024,” Jack Cullen, executive director of the Quad Cities Chamber affiliated downtown alliance, told the QCBJ.“The new vendor stalls in Arts Alley, which were filled with visiting businesses during the winter holiday season, are now decked out in St. Patrick's Day-themed decor and ready for action,” he added.The Shamrock Market will feature two established downtown businesses, AWAKE Coffee Company and Ragged Records & Music. Other businesses in the downtown area also are gearing up for the crowds that flock to the nation’s only bi-state St. Patrick’s Day Parade.This year’s parade will kick off at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, at the corner of Fourth Avenue and 23rd Street in Rock Island. It will travel through downtown, across the Mississippi River via the Centennial Bridge to West Third Street and proceed east through downtown Davenport along a route to the RiverCenter at East Third and Perry streets.
A great opportunity
“The St. Patrick Society's Grand Parade draws thousands of visitors to downtown Rock Island each year, and with the recent renovation of Arts Alley, it's a great opportunity to offer family-friendly programming there just off the parade route for the public to enjoy,” Mr. Cullen told the QCBJ. “In addition, we hope the festivities in Arts Alley bring additional foot traffic east of the parade route where other businesses, including Icons Martini and The Smoking Dog Pub, are hosting parade-day fun.”Icons, located at 124 18th St., is serving up a Lucky Charms Martini and The Smoking Dog Pub, 1800 Second Ave., is featuring live music all day. Meanwhile, the After Image Boutique at 1700 Second Ave. is offering a fun photo-op in front of its storefront display. This year’s Shamrock Market also includes a pair of visiting businesses: Blue Collar Bagels and Flaherty's Irish Candy Company. Free parking for Shamrock Market is also available in the lot to the north of Arts Alley at 1st Avenue and 17th Street.“At the end of the day, we hope the Shamrock Market enhances the overall visitor experience on parade day and supports local businesses,” Mr. Cullen said.Flaherty's Hot-Buttered Rum, toffeesToward that end, the alliance urged visitors in a news release to “swing by, soak in the parade-day magic and enjoy these local offerings”:
Blue Collar Bagels – Fresh, sweet & savory bagels with custom spreads.
Ragged Records & Music. – Spinning upbeat tunes all day.
AWAKE Coffee Company, 1439 Furth Ave. – Keeping you warm and energized for fun.
Flaherty’s Irish Candy – Hot buttered rum & Irish toffee samples.
Support RI businesses
Other Rock Island businesses and organizations – many of which have been impacted by the downtown construction projects – also are ready to welcome visitors, including:
2nd Avenue Market, 1726 2nd Ave.
Bent River Brewing Company, 512 24th St.
Big T Wear, 1700 Second Ave.
Boneafide Hair Creations, 1610 Second Ave.
Brick and Motor Boutique, 1629 Second Ave.
Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 Third Ave.
Cool Beanz Coffee, 512 24th St.
El Patron Mexican Restaurant, 1829 Second Ave.
El Toro Loco Party Bar, 1722 2nd Ave.
Huckleberry's Great Pizza and Calzones, 223 18th St.
Jim's Rib Haven, 531 24th St.
KRU Salon, 1727 Second Ave.
La Flama Restaurant, 2107 Fourth Ave.
La Playa Latino Bar, 1815 Second Ave.
Lavish Salon & Spa, 1700 Second Ave.
Looney’s Little Chicago, 219 17th St.
M&J International Food Market, 1706 Third Ave.
Ms. BriMani’s Hair & Beauty Supply, 1709 Second Ave.
NEST Café, 1524 Fourth Ave.
Polish Pub, 2301 Fourth Ave.
QC Coffee and Pancake House, 1831 Third Ave.
Quad City Arts, 1715 Second Ave.
Ragged Records & Music,
Refined Fit Lab, 313 20th St. #103.
Rock Island Ale House, 226 17th St.
Rock Island Public Library, 401 19th Str.
Rooster’s Sports Bar & Grill, 2130 Third Ave.
Rozz-Tox, 2108 Third Ave.
Skeleton Key Art & Antiques, 520 18th St.
Soi 2 Thai Street Food, 1825 Second Ave.
STEAM On Wheels, 2104 Fourth Ave.
Steve’s Old Time Tap, 223 17th St.
Sumthin Different Barber & Beauty, 1704 Third Ave.
T&T Asian Foods Market, 520 16th St.
The Smoking Dog Pub, 1800 2nd Ave.
The Stern Center, 1713 Third Ave.
Ultimate Fitness, 1628 2nd Ave.
Wake Brewing, 2529 Fifth Ave.
Rock Island Downtown Alliance partners with the city to staff, manage and implement Downtown Special Service Area (SSA) programs.
Icons, located at 124 18th St., is serving up a Lucky Charms Martini and The Smoking Dog Pub, 1800 Second Ave., is featuring live music all day. Meanwhile, the After Image Boutique at 1700 Second Ave. is offering a fun photo-op in front of its storefront display. This year’s Shamrock Market also includes a pair of visiting businesses: Blue Collar Bagels and Flaherty's Irish Candy Company.
Free parking for Shamrock Market is also available in the lot to the north of Arts Alley at 1st Avenue and 17th Street.
“At the end of the day, we hope the Shamrock Market enhances the overall visitor experience on parade day and supports local businesses,” Mr. Cullen said.
