Community of shops springs up at Colliers’ Root 67

LeCLAIRE — As customers entered the Root 67 shops during last month’s opening of the new retail project, developers Rodney and Kimberly Collier looked like proud parents surveying the scene. After all, it had been just under five months since the couple took possession of the long-abandoned building at 423-429 N. Cody Road; gutted it; […]

LeCLAIRE — As customers entered the Root 67 shops during last month’s opening of the new retail project, developers Rodney and Kimberly Collier looked like proud parents surveying the scene. After all, it had been just under five months since the couple took possession of the long-abandoned building at 423-429 N. Cody Road; gutted it; updated its electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems; installed new windows and doors; divided it into four modern unique spaces; and transformed the exterior into a smart, black-and-white motif. “Every step of the way, this was a big project,” said Mr. Collier. “There were a lot of people we needed to rely on. It’s sort of miraculous that we did it in four and a half months. … We are really proud of this project.” The retail development, housed in a 127-year-old building that was formerly home to an appliance and hardware store and more recently an antiques mall, is the newest addition to LeClaire’s growing retail and entertainment district. It opened Thursday, Oct. 20, just in time for the holiday shopping season. The businesses located in the building are Cody Rose Flower Co.; THE Clothing Co; NEST, A Modern General Store; and Buttercupp Candles. While each business has a separate entrance from the sidewalk, the intent is that shoppers can walk freely inside from shop to shop. The interior flow also lends itself to a synergy among the shops, which is welcomed by the owners. Ms. Collier said it has been exciting to watch the new businesses take shape. She owned Grasshoppers gift shop in LeClaire for many years, and knows what it’s like to get started as an entrepreneur. “I think just helping others see their dream … we were very fortunate to have all four lined up,” she said.

During the opening, vases of flowers from Cody Rose — located on the south end of the building — decorated tables three shops down at Buttercupp Candles, where owners KC and Jennifer Cupp greeted new customers walking in. With a tantalizing array of unique scents, ranging from Saturday Morning Cereal to Coffee Break and Cozy Cashmere, the store’s ambiance achieves what Mr. Cupp describes as Buttercupp’s purpose: “to have people relax and enjoy life.” That includes an opportunity to choose from among dozens of scents and pour your own candles at the shop’s popular candle bar. There are also gifts to choose from, and the company launched its own line of dip mixes under the Buttercupp Kitchen brand. The LeClaire location is one of several for the growing business, which manufactures its signature-line products — candles, wax melts, room sprays and now a pet spray. It also has a retail shop at 3201 Avenue of the Cities in Moline and sells its products year-round at the Davenport Farmers Market. A new store is planned at The PLEX adjacent to the TBK Bank Sports Complex in Bettendorf. Ms. Cupp, who designs the artistic labels for the company’s product line, said the couple “absolutely loves” collaborating with others, which the unique configuration of Root 67 will allow. As an example, she said customers can purchase products across all of the stores that can be made into a gift basket. Next door, at NEST, proprietors Steven and Olivia Soseman bring a contemporary mix of kitchen and barware, comfortable clothing, gourmet food items, and multiple lines of baby and children’s clothing and toys. It’s a concept the couple has seen in larger cities. “We wanted to bring more higher-end modern gifts for people to buy for special occasions, holidays or personal use,” Mr. Soseman said. The “modern general store” refers to what he calls “a bit of everything,” including unique toys for the pooch in your life. Plans call for the gradual introduction of packaged meats and cheeses and other accouterments for charcuterie boards. That concept will see more development in 2023, he said. “If you have to get something for a party, swing on in whether it’s a gift or a food item,” he said. Mr. Soseman said the couple had always eyed LeClaire as a possible location for their business and heard of the Colliers’ plans for the building. “She (Olivia) instantly fell in love with the building,” Mr. Soseman said. “It’s like a community within a community.” The Sosemans enlarged their back windows for an unobstructed view of the Mississippi River. But many original features of the building remain, such as corrugated tin walls and hardwood floors. Natasha Wahlig, owner of Cody Rose Flower Co., discovered the original hardwood floor as her family pulled up a layer of flooring during their remodel of the space. She also is utilizing a long  wood table that was attached to one of the walls as a space for customers to create their own arrangements from a selection of flowers at a bouquet bar. She also plans to host parties where children can choose and decorate their own vase and create a bouquet. “We are a full-service flower shop,” she said. “You can grab a fresh arrangement out of the fridge, call us up for a wrist corsage or a boutonniere for homecoming or any dance. … We will have fresh plants, silk wreaths and arrangements we will be putting out for each season.” “We design weddings, too,” she said. “I would say that’s our specialty, for sure.” She works with I Do Events of Davenport, and can discuss items for wedding receptions and other related items with clients. “I had a plan and have been lucky enough to have a lot of people help me,” she said. The shop also carries gift items and wine from Olathea Creek Vineyard & Winery and has a license to serve it on site.

For Katie Thompson, THE Clothing Co. was a logical extension of the business she owns across the street at 430 N. Cody Road, THE Market: A Journey to Joy. While she sold clothing inside the historic home along with home décor, gifts and body care merchandise from a variety of vendors, “a clothing boutique didn’t feel functional for a house. Once I was in that space (at Root 67), it made perfect sense for the clothing and the accessories to move over there.” And it opened up additional space in the house for more vendors. Giving new businesses a showcase for their products is a passion for Ms. Thompson and fueled the creation of the original THE Market: A Journey to Joy at the Spotlight Events Center in Moline, and now in her two shops in LeClaire. THE Clothing Co. offers merchandise from 13 vendors and in sizes ranging from small to 3X. “You can find everything from Western wear to comfort wear, athleisure, typical Midwestern style, lots of graphic tees,” she said, “with the emphasis being if I come with my grandma and my mom and even bring my daughter, we all will find something even though the four of us have a vastly different style.” Ms. Thompson is excited about the opportunity to work with other business owners at Root 67. “All of them are upbeat, positive, dynamic and creative,” she said. “It’s one of those things, that as a business owner, you can often feel you’re on an island. Over there, we won’t be an island. We can bounce ideas off each other. We can host events together. It will create such a fun and special event space, too.”