Jackson Baxter pours a glass of wine at the Wide River Winery in LeClaire on Saturday, March 22, during that community’s Taste of LeClaire celebration. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
LECLAIRE – Marcia Ellingsworth was enjoying a day of shopping during this rivertown’s Taste of LeClaire celebration on a sunny, cool Saturday afternoon, March 22. That day featured about 20 downtown businesses offering snack and drink samples or discounted goods to get people to visit the community and shop at the local businesses. The free […]
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LECLAIRE – Marcia Ellingsworth was enjoying a day of shopping during this rivertown’s Taste of LeClaire celebration on a sunny, cool Saturday afternoon, March 22.That day featured about 20 downtown businesses offering snack and drink samples or discounted goods to get people to visit the community and shop at the local businesses. The free offerings included everything from cookies, dips, latte, wine and much more.
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Mary Anna Parris shows a bottle of Wickles Dirty Dill Cornichons on sale at Razzleberries Fine Gifts in LeClaire. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
People look over some of the shops in downtown LeClaire during the Taste of LeClaire celebration on Saturday, March 22. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
People get a meal at Shelly’s Sweet Sensations, 106 S. Cody Road, LeClaire, during the Taste of LeClaire celebration on Saturday, March 22. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
About 20 businesses took part in the Taste of LeClaire.
Hundreds of people shopped local on Saturday in LeClaire.
Many of those businesses also had small buffalo statues in front of the shops to help catch the eyes of visitors. The statues, which have been in place since last summer, are now the centerpieces for a new shopping promotion event called the LeClaire Buffalo Stampede.Ms. Ellingsworth, of Davenport, had just visited Crafted QC, which had free cookies and dips for visitors. She bought a few gifts and was resting near Wide River Winery whose staff was busy serving up samples of red wine.“We were going to get some wine samples, but they were too busy right now. We’ll try again later,” she said.She was one of the hundreds of visitors shopping in LeClaire on the busy Saturday.
The Saturday event was a success for many of the businesses participating in Taste of LeClaire, said Cindy Bruhn, LeClaire tourism manager.
"We enjoy having fun events in LeClaire, big or small. For so many of our visitors, it is the first time they are discovering LeClaire, and they often mention that they will be back with family and friends," she added.
On Monday morning, March 24, Ms. Bruhn contacted several of the business owners who took part in the Saturday celebration. Here are some of their comments:
Emily Gwin of Emily Found It: "It was my second biggest day since I've opened. I had my sale happening so that with the event and the nice weather, it was a slam dunk."
Tammy Danielson of bela: "It was a great day for bela. I was running my head off to refill samples, make drinks, be at the counter."
John Wernick of Decades: "I had probably four times my normal customer visits. Unfortunately, nearly all were 'tire kickers,' but it was nice to see the numbers in town."
Bev Hart of The Potter's House: "We sold out of our Hot Pepper Jam, then wen to olive samples, and then to chips and salsa."
Gaelyn Breckling of Green Tree Brewery: "Had a lot of folks stopping in for samples, and then staying for beers and cocktails. It was a wonderful time."
Mary Chambers of Razzleberries Fine Gifts: "Best sales day of the year."
One of the hot spots during the celebration was Wide River Winery. At just past 1 p.m. Saturday – the official starting time of Taste of LeClaire -- the winery was packed. All its tables and chairs were filled, and it was standing room only for those stopping in for free wine samples, and to buy glasses of wine.“It’s been awesome today. We’ve been really popping around here helping people,” Jackson Baxter, an employee at Wide River, said as he rushed from table to table to fill wine orders.A few doors down, Aunt Hattie’s Fanciful Emporium gift shop at 102 S. Cody Road was also filled with shoppers who were looking over a vast array of gifts. Some of those items included dashboard cameras, bicycle repair kits, men’s grooming kits and seed packets for flowers and vegetables. They were also helping themselves to a small table filled with dips.“I see the white cheddar jalapeño (dip) is really selling. I just looked over and saw we needed to get some more,” said Wayne Walley, one Aunt Hattie’s owners.He added that Saturday was a great day for the business. The sunny weather – and plenty of free offerings provided during the celebration – had people crowding into Aunt Hattie’s for much of the day.“It’s been great weather. People have been coming in. … You can’t get any better than this,” Mr. Walley said.People also were visiting Shelly’s Sweet Sensations, which was offering free samples of turtle brownie bites; Cody Road Coffee with free latte drinks; Nest Modern Goods with pretzels and other snacks; Olathea Creek Winery was offering wine specials; and Razzleberries Fine Gifts with its samples of triple dark chocolate espresso beans and other treats.While visitors were enjoying the free samples at Razzleberries, located at 227 N. Cody Road, employee Mary Anna Parris was inside the store greeting customers and offering to sell them jars of Wickles Dirty Dill Cocktail Cornchins.“We have so many unique things here. … People have been stopping to buy gifts and even some pickles from me,” said Ms. Parris.
