The Rock Island Downtown Alliance will host the Sweetheart Shop Hop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, and encourages the QC community to shop, dine, drink, and socialize at participating downtown businesses.
The Valentine’s-themed event will offer shopping deals and activities. They include yoga and hairstyling, DIY desserts, and pop-up floral and plant bars.
“The local businesses in our district create Downtown Rock Island’s melting pot of experiences, and the Sweetheart Shop Hop is a way to highlight some of these unique amenities and invite the community to show up for these businesses,” said Jack Cullen, executive director of the Downtown Alliance.
To participate, attendees can pick up a stamp card at one of the 15 participating businesses. They must visit at least five locations to participate. Turn completed cards in by 3 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Rock Island Ale House for a free beverage and be entered to win prizes.
Prizes include: a grand-prize total makeover by Lavish Salon & Spa; two murder mystery dinner tickets at Skellington Manor Event Center. They also feature a new outfit from Brick and Motor Boutique; and Downtown Rock Island business gift cards. Winners will be announced the following week.
Participating are: Arts Alley Pop-Up Shops (Amore Creations, Blue Collar Bagels), Bev’s Yarn Barn, Brick and Motor Boutique, Healthy Harvest Urban Farms, La Flama Mexican Restaurant, Lavish Salon & Spa, Ms. BriMani’s Hair & Beauty Supply, Quad City Arts, Quad City Botanical Center, Ragged Records and Music, Refined Fit Lab, Rock Island Ale House, Skeleton Key Art and Antiques, Skellington Manor Event Center, and Wake Brewing.
Full details on the event are available at www.downtownrockisland.org/sweetheart.
About the Shop Hop
The Sweetheart Shop Hop was launched in 2025 by and for small businesses in Downtown Rock Island. Their motivation was to generate foot traffic and sales and celebrate the Valentine’s season during what can be a slower time of year for retail.
“One of the benefits of doing business in our dense, walkable downtown is having next-door neighbors that offer complimentary products and services,” Mr. Cullen told the QCBJ. “Collectively, these local businesses create Downtown Rock Island’s melting pot of experiences, and the Sweetheart Shop Hop is a way to highlight these unique amenities.
He added “Our business owners continue to show up for the community and each other, and we are eager to invite the community to show up for them and have fun exploring downtown during the Sweetheart Shop Hop.”
