WELCOMING BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Shopping local supports all St. Charles businesses

By Kevin Druley | Photos provided by Double Take Consignment and Town House Books & Cafe SHOPPING

Though frequently caught up with matters inside their own stores, workers and business owners in St. Charles still keep a pulse on their neighbors. “When people come in, we try to send them to other places, and I feel like other places send them to us,” says Tammi Rojek, owner of Double Take Consignment. “We’ll say (to customers), ‘Oh, how did you hear about us?’ And they’ll say, such and such at this shop told us about you. The businesses have been very welcoming to having us here.” Since opening in late 2021, Rojek and Co. have found word of mouth and the “shop local” ethic hold equal currency to cash and various electronic forms of payment. It’s a spirit that’s uplifting in the city’s commerce community. Sarah Marcheschi, bookseller and former childhood customer at Town House Books & Cafe, agrees. And all the better when so many St. Charles businesses are housed in historic buildings, a testament to a city founded in the 1830s. Such is the case with Town House, which opened in 1974 and operates in what was a house built in 1853.

“The ambiance,” Marcheschi says. “There’s a lot of architectural detail here. We try to make use of every space we can, so we have books, really, in all the nooks and crannies. In windowsills, in the fireplace. Tucked away everywhere.” Whether patrons are shopping for clothing, books, flowers, food or even some relaxing time away — Wilson Travel & Cruise, for example, recently hailed its 60th anniversary — Marcheschi finds the simple act of being about and browsing invigorates those who stop by. To her, appreciation for in-person shopping has been restored. “We order so many things online now,” Marcheschi says. “You can get groceries online; obviously, you can get books online. But there’s something about the outing of going in and walking around. ... I think the social element has been an important thing for us in terms of keeping people coming back.”

Telling others about the experience, then, helps pay things forward. “Word-of-mouth is our favorite kind of advertisement,” Rojek says, “because it means somebody liked our store enough to share it with their friends.”