A Vintage Shop Hop Into Spring

by Lakes Edition Staff

Reading Time: 12 minutes  Last Updated: 03/02/26

Spring is just around the corner. which for shopaholics and aspiring shoppers means the early March version of Vintage Shop Hop is here. The days are longer, the sun sets later making a shopping junket weekend with the girlfriends all the more enjoyable. And with over 400  locally owned antique and vintage stores participating having a strategy is a good idea if you plan to shop until closing time.

Thinking local is exactly what motivated Ann Campos, the former head of the Northern Illinois Tourism Council, tourism promoter and marketer to start Vintage Shop Hop (VSH.) nine years ago. From Green Bay to the Chicago Suburbs, this biannual, two-day event is a celebration of main street. small business. From her desk as head of the Northern Illinois Tourism Council Campos saw how smaller towns were outside looking in when it came to promotion coverage by area, visitor tourism boards. Most of their attention was "tied to room stays so they were covering businesses but not covering small campgrounds or antique stores that resided in towns where you didn’t have visitor tourism bureau,' says Campos. Vintage Shop Hop puts those stores on the map and gives them the attention they deserve. VSH has become so popular over 400 antique and boutique store event now participate.

Campos, the owner of Nellie's Barn Sale, understands that for many, small town stores in these uncertain economic times Vintage Shop Hop is a lifeline. “These small businesses right now are fighting for their lives. They’re not Kohls, Target, or Hobby Lobby. They don’t have $1,000,000 dollar marketing budgets. These small businesses have zero marketing dollars, they’re just getting by." Ann Campos says. Many of these stores featured in VSH are husband and wife owned without a 401k waiting for them. VSH is a big economic shot in the arm for many small shops.

Fostering Community

Vintage Hop Shop is about being part of much larger picture. "If you promote together you become a destination," says Ann Campos.

Ultimately, shopping local is about community. Target is not going away. “When you go to grocery shop at Walmart consider buying that Birthday card, pillow, or gift at a local store instead,” says Campos.

And remember to wear your mask and socially distance if you are still concerned about the high rates of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin. Some businesses in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Madison. still have a mask mandate in place even though at the state level the that is no longer the case.

If You Go

Vintage Shop is, the self-described "Motherlode of all roadtrips," a self-guided tour. Each store is required to have an “in-store” promotion so be on the lookout for that. A handy recommendation, Ann Campos suggests printing out a copy of the map and list before you go have coffee with your friends and plan out the day.

When:  March 6 - 7th.

Where: All across the state of Wisconsin and parts of northern Illinois .

Visit Vintage Shop Hop's Google docs for a complete list of antique stores and boutiques and their useful Google Map for locations, and details about each business. Find Vintage Shop Hop'swebsite here.