Every Monday, Heart on Main Street’s Executive Director Patrick Keiser visits a different community to feature the downtown area and its retailers through their social media channels. Here is a selection of some of the towns he has visited and some of his favorite retailers there. If you would like your town to be featured, email
contact@heartonmainstreet.org.
Estes Park, Colorado
Estes Park, Colorado, has everything you could want in a Main Street area. The beautiful views of the Rocky Mountains and sounds of the Fall River provide for a magical shopping experience.
In the downtown area, Trendz at the Park provides shoppers with the best Estes Park offers. You can find products made by local Colorado artisans, clothing and apparel that celebrates the national park, gifts for children and pets, and home accessories, in addition to information on national parks, as well as factual and humorous guides for survival in the wilderness.
Baraboo, Wisconsin
In central Wisconsin, the town of Baraboo holds a unique distinction that has shaped the atmosphere and culture of the town. Baraboo was home to the Ringling Brothers and was host to not only their first circus performance but also the first performances of five other circuses. Because of this history, Baraboo has been aptly nicknamed Circus City, a name it has fully embraced. Whether it is the circus big-top mural painted on the street, the fire hydrants painted with circus motifs, the Al. Ringling Theatre located downtown, or the Circus museum just outside of it, the feeling of the circus is everywhere in Baraboo.
However, not every store in Baraboo is circus-themed. Bekah Kate’s is a gift, kitchen and children’s store that has been ranked one of the best gift shops in central Wisconsin. Bekah Kate’s dazzles customers with product displays by featuring height and color to create attention-grabbing merchandising. Along with its kitchen items, the store features a cooking theatre where it hosts in-store cooking classes using products for sale. And while not circus-themed, the store doesn’t entirely avoid whimsy. The children’s section includes fun and inventive items, including a child-size kitchen for little ones to play in while their parents shop.
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee, successfully balances its historical charm with modernity. The store, Tin Cottage, embodies this dynamic of modernity mixed with history. Located in a historical building dating back to the 1800s, you can see the building’s exposed brick walls and feel the creak of the wooden floors under your feet, yet the product offering is bright and appeals to a younger crowd. Products featuring Taylor Swift and other Tennessee music stars take center stage in displays. The Volunteer State is represented well, with sections dedicated to products and artisans from Tennessee.
Geneva, Illinois
Cocoon is a self-proclaimed “magical shop for home goods, quirky gifts and one-of-a-kind finds.” Housed in a formerly residential property, Cocoon perfectly places merchandise throughout the building. If you’re looking for bath and body products, you’ll find them in the gorgeous bathroom on the second floor. Apparel items can be found in the primary bedroom. Kids’ items are located in another bedroom. Home decor items are spread throughout the family and living rooms, right where they should be. Within Cocoon, you feel right at home.
Waukon, Iowa
Over the last five years, Waukon, Iowa, has seen a revitalization in its downtown commercial district. One of the shining examples of Waukon’s retail success is Hello Sunshine. The owner, Lara Berryman, has even expanded her retail footprint within a little over a year of opening. The store offers home decor and gifts. Berryman’s artistic background and retail experience have been instrumental in creating a vibrant store.
