Jun 8, 2011

Glen Ellyn museum store reaches beyond its rootsBy Susan DibbleDailyHerald.com

Anyone attending the first birthday celebration of Glen Ellyn Historical Society’s Stacy’s Corners Store from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 11, will find merchandise that goes beyond what might be in a typical museum shop, along with discounts, prizes and refreshments.

History-related items are there, to be sure, but so are baby gifts, jewelry, home decor, clothing accessories, gardening novelties, stationery and specialty food treats, all attractively laid out in the store’s spacious 2,200 square feet.

The effect is entirely intentional, said Gary Babbitt, who was brought in as the shop’s merchandise manager after successfully running a retail business in Glen Ellyn for nearly 25 years.

“They wanted an all-around general gift shop similar to the type of store we had in town for 25 years,” Babbitt said. “Predominantly, what we try to have are gifts that appeal to most people for most occasions.” Babbitt, who with his wife, Margaret, ran the Loom Room in Glen Ellyn from 1978 to 2002, admits his part-time, paid position for the nonprofit historical society has been a challenge. Since the store is located at 800 N. Main St., blocks north of Glen Ellyn’s downtown, it doesn’t get foot traffic, he said.

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