Glen Ellyn museum store reaches beyond its roots

By Susan Dibble

sdibble@dailyherald

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.

“We are a destination store,” he said. “People who do find us are thrilled with the way the store looks and the merchandise they find.”

Customers who remember the popular Loom Room, which expanded from weaving supplies to an all-around gift shop, instantly recognize Babbitt’s touch at Stacy’s Corners Store, said business manager Jennifer Porter.

“They walk in and say this is Gary Babbitt’s store,” she said. “Ninety-five percent of people who walk in the door walk out purchasing something.”

The store’s profits go to support the mission of historical society to collect, preserve, educate and present the history of Glen Ellyn.

Babbitt, who holds a degree in fine art and worked as a textile artist earlier in his career, shows a flair not just for choosing merchandise but for arranging it in eye-pleasing ways, said Dan Anderson, a historical society member who helped establish the store and serves as one of its volunteer clerks.

“He’s excellent at displaying it,” Anderson said. “He also has a wonderful visual memory.”

If the store’s volunteer staff members rearrange some of the merchandise, Babbitt catches the change on his visits and invariably puts the items back, Anderson said.

“Sometimes we’re tempted to move something to see how long it takes him to notice it,” he said.

Retail revisited

Serving as merchandise manager at Stacy’s Corners Store wasn’t a job Babbitt sought. Happily retired, he and his wife were busy traveling the world and volunteering at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn and with the hospice care offered by Community Nursing Service of DuPage. During warm weather months, he had time to indulge in his passion for fishing in DuPage County’s lakes and ponds.

But Jan Langford, former executive director of the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, was persistent in asking Babbitt to lend his expertise to the store.

“Jan finally convinced me when it was fall and my fishing time wouldn’t be interrupted anymore,” he said.

Babbitt also realized he missed the challenge of retail. His wife, Margaret, said helping at Stacy’s Corners Store has allowed the couple to renew their ties with former suppliers and customers.

“Having been in business so many years in town, we felt our costumers were our friends,” she said.

Babbitt, who attends trade shows and connects with local artisans to select merchandise, said he works on an as-needed basis. He visits the store at least once a week, but said he said he misses the regular contact with customers his own business gave him.

A historically themed Glen Ellyn afghan that Babbitt designed while he owned the Loom Room is prominently featured in the store. When he closed his own business, Babbitt gave the rights to the afghan to the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, which had helped him with the research.

Not a history buff himself, Babbitt said his knowledge of Glen Ellyn’s past came from living in the village for 36-plus years. He worked in advertising and display in Chicago and then with Formento’s Interiors in Glen Ellyn before starting his own business. Babbitt sold his fabric art at galleries, fairs and in his own shop, while teaching weaving classes.

“I learned very quickly, you can’t make a living weaving so we had to branch out,” he said.

History with a twist

In helping the historical society branch out, Babbitt has created a historically themed decor with old photographs and artifacts. The store sells a limited number of antiques.

Glen Ellyn history-related items are given a modern, and sometimes, humorous twist, Images of historic buildings and the serious faces of early Glen Ellyn settlers look up from coasters and bars of soap. At the suggestion of Margaret Babbitt, quotes were added to the soap wrappings that match the dour faces; Deacon Winslow Churchill’s soap bar reads, “Say that again and I’ll wash your mouth out!”

But the store also features photography from modern Glen Ellyn, as well as gifts for special occasions and seasonal items. The internationally known Ball Seed Company, which had its roots in Glen Ellyn, agreed to supply the store with packages of private label seeds.

Except for the antiques, the store carries merchandise priced at $100 and less, Babbitt said.

“The trick is to find things that are reasonably priced, of good quality, that are somewhat unique,” he said.

Stacy’s Corners Store, recognizable by the vintage photo mural on the outside, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. For details, contact (630) 469-1867 or www.gehs.org.

If you go

What: Stacy’s Corners Store first birthday celebration

When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 11

Where: 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn

Info: (630) 469-1867 or info@gehs.org