Shop Dundee event highlights local stores in downtown East and West Dundee

The Shop Dundee event was created last year by the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce as a way to help local businesses through the choppy financial waters of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on its success, organizers want to turn it into tradition.

The Second Annual Shop Dundee event takes place this weekend in downtown East and West Dundee with at least six businesses participating in sidewalk sales. The goal, according to Chamber President Melissa Hernandez, is to attract visitors to shop downtown and stick around to patronize the local bars and restaurants.

"Last year was very successful," Hernandez said. "We had to be careful about it because the crowds couldn't be too big, but it was nice foot traffic all weekend long."

This year's sidewalk sale event started Thursday and continues through Sunday, with most businesses participating from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Eastside Cafe, Coffee and Wine Bar and River Street Collectives, both on River Street, are the East Dundee shops participating. The Half Full Nest, Boxwood Home Design and Cabinetry, J & S River Antiques and Trippots are participating along Main Street in West Dundee.

More information about the Shop Dundee event can be found at the Chamber website, www.nkcchamber.com.

"Whether other businesses are a part of this or not, the idea is to get people to the downtown areas to try and shop at as many businesses as possible," Hernandez said. "Once they visit, people will see what a great area it is."