Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from across the tri-states. This edition highlights developments in East Dubuque, Ill.; Shullsburg, Wis.; and Dubuque.

EAST DUBUQUE, Ill. — A new antique mall is coming to East Dubuque with an emphasis on offering “something for everyone.”

Illinois Treasure Co. will hold a soft opening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at 136 Sinsinawa Ave. The 15,000-square-foot space is home to thousands of vintage artifacts ranging from military and sports memorabilia to antique glassware and artwork.

The antique mall is set up like a department store, explained co-owner Mia Maurer, with each section dedicated to its own set of vintage treasures.

“You can go upstairs to the open balcony and look down and see a thousand different things,” Maurer said. “… Anything someone could want to collect, we have.”

Maurer co-owns the mall with Paul Knupp. Longtime collectors themselves, the pair this summer acquired an entire estate from another set of dedicated antique fanatics. In total, the estate filled roughly three semi-tractor trailers with myriad unique finds.

“We’re talking stuff that nobody has seen in 20 or 30 years, if not longer,” Knupp said. “Every bin we opened was a surprise. It might be old pottery or projectors, something from 1850, 1905 or the 1920s.”

The East Dubuque treasure house will sell items from that estate, as well as various other items sourced from area vendors. Some of the store’s standouts include signed Norman Rockwell paintings, glowing uranium glass and classic costume jewelry.

Once settled, Maurer and Knupp also will offer regular auctions. The focus will be on originality and customer experience, Knupp said, as well as offering an opportunity for customers to learn more about the store’s merchandise.

“When you buy something off our shelves, we don’t just pull another one out from underneath the cabinet. You’ve bought a really special piece to go home with,” Knupp said. “It’s really like finding buried treasure.”

The soft opening will take place this weekend, with more established hours to be set after the holidays. Future updates and more information about the antique mall can be found online at bit.ly/3RN0zhP.

Area couple takes ownership of Shullsburg hotel, plans event space

A Shullsburg hotel is under new ownership and soon will include a new event space.

Lizzie and Ross Williams recently took ownership of Shullsburg Suites at 202 W. Water St. The historic 1883 building includes four upstairs suites and a lower level the couple plans to renovate into a private event space.

Each suite has one bedroom, but larger groups can book multiple rooms — or the entire floor — to accommodate larger parties.

“We’re really interested in getting more people to stay in Shullsburg,” Lizzie Williams said. “We have a really nice, historic town here, and we want to show that off.”

The Water Street building has filled multiple roles over the years, Williams explained, including a dentist’s office, law firm and even a bank. Most recently, it operated as a hotel and restaurant.

To honor that background, the new owners plan to lean into the building’s historic nature both upstairs and down. The suites include several “Americana classics,” Lizzie Williams said, such as a vintage clawfoot tub and a large fireplace.

The first floor is under renovation and is expected to open for event rentals this spring. The plan is to uncover the two old bank vaults — used by previous owners as storage — for additional space and to bring old-time charm.

Inside, the couple will display old news articles about the infamous bank robbery that took place at the building in 1925.

“It’s a chance for people to take a little step back in history,” Lizzie Williams said. “The vaults have been kind of hidden away for a few years, so we really wanted to open that up.”

Bookings currently are open for the suites and can be completed online at airbnb.com/users/show/445882617. More information and future updates about the event space can be found on the Shullsburg Suites Facebook page.

New store opens in Kennedy Mall with focus on fandom favorites

A new store has opened in Dubuque’s Kennedy Mall focusing on international, collectible items.

Angry Fox recently opened in the mall between Captured on Canvas and The Tech Corner. The store sells plush toys, figurines, mock swords and various other Asian- and anime-themed collectibles.

The Dubuque storefront is owner Staci Powell’s second physical Angry Fox location, with the first operating in Janesville, Wis. Powell also travels around the country selling goods at conventions and trade shows.

“We definitely wanted to bring some of that fandom excitement to Dubuque,” she said. “There’s already a really good community here for that market, and we just want to expand on that and offer some different choices.”

Powell said her goal with Angry Fox is to provide a welcoming gathering place for Dubuque’s “nerd community.”

The store’s shelves are filled with items related to familiar classics such as “Dragon Ball Z” and “Pokemon,” but she also has merchandise from more recent hits such as the Japanese manga and animated TV series, “Jujutsu Kaisen.”

For more casual shoppers, the store also offers a variety of snacks, decorations and plush animals.

“Some of this stuff used to be more obscure, even the things really well known now like (the TV show) ‘Sailor Moon,’” Powell said. “But with the internet making us so much more connected, you can enjoy things from all over the world.”

Between 80% and 90% of the store’s merchandise is imported directly from Japan, Powell said, so products are rotated frequently. She works directly with suppliers abroad to stay ahead of trends and ensure there is always something new for shoppers.

The Dubuque store is currently about half full as Powell works to fill it, but the entire store soon will sport the international goods.

“I want to offer this all in a very inclusive way,” Powell said. “Some of the coolest people in my life are people I met selling at the store or in shows.”

Angry Fox is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Additional information about the store and updates on its merchandise can be found on its Facebook page, bit.ly/3RsUbuy.