Shoppes on 2nd Avenue attracts young entrepreneur - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Shoppes on 2nd Avenue attracts young entrepreneur

By: Katie Jones

 kjones@cbs4qc.com

Full time student, entrepreneur and brand new business owner.  For some, it seems like a lot to handle but one Rock Island woman is achieving it all and she's barely in her 20's. What started as a dream for Lindsay O' Brien has gone from a tiny stand at a farmer's market to a brand new shop on 2nd Avenue and city leaders hope her unique taste will bring a big boost to the Rock Island Economy.

 "I started making my own costumes and clothes while I was away at school then I put the pictures online.  So then, I had girls messaging me asking where they could get this stuff," said O'Brien.

So a light bulb went on and Lindsay saw dollar signs. She started selling her one of a kind items.

"We sold hula hoops, repurposed shirts, tie dies basic stuff like that but it's all funky," said O'Brien.

 Now, her retail vision has turned into a full fledged business.

"There are so many unique people in the QC who just want to be different, the want to be their own person and I think this is a really good spot for people who want to be unique because there's stuff you can't find in The Quad Cities or anywhere else in the country," said O'Brien.

City officials hope her unique style will really put Rock Island on the map.

"It's something you can't go anywhere else and purchase so it becomes a destination point and with the variety of the businesses that we have opening up within the Shoppes on 2nd, we trust that people will support it and find that unique item they can't get anywhere else," said Brian Hollenback from Renaissance Rock Island.