Shopping in the Quad Cities has grown into a diverse array of options for people. From city mall settings to downtown areas or off the beaten path small towns, from new wares or second-hand treasures, there’s something for every type of shopper around.
If you like one-stop-shopping in a big mall, there are two in the Quad Cities, one of each side of the river – Northpark Mall in Davenport, and Southpark Mall in Moline. Both have other stores available within the surrounding blocks as well.
Davenport also has a huge retail area surrounding the intersection of 53rd Street and Elmore Avenue. This is where many of the big box stores, such as Old Navy, Target, and Bed Bath & Beyond are located, as well as many restaurants and movie theater.
If you prefer a more independent, small business scene, the Quad Cities area has several different areas to visit.
Downtown Davenport has some really cool shops all along Second Street; one can start at the foot of the Arsenal Bridge and work their way West. Highlights are Ragged Records next to Trashcan Annie’s, an antique clothing shop; Crafted QC, filled with local artists’ wares; which is next door to Abernathy’s, that sells a wide variety of assorted new and vintage goods.
The Village of East Davenport also has a neat selection of shops and eateries to visit. Find great gifts in the Plaid Rabbit, visit the art co-op at The Adventure Orange & Mint Green Boutique, or have an Old Fashioned soda pop at Lagomarcino’s.
The Quad Cities is home to several consignment shops as well. For the classic thrift store environment, there are Goodwill stores located on both sides of the river and Davenport is also home to Stuff Etc. as well as the D.A.V. Thrift Store. If you want something a bit more vintage, you can visit Life’s Little Treasures or Revolution in the Village, both located in Davenport, or visit Fred and Ethel’s in Rock Island.
There are also more product specific stores in the area: Ritzi Reruns and Plato’s Closet focus on clothing, Once Upon a Child features gently used children’s ware, or the Habitat Restore offers home construction materials and furniture.
If it’s antiques you’re after, visit More Than Antiques or Skeleton Key Art and Antiques, both in Rock Island. Davenport is home also to Riverbend Retro and Neat Stuff.
If you have a little bit of time to wander, both LeClaire, Iowa, and Geneseo, Illinois, offer cute, small-town shops and restaurants where one could easily spend a day!
Just outside of the metro Quad Cities is LeClaire, Iowa, about a 20-minute jaunt if you head west on River Drive from Bettendorf. The road will take you straight to the downtown area that houses many different boutiques for shopping, including the American Picker’s storefront location – Antique Archaeology, restaurants, a brewery, and the Mississippi River Distilling Company.
A half-an-hour south east of the Quad Cities is Geneseo, Illinois. It is filled with wonderful, independently owned shops like Crabapple Cove, Urban Farmhouse, and mabel. Geneseo is home to two breweries, Lionstone Brewing, and Geneseo Brewing Company, and is home to The Cellar, a fantastic place to have dinner out.
The Quad Cities and its surrounding areas are home to many different types of retailers ready to meet the needs of any type of shopper around!
