About Us
Grasshoppers is a unique shopping experience located in a 1870 historical Victorian home.
You will browse the main floor with many rooms to find the perfect gift to treat yourself to something special. The lower level is an amazing wine cellar and there is an old barn to explore out back.
In the beginning, Grasshoppers was owned by Kim Collier with the help of her husband, Rodney. Together, they helped grow the business into the flourishing shop it is today. As priorities shifted to new ventures (like the Grasshoppers Guest Houses), they recently sold the gift shop side of the business to Monica Schons, who brings her own flair and personality to the place while honoring that traditional Grasshoppers charm.
Want to learn more about the history of Grasshoppers? Keep reading to learn about the shop’s origins from original owner Kim. Then, browse our photo gallery for a sneak peek at all the goodies that await us!
“Before Grasshoppers and our 3 beautiful boys, my husband, Rodney and I, loved exploring little towns with unique gift and antique shops. It wasn’t long before I just had to open a fun shop of my own. With my dreams, vision, and loving support from Rodney, Grasshoppers opened to the public in September of 1997.
We found an old building to rent in downtown LeClaire, Iowa along the mighty Mississippi River. The shop was only 700 square feet and my focus was gardening, unique gifts and antiques for indoors and outdoors. I also turned “trash into treasure” with furniture from flea markets and yard sales. It’s amazing what a little paint can do! We knew that LeClaire would eventually turn into an incredible tourist destination–even if few others realized it at the time. We could see the potential!
About 4 years later, we felt it was time to expand. Just across the street from my original shop was the historic McCaffrey House. Captain John McCaffery was a river pilot in the late 1800s. We found its historical charm to be perfect for a beautiful shop, so we opened in February of 2002.
I am blessed to have a great amount of support to keep Grasshoppers up and running. My mom helps me balance motherhood and self-employment. She puts in many hours at the shop and does a great job! Also, Brady, our Golden Retriever, was always by her side until late 2011. But, we’re still huge animal lovers, so we have already added to the “zoo” with 3 cats (Caesar, Max, and Frankie), who were born under our barn, and Finley, our new lovable dog.
Thank you to all my faith and support, this silly little dream became much more than I could imagine. So, “Dream Big” because God sees it bigger. We have been blessed again and again. What began as my vision gives me an opportunity everyday to share my faith and dreams with others.”
