Skip links

Shopping

Princeton is a one-of-a-kind shopping experience!

Shopping in Princeton is an experience you haven’t had anywhere else because Princeton is a wonderful one-of-a-kind shopping town! Plan to spend the day with girlfriends, and give yourself plenty of time to explore our two shopping districts, both of which developed in the 1800s as Princeton began to grow. The South Shopping District grew up around Route 6/34, which was once the main route from Chicago to Princeton for horses and carriages (and later, automobiles). The arrival of the railroad fostered growth on the North end of town.

There are no national chain stores, none of the market-driven sales and promotions that you’ve seen in the malls again and again. Every little store in Princeton is unique, and in most of them, it’s the owners themselves who will be right there serving you. Ask them about the history of their stores; one of our gift boutiques still has the original drawers, racks and rolling ladders that were part of the hardware store that originally occupied the space.

Be sure to take a quick break from shopping to look up & down; in many of these shops, you’ll notice the beautiful weathered hardwood floors and the unique decorative ceilings that were standard when these buildings went up in the 19th and early 20th century.

Many of our shop owners can boast that their stores are filled with items that are Made in America, and more specifically, right here in Bureau County. Local artisans, from potters to woodworkers to jewelry artists, sell their handmade products in local stores. You can even arrange for a lesson to make your own bowl or vase on a potter’s wheel.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift that nobody else will be giving, you’re in the right place. Our shops boast a remarkable and unusual collection of kitchen items and linens, refrigerator magnets, pet accessories, scarves, unique clothing, scrapbooking materials, jewelry, home decorating items, perfumes, garden accessories, handmade candies and specialty popcorns, candles, great wines and liqueurs, stationery, greeting cards, teas, coffees… well, you get the idea!

Antique shops? High-end consignment stores? China replacement on your list? We have a variety of choices for your shopping pleasure. And every year, more new shops open, so your Princeton shopping experience never gets old.

On summer Saturdays, local farmers and bakers are on hand at the Farmers Market on South Main Street next to our historic Apollo Theater. You can head back home with fresh produce, locally baked goods, and relishes, jams and jellies to remember your trip for Princeton for days to come.

Next time you’re thinking about shopping at the same old mall with the same old stores, give yourself a break, hop in the car with some girlfriends, and head out to Princeton, Illinois. We’re waiting for you!

Our Shopping Options

2 Bros Chillin
229 Elm Place, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 878-3741

A & M Products
575 Elm Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-2667

Austin Parker Naturals
509 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-1751

Beetz Me! Inc.
952 North Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 879-7777

Blooms on Elm
14 Elm Place, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8537

Blue Jay Way Records
524 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 872-1935

Boek-el-ZOO
419 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8442

Bruce Jewelers
631 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-2289

Car Wash Brokers of IL, LLC
712 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-3601

Creations Unlimited
15 West Peru Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 872-0905

Downtown Liquidation
609 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 876-6804

Eclectic Joy
529 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 872-3569

Finders Keepers Resale Store
230 Backbone Road East, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 879-7387

Five 22
522 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 872-3522

Flowers By Julia
811 East Peru Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-3819

Four Seasons
643 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 872-2225

Fresh Finds Hallmark
460 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-1039

Grand Plaza Antiques, Etc.
531 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 437-2856

Guys ‘N Gals Salon
507 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-4075

Hoffmans Patterns of the Past
513 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-1944

Hornbaker Gardens
22937 1140 North Avenue, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 659-3282

Hotsy Equipment Company
17 West Peru Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 875-4564

Illinois Valley Cellular
200 East Ace Road, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-1205

J&S Antique Mall
16713 IL 40, Sheffield IL 61361
(815) 454-2066

Jillian’s Hair Design
611 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 872-0600

Johnson’s Carpet Shoppe
1033 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-3444

Lee’s Water Systems
1790 North Euclid Avenue, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 875-2506

Little Blue Dress
514 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 872-2880

Lodestone
528 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-2793

Meadows Home Decor & Gifts
501 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 872-2811

Napa Auto Parts
2106 North Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8012

Neighborhoood Ace Hardware
525 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 879-2791

Nest
108 South Main Street, Sheffield, IL 61361
(815) 303-0846

NiciLynn Shoes
535 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 872-3445

Once Upon a Craft
114 North Locust Street, Wyanet, IL 61379
(815) 501-8278

Optimal Health
918 North Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-4115

Princeton Liquor Wine & Spirits
106 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8145

Rachel Rene Bath & Body
620 South Main Street Princeton IL 61356
(815) 915-2001

Refaced
502 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 878-3873

Rural Hair Parlor
320 West Main Street, Wyanet, IL 61379
(309) 360-4392

Sayler’s General Store
618 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 872-3725

Sean Philip Bridals
902 North Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8772

Shana Rae May
Photography & Creative Design
640 Eastmor Drive, Princeton, IL 61356
(779) 239-9253

Shane’s Shine Shop
611 North Pleasant Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 872-4301

Sherwin Williams Paint Company
623 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 879-8731

Someone’s In The Kitchen
1619 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 879-0604

Sophisticuts
1001 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-4332

Sullivan’s Foods
125 Backbone Road East, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 879-7351

T & T Metal Designs
104 North Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8694

The Bike Place
22 East Columbus Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 797-2399

The Milk Moustache
944 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-6455

The Princeton Closet
2026 North Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 875-3145

The Studio
809 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 872-5252

Treasure Chest Backbone Road
1850 North Euclid Avenue, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8440

Two Angels Weddings &
Artistic Portraits
432 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(309) 648-0320

Ultimate Salon & Spa
408 South Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-8321

Wal-Mart Super Center
2111 Claude Bailey Parkway, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 875-4521

Wild Honey Boutique
430 South Main Street, Princeton, IL 61356
(815) 915-8166

Wyanet Carpet Flooring America
816 North Main Street, Princeton IL 61356
(815) 879-0005