Not taking ourselves too seriously has always been an important part of GG. In honor of this week being Women’s Entrepreneur Week, we wanted to share some insight on the not-so-glamorous side of entrepreneurial life (G.E.L.) because life ain’t perfect. When we first started Grasshopper Goods, there were certainly some unexpected bumps in the road that affected my vision for the mobile boutique.

The first visit was on a family trip to the Caribbean. At the time, my family was encouraging me to follow my entrepreneurial dream of starting my own boutique. When we landed, we jumped into a taxi to cross the island. As I climbed into the front seat, a green grasshopper landed on the outside of the windshield right in front of me.

Stoughton, Wisconsin, is a magical city just 15 miles outside of Madison that Grasshopper Goods is lucky to call home. With a population of just over 13,000 and a tight-knit community vibe since 1847, Stoughton is home to artsy boutiques, small-goods shops, and delectable restaurants throughout its Arts and Entertainment District. It’s also known as the birthplace of the coffee break and community TV.

Once folks visit Stoughton, they are eager to come back. And, good news—there are plenty of fun-filled Stoughton events to add to your calendar for your next return trip.

This week, Grasshopper Goods will be celebrating the rich heritage of Stoughton at the Syttende Mai Festival, with three days of live music, parades, family activities, and more to honor Stoughton’s Norwegian roots and coincide with Norway’s annual Constitution Day. Near the 17th of May, you can experience all Stoughton has to offer here.

A vintage look at the annual Syttende Mai Parade

In honor of this celebration, we’ve curated a list of Stoughton must-sees, whether you’re being introduced to this wonderful city for the very first time or you’re a Stoughton regular. And the best part? All of these amazing stops are within one block of each other.

If you’ll be in town this weekend, don’t miss our Stoughton walking tour on the Grasshopper Goods Instagram. We can’t wait to show you around!

Dune Gift and Home

Dune Gift and Home and Grasshopper Goods go way back together. Before we had a brick-and-mortar store, Dune Gift and Home was one of our truck’s first jewelry partners, offering the beloved brand Cire. Today, this unique gift store focuses on clean beauty as well as vintage home goods. Their space is super inviting, and the store team could not be sweeter. 

Spry Whimsy Fiber Arts

Spry Whimsy Fiber Arts is the go-to spot for all your crafting needs. With a vast array of yarns and spinning and felting fibers, the shop offers the perfect supplies for your next project. Shop owners Peter, Ingrid, and Laura are all artists themselves, so they’re able to help you find just what you need. Spry Whimsy’s wool and spinning fiber collection has always been magical to me, as I grew up spending so much time on the family farm where we raised sheep. This place takes me back to that beautiful time in my life. 

Yahara Chocolate 

Did someone say chocolate? Yahara Chocolate, founded by chocolatier extraordinaire Brook Johnson, is a purveyor of the finest chocolate varieties around, with more than 250 single-origin chocolate bars for you to pick from. Their selection is one of the largest in the entire country! From grab-and-go chocolates to curated collections, Yahara Chocolate is a Main Street mainstay. 

Studio 184

When we set up shop in Stoughton, the Studio 184 team surprised us with a beautiful Grasshopper Goods painted bench, and we've never felt so welcomed. Studio 184’s tagline is “creatively restored interiors,” and through a unique and fun-filled process, the shop helps folks rework their furnishings, from vanities to kitchen cabinets, using  Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan. Founders Cindy and Barry Gazso are designers and artists, and the entire staff are creative problem-solvers with amazing ideas to spruce up your home. 

Itty Bitty Bookstore

Our favorite new addition to Stoughton’s downtown is Itty Bitty Bookstore, a charming bookshop that exemplifies our values of diversity and inclusion. The shop is designed to be a place where we can be our authentic selves and see all of us represented, too. With works by diverse authors and the representation of marginalized communities throughout texts, Itty Bitty Bookstore develops a curated collection and shares a featured book every month. Owned by our amazing friend Dominique, Itty Bitty Bookstore is a place to explore our differences, together. 

Gemini Games

Gemini Games is a place to explore your hobbies or find an entirely new one, with an extensive collection of games for you to try and buy. Here, you’ll spot up-and-comers and expert gamers playing a round in the game lounge, making it a fun space where folks want to hang out for a while.

Wildwood Cafe

Stoughton isn’t known as the birthplace of the coffee break for nothing. We like to stay caffeinated, and Wildwood Cafe is a special place in our hearts that’s always one of our first stops in the morning. Pair your coffee drink of choice with delicious breakfast options, like the Buttermilk Biscuit, Gluten-Free Pumpkin Coffee Cake, or Blueberry Lemon Scone.

Viking Brew Pub

Bookend your Norwegian heritage experience at Syttende Mai with a Nordic beer. Viking Brew Pub was once home to the Stoughton State Bank in the 1800s, then the Stationery House for three decades. Now Stoughton’s first brew pub, Viking Brew Pub came to be from a father-in-law and son-in-law pair who sampled craft beers on their travels together. The menu features Nordic-style and other unique beers, while the food menu is comprised of Sconnie classics like cheese curds and jumbo soft pretzels.

Wendigo

Wendigo is a delicious restaurant fit for foodies and families alike. Try the Poutine, Fried Tomato Po’Boy, or Little Bit of Mac & Cheese to experience the hype. Or, visit for their creative cocktails, like the Gingered Mojito and Honey Cranberry Smash, which you can order to-go, too.

Mershon’s Cider

Mershon's Cider is a delectable cider tasting room in the heart of Stoughton. Founder Joseph Baird experimented with creating a new version of cider, with the addition of wildflower honey to create a cross between a cider and a mead, otherwise known as a “cyser.” The cidery emphasizes the freshest, most natural ingredients in their ciders, with fresh juice, fruits, and honey and no synthetic sugars.

 

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I’m so thrilled that Grasshopper Goods’ brick-and-mortar storefront location found its place in Stoughton, Wisconsin—the most charming, inclusive, artsy city that really embodies all of the values Grasshopper Goods is about.

Before we landed in our forever home, we started with a truck. 

We’ve been feeling pretty wistful lately thinking about beginnings. Throughout the pandemic, people have been starting over or embarking on an entirely new journey that’s all their own. Maybe you’re one of them, and you’ve ended up somewhere completely and wonderfully new. A positive outcome of tough times, I’ve found, is that beautiful stories always unfold on the other side.

For years, I had dreamt of opening my own boutique. One that would allow me to connect with my local community and explore my passions in a brand-new way. After countless conversations with family and friends and a trip to the Caribbean where I got a sign from the universe, loud and clear, I decided a mobile boutique was the perfect step. 

Our mobile truck, Vinny, first started welcoming customers back in March 2017.

Before Vinny, we tried out a ‘57 Chevy school bus—which came with the serendipitous stowaway of a live grasshopper inside. Soon after this magical message, we converted a ‘77 Chevy step van from its original state as a pizza truck, but we wanted to make sure we kept its spirit. 

As an homage to his Italian heritage and our favorite heartthrob character in “Welcome Home, Kotter,” we named the truck Vinny. For a year, we completely rehabbed our new mobile boutique, from a total gut rehab to its bright, welcoming interior design by way of Sterling Grey and Beyond Broncos’ genius.

When it was time for Vinny to get wrapped, we got emotional. Grasshopper Goods collaborated with Blue Platypus for a custom design, which featured whimsical art like hidden grasshoppers, four-leaf clovers for my Irish ancestry, and Midwest flowers to forever root Vinny in a sense of home.

In March 2017, Vinny was ready to hit the road—but we obviously had to celebrate first. 

We threw Vinny a party, and in doing so, we threw it back to 1977 after Vinny’s birth year. Everything was on-theme, from the groovy outfits to the tuna casserole and Twinkies and PBR to the mixtape. On that day, I couldn’t stop smiling. Having a fully transformed mobile boutique meant my dreams of owning Grasshopper Goods were finally coming true. I couldn’t wait to spread glad tidings and joy throughout the Midwest and connect with so many wonderful humans in this new venture.

It’s now been four years since Vinny took his first road trip. When I pull up to an event, people are instantly drawn to Vinny. There’s something about the truck that makes it such a magical place to explore. And there’s something about the truck’s environment that allows people to open up and have raw, vulnerable conversations with me. Thanks to Vinny, Grasshopper Goods is a place where people form deep connections that break through the hyperconnected, fast-paced world we’re a part of. And I’m so thankful for these moments and for the humbling gift of being able to honor the stories of others.

Though Vinny hasn’t been able to roam since the pandemic began, I can’t stop thinking about how Vinny was there from the start. The truck is such a major part of the Grasshopper Goods story.

I hope you can honor your beginnings, too.

Whether you’re in the midst of a new story or picking up to start again, there is bravery found in every fresh start. When we allow ourselves to be open to the magic of new beginnings, we’ll find more than we could have ever possibly dreamed of. Thank you, Vinny, for teaching me that beginnings lead to so many beautiful memories.