In an effort to increase retail in downtown McHenry, the McHenry Riverwalk Shoppes opened for business as of July 21, 2023. 

Located next to the Riverwalk on Boone Creek, the Shoppes serve as a link to the retail that already exists in the McHenry downtown areas. It also is an opportunity for business startups to gain experience and exposure. 

“The ultimate goal of these shops is to activate retail in downtown McHenry,” stated The McHenry Chamber’s FAQ page. “Our downtown will become a magnet for customers.”

The project works in collaboration with McHenry Community High School District 156. A number of past and present students at MCHS have already started vending at multiple of the ten shops.

“The Riverwalk Shoppes are at the heart of the Riverwalk,” stated Carl Vallianatos, MCHS’s Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation at MCHS, who was a part of the planning team on the project. “Their presence has already added to the vibrancy of McHenry.”

 The Shoppes offer temporary retail at an affordable price.  When renting an incubator shop, it’s owners will participate in multiple workshops that will help them grow their business and gain experience.

“It has been really popular,” described Sky Warfield, a vendor for Little Bean Books. “People mostly come in for books at our normal location, but since this is a big area with a lot of shops, we are getting a lot of traffic and different clientele.”

The Shoppes are now looking for businesses to vendor out of for the year of 2024.