Bishop Hill Colony Store

The Bishop Hill Heritage Association archives hold some of the original account books and we can see that they sold thousands of brooms, miles of linen and miles of hooked rugs. Besides being a store, the first floor was also used as a post office for more than 80 years and the second floor housed offices and an apartment. After the Colony broke up in 1861, the store continued to operate for almost another 100 years. However, due to years of neglect the southwest corner collapsed in April of 1969. It was after this event that the building was purchased by the newly formed Bishop Hill Heritage Association. After several years of an extensive restoration project, the Colony Store was reopened on May 25, 1975. Counters, shelving and other display fixtures from the original store were retained. Swan Swanson, a colony trustee who lived upstairs during the Colony era, took over the store after the colony dissolved. Today, the Colony Store offers a wide array of Swedish imports, locally roasted coffees and chocolates, souvenirs, seasonal home décor, though most young folks refer to it: the candy shop.