By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — An artist owned and operated stationery goods and gift shop has opened in its new location in downtown Rockford.
SRM Prints opened Tuesday in the corner storefront formerly occupied by Salvaged by Sonya at 330 E. State St. in downtown. Sarah Reed-McNamara opened in the new space under the name of her linoleum block-printing business after operating as part of the artist collective GEM: Gather, Engage, Make, at 406 E. State St. for about four years.
“When you walk into the storefront you’ll definitely see a lot of color, and it’s a lot of handmade, fun, useful goods,” Reed-McNamara said.
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Inside you’ll find an artistic array of cards, prints and stationery goods such as pens, pencils and notebooks, as well as art supplies for kids and children’s books.
“It’s definitely a place where kids are welcome,” said Reed-McNamara, a mother of two who is married to the city’s mayor, Tom McNamara. “There’s a kids’ play area in the front window display.”
Salvaged by Sonya now runs out of a storefront up the street at 510 E. State St., and Maze Books will move into the former GEM space.
Rockford resident Marianna Galligani said she appreciated the inviting brightness of SRM Prints and the strong ties its products have to women’s empowerment and strong historic female figures. She also admired how some of the work intertwined with themes of nature.
“Things just kind of spoke to me,” she said.
She went home with a bag full of notebooks and other goods.
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“I really believe in the power of supporting local business and I think it’s really important to show up and vote with your dollar,” Galligani said. “You’re voting for local businesses when you’re spending your money at local businesses.”
Reed-McNamara has incorporated her block printing into the business with a press located squarely behind the checkout counter. She’s working to establish regular hours, but she will be open every week. This week will include a T-shirt printing day from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Stationery Store Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday with visiting artists in-house, raffles, giveaways and Ka-Bao food truck out front.
“I want a place that people feel good when they walk in. I want people to feel good when they come to downtown Rockford, and to have a little destination for people who are flying solo or families,” Reed-McNamara said. “I just always want everyone to feel welcome.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas