“So many visitors to Historic Main Street are on their way to somewhere else. They’re all adventurers.”  - Stacey Hall, Happy Camper Clothing Company 

Happy Camper Clothing Company calls itself, “A Midwest Adventure Brand.” It’s simple, descriptive, and intentional. The Company is Midwestern, but not only because it exists in the Midwest. Midwesterners are often described as being welcoming, down to earth, and hard-working. In the case of Happy Camper Clothing Company, and its owners, Stacey and Andy Hall, this description rings perfectly true.  

The Halls started up 10 years ago with their own screen-printing business. Stacey laughs as she reminisces about going to Idaho for a 3-day screen-printing course. They bought all of the necessary equipment, set up shop in their basement, and they worked hard, screen-printing and designing for other people.   

Then, in 2015, something consequential happened, vintage and handmade markets had entered the scene, and they were exploding with popularity. Stacey and Andy, who design and make it all, recognized the perfect fit.  So they changed course, joined the market craze, and hit the road. “When we found the camper, it became our dressing room,” Stacey recalls. The dynamic was ideal for the business at that time, and as Stacey further explains, “Our brand started with the markets.” 

When the space at 110 South Main Street became available, the Halls were thrilled… especially Stacey, who warmly recalls visiting St. Charles’ Historic District with her mom when she was a kid. At the time, Old Navy and The Gap were hot, and cool T-shirts were in, but, as Stacey points out, “They had mountains and oceans on them, and we don’t have mountains and oceans in the Midwest.” Stacey and Andy filled the shop with clothing that they loved and wanted to wear. “T-shirts are simple and tell a simple story, Stacey continues. The “Fall Things” T lists favorite Fall things that were decided by our customers.”   

Winter brings new themes that blend the season with the vibe. Think, Over the River and Through the Woods and Let Heaven and Nature Sing.” The National Parks shirts are favorites. The Halls have learned that people of all ages really resonate with our national parks and all that they evoke…road trips, bonfires, fishing, and of course, camping. 

The shop expanded and in 2021 doubled its size with the addition of Happy Camper Kids, a missing element that Main Street really needed at the time. “If families are going adventuring, the entire family needs outfitting,” Stacy acknowledges. “Children love adventure and nature, and who doesn't love Bigfoot?” This side of the shop is a gift giving paradise for grandparents. The merchandise, not only the adorable, pint-sized duds, but the puzzles, books, and stuffies are on brand and uncommon. “It’s true. Stacey says. Kids haven’t seen this stuff.”  

The ambiance here is like no other on the Street. It’s a cozy blend of woodsy and vintage, plus really imaginative and super fun. Old Coleman coolers, sure to spark memories, are displayed overhead, and an old cabinet-style Zenith is showing 80’s and 90’s movies. The framed, vintage “paint-by-numbers" artwork is hard to miss. These masterpieces are from the 50s through the 70s, and Stacey loves them. Many of them were discovered at vintage markets, and some have been gifted to the shop by customers, hoping to add their own cherished memorabilia to the nostalgic mix. The feels are strong here. The mood is distinctive and evocative. You can almost smell roasting marshmallows.  

 At its core, Happy Camper Clothing Company is all about Community.  As small business owners, the Halls are motivated by it.  More to the point, they are motivated by the essence of Community... Community defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.”  

 “The community aspect is key,” Stacey emphasizes, “and supporting each other is paramount.”  This commitment is evident in the ways they do business.  “We like to be and stay local,” Stacy explains.  The “Support your local Farmers Market” and “Support your local Coffee Shop” T’s are popular, and are just two examples of this tangible effort.  

This community focus makes Happy Camper Clothing Company such a welcoming spot. Visitors from near and far; Neighbors, locals, and fellow small business owners; Parents, grandparents, and kids.   

 We’re all Adventurers, after all.