On April 13, 2026, the Painted Tree Boutiques store on Rand Road in Kildeer had its last day of business. The national chain closed every location that week, and its sellers had until April 24 to clear out their booths, Patch reported. Seven months later, many of those sellers have a new address a few miles east, inside historic downtown Long Grove. They are arriving in time for the busiest stretch of the downtown calendar.
The Merchant House of Long Grove is one of several 2026 arrivals that follow the same pattern. Downtown is adding businesses this year, and nearly every one traces back to someone who already lived or worked nearby. Vintage Holidays runs November 20 through December 24, and it is the first holiday season for most of this year's new shops.
How a Rand Road Closure Ended Up on Robert Parker Coffin Road
Painted Tree opened its Kildeer store on January 23, 2021, at 20771 N Rand Rd., Suite F, according to a Daily Herald item from that spring. The format was booths: independent sellers paid rent for a space plus a commission on what they sold, KARK explained when it covered the shutdown. The company blamed rising costs, shifting market conditions and changing shopping habits, and announced it would file for Chapter 7. NCTV17 reported that the Kildeer store went down with the rest of the chain's Chicagoland stores. One vendor told the station she had two booths there.
Here is how the regrouping has gone since then:
- April 13, 2026: Painted Tree's last business day, chainwide.
- April 24, 2026: Deadline for vendors to retrieve their inventory, according to Inside Retail.
- Fall 2026: The Village of Long Grove's Fall 2026 newsletter announces The Merchant House as "opening soon" in Fountain Square and notes that many of its shop owners came from the closed Kildeer store.
- Now: The Merchant House appears in the historic downtown shopping directory. A vendor listing gives its address as 238 Robert Parker Coffin Rd.
The shop's own website says it was founded by the former Painted Tree Kildeer store manager. It describes more than 45 small-business boutiques selling fashion, vintage, home décor, handcrafted goods and gifts, with new arrivals every week. No opening date has been posted yet. The site asks shoppers to join its email list for opening details, so check there before planning a trip around it. One of the coming-soon vendors is Iriy Indeed, a maker brand that already lists The Merchant House as its location.
In his Fall 2026 newsletter column, the village president set the arrival in the context of the rest of downtown:
"I am excited about this new business as it adds to the collection of unique stores we have downtown that provide experiences you cannot find on an online marketplace."
The Same Pattern, Three Other Times This Year
The Merchant House is the largest example of the pattern, and three other 2026 openings follow it.
The Olive Tap came back. The shop at 302 Old McHenry Road reopened February 16 under Long Grove resident Kelly Petrocelli. The Daily Herald framed the reopening as the revival of a business the downtown already knew.
Artistic Creations of Long Grove opened alongside it. The artisan-goods shop at 405 Robert Parker Coffin Road held a joint grand opening with The Olive Tap on Sunday, May 3. The village's July 2026 downtown business list confirms both addresses.
A local restaurant family opened a second place. Long Grove residents Mario Weber and family, who run Sorelle, opened Al's Hot Dogs and Pizza in mid-June in the Long Grove Commons plaza, according to the village newsletter. Village Board minutes place it at 3970 IL Route 22, in the former ClayOven Tandoor space.
The Daily Herald's May story described the street, streetscape, sidewalk, streetlight and Robert Parker Coffin bridge improvements as work completed years earlier. That puts the new shops on infrastructure that was already finished, not on fresh construction. The next round of planning is just starting. At its March 21, 2026 budget meeting, the Village Board agreed to hire an outside consultant to review downtown, noting that the current Downtown Master Plan dates to 2008.
Light Up Night Is When the New Mix Gets Its First Crowd
All of this comes together on Friday, November 20, at Light Up Long Grove, the kickoff for Vintage Holidays. The Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association has posted the evening's schedule:
| Time | What's happening |
|---|---|
| 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. | Tractor-pulled decorated wagon rides, illuminated photo stations, street activities, and shops open late for holiday shopping and dining |
| 7:30 p.m. | Bridge and Tree Lighting Ceremony led by Village President Bill Jacob |
| After the lighting | Live performance by the Fred Astaire Dancers |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event ends |
The listing doesn't mention tickets or registration for the kickoff. The two and a half hours of late shopping before the 7:30 lighting are when the Olive Tap, Artistic Creations and the rest of the downtown storefronts are open with the whole town walking past. Whether The Merchant House is among them depends on an opening date it hasn't announced.
Why Your Receipts Matter More This Year
The season's Sip, Shop and Dine promotion ties back to the new shops. Collect receipts totaling $150 before tax and tip from historic downtown Long Grove shops and restaurants, dated November 20 through December 24, 2026, and you can trade them for a free gift at the Visitors' Center, 145 Old McHenry Road.
The gift choices include:
- Long Grove Campfire Mugs in two styles
- Mad for Plaid Scarves in new styles
- Holiday treats
- A Long Grove Holiday Tote Bag
- Mini Campfire Mug Ornaments
- Covered Bridge Coasters
- Rustic Christmas Tree Wood Slice Ornaments, new this year
- Covered Bridge Snowflake Ornaments, also new
Gifts go while supplies last, and the association suggests redeeming early for the best selection. With more downtown storefronts open than there were a year ago, reaching $150 across several shops is easier. Keep in mind that the promotion covers historic downtown, and Al's Hot Dogs and Pizza sits out on Route 22 in Long Grove Commons.
The end date differs between sources. The village's Fall 2026 newsletter lists Vintage Holidays as November 20 through December 31, while the business association's event page gives November 20 through December 24. For the promotion, go by the association's dates, since its receipt window closes December 24.
The Weekends After Light Up
After opening night, the season settles into a weekend rhythm. Carriage rides, Santa visits and carolers fall on the same Saturdays and Sundays, so it's easy to plan one downtown afternoon around shopping.
Horse-drawn carriage rides run November 21, 22, 28 and 29, and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20. Seats in the 10-seat carriage cost $15, and children five and under ride free on an adult's lap. Registration was still marked "coming soon" when the association last updated the page. Every rider needs a signed waiver brought to the ride. Rides can be canceled in bad weather to protect the horses, and tickets are non-refundable.
Santa in the Village runs 12 to 4 p.m. on November 28 and 29, and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20. Free pictures with Santa are Sunday, December 20, 12 to 4 p.m. at Covered Bridge Park, first come, first served, with no reservations.
Carolers are scheduled for these dates:
- December 6, 12 to 1 p.m.: Adlai E. Stevenson High School
- December 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: The Long Grove Carolers
- December 12, 2 to 4 p.m.: Barrington High School
- December 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Buffalo Grove High School
- December 19, 2 to 3 p.m.: Outbound A Cappella
The association says the schedules may change and posts updates on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
December 12 and 13 have the fullest lineup. Carriage rides, Santa from noon to 4 and three caroling groups all land on the same weekend, a few blocks from The Olive Tap on Old McHenry Road and Artistic Creations on Robert Parker Coffin Road.
Whichever weekend you pick downtown this season, the Edgewater Home Team would love to hear which new shop you'd show off to visiting family. If a move is coming up, whether you're buying or selling in Long Grove, Tami Hamilton (Stough) can tell your home's story with the same local detail. Start Your Move: Schedule a Consultation.
