Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Three years ago, Elizabeth Hahn opened Philomena + Ruth (named for her grandmothers) in a century-old building in Waterloo. She used reclaimed materials from the family farm to create rustic accents and stocked the shelves with independently produced handmade goods from across the country. “I always knew there were people like me who love small towns but who are cultured and want a variety of things,” she says. Today, the boutique carries some 150 lines, including Hahn’s own socially conscious line, Just Liv.
How’s the shop evolved over the past three years? I carry more of my own line now. I’ve really increased what I make with my T-shirts and bandanas. It’s exciting to see that my own stuff can be the bulk of the sales, and it allows me to test a variety of other vendors.
How do you balance the shop with your own designs? When I first started, I didn’t have time to do my own stuff. As I got to know my customers better, I would look to other vendors to fill that gap. But I realized I’m a maker, too; it felt good to bring that back. Now I feel more complete. I’m not sacrificing one part for the other.
Tell me about your line of T-shirts. They started because of the social climate. I started off with “Human” and “Feminist.” You see someone walking down the street wearing one of the T-shirts, and it makes you smile or think or feel good that there’s someone else who feels the same way.
What’s it like owning a small business in Waterloo? So many people think if you’re not in a major city, then you’re OK with just the basics. It’s really exciting to see Waterloo embrace Philomena + Ruth.
Philomena + Ruth, 118 W. Mill, Waterloo, Illinois, 618-939-3990.
