Why we built it
Dubuque is full of shops run by people who live here: the boutique owner who remembers your size, the gift shop that wraps everything by hand, the vintage dealer who knows the story behind every piece. When you buy from them, the money keeps working in Dubuque. It pays local wages, keeps storefronts lit, and supports the people who show up for the rest of the community.
Those shops can be hard to find, especially if you’re visiting for the weekend. So we put them in one place, with hours, directions, and a map. We’re starting with boutiques, and we’ll add other kinds of local businesses over time.
Listings are always free. We check every shop by hand before it goes up.
What “locally owned” means
Every shop on Dubuque Shops meets the same standard. Owners confirm it when they apply, and we review each application before a listing goes live.
To be listed on Dubuque Shops, a business must:
- Be independently and locally owned. At least 51% of the business must be owned by people who live in the greater Dubuque area.
- Not be a franchise or chain. That means no franchise, licensee, or location of a regional or national chain.
- Make its decisions locally. Its owners decide what it sells, how it operates, and how it serves the community.
- Have a customer-facing location in Dubuque. To start, we’re featuring shops downtown.
Listings are always free. We review every application by hand and may remove a listing that no longer meets these criteria.
Who’s behind it
Dubuque Shops is a free community service from NetSmart Digital Solutions. NetSmart has worked with Eastern Iowa small businesses and nonprofits since 1997 on websites, digital marketing, professional email, and honest tech advice.
We built the site, we look after it, and we read every application ourselves. It’s our way of giving back to the town we were founded in.
Help spread the word
Share it
Send the site to friends who are coming to town, or post it for anyone looking for a gift with a story behind it.
Tell a shop owner
Know a locally owned shop that isn’t here yet? Let them know they can apply. It’s free and takes about five minutes.
Keep it accurate
Spot new hours, a move, or a shop that has closed? Send us a quick note and we’ll fix the listing.