Norton's U.S.A. to Hold Open House This Weekend

There's a strong push to keep shopping local this holiday season, but one Barrington store truly embodies what "local shopping" means.  Norton's U.S.A., which only sells products made in America,  is holding its annual holiday open house on Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28.  

All Norton's U.S.A. needs to make the General Store picture complete is a guy on the front porch whittling.  Even without that detail, the store is recognizable as an old time General Store after only a few steps inside.  Long forgotten candy, that was once a penny, just inside the door is the first clue and each subsequent step seals the deal. 

Although the store is simply the inside of a former barn, the merchandise creates aisles and memories are created with each turn of the corner.   The question of what potato chips used to taste like is answered by a sample of Old Salty Potato Chips set out on an old table.  Then, in juxtaposition, three different salsas are set out with pretzels, certainly not a mainstay of the rural set.

There's honey from two miles away, and fresh eggs from a farm in Woodstock. In the hardware section are basic tools and American flags.  Just next to that, dishware that graced American table for years before becoming old fashioned. "The glassware is still being made.  It's not antique.  The company's old but they're still making it," said owner, Deborah Leydig. 

Displays of whimsical but warm hats and gloves bump up against what look like wool blankets, but turn out to be made of reclaimed material.  There are a few apparel items that are made from renewable resources and a room full of toys that don't work by themselves (staff will hide in the back at a parent's request!), all set upon century-old plank floors and painted checkered cement.

One might assume that owner Leydig, although fully enmeshed in today's sensibilities, has a nostalgic streak, and that assumption is right in the mark.  However, Leydig's wistfulness is directed more toward the days when merchandise was made in America and less to they type of store she opened.  In fact, she felt less compelled to open a General Store than forced. 

"We don't make enough of one thing in America to have a store of one thing," she explained.  "You can't have a shoe store, you can't have a clothing store, and toys are very hard. There's nothing electric, no battery operated toys, no appliances, so it had to be a General Store." 

Leydig first became aware of the death of U.S.A. made products when she appeared in a play at The Steppenwolf Theatre called "Nickel and Dime: On Not Getting by in America" by  Barbara Ehrenreich.  The play deals with the exportation of manufacturing facilities and jobs.  "I said I've got to do something positive."

What Leydig did was buy a restored barn, without heat or water with an eye toward selling only American made products.  "It was a box," she recalled.  "It had electricity and nothing else."

 It took Leydig six months of work to transform the space and she modeled much of it from her own childhood experiences.  "I grew up in Arlington Heights and the paint store always had a cracker barrel; the kids always loved that.  So, I had to have a cracker barrel."  More than one customer has made the delighted connection between that same hardware store and the cracker barrel, which sits among other nostalgic food items.

A guided trip around the store brings forth many tales of Americans and the companies they've founded and sustained.  "Every product does have a story and we know that story," Leydig said.

The story telling comes free with a tour of the store and Leydig doesn't discourage local kids who aren't unaccompanied by adults from stopping by to hear it.  She finds Middle School-aged children to be the most fascinated.  "I think they've never seen a store like this," she said.  "They love to go around and really look and really shop."

The idea of American made products seems to become an object lesson for many of the local kids who, report back that they looked for the Made in the U.S.A. label with no luck and new converts are created. 

By the time Thanksgiving turkey gives way to Christmas this Friday, Leydig and her husband will have decorated the windows and outside of the store with All American products, of course.  "We break out the good cheer," she said.

They also break out the last artificial trees made in America.  "They are all different kinds of pine, seven foot, six foot, nine foot."  What they don't have much of is what one might find at department store, most of which is imported.  "Your lights, your little houses, your snowman.  So, it's a very natural Christmas here with the hand blown glass and the pinecones."

The former actress and fashion designer displays some of her own creativity in the store and shoppers can purchase her hand screened gift wrap, as well as her home made dog beds, flag poles and aprons.   "I love to make things," she said.  "If we can't find things we need, we make it."

The concept of Norton's U.S.A. policy seems to have very little competition, according to Leydig. Even online shopping has turned up very little.  "Most places just give you other references to go to.  We have over 1,300 products online and 15 ways to ship," Leydig said.  Recently she delivered two pairs of moccasins to the United Kingdom, she recalled with a laugh.

Still arriving in person is the best way to experience the shop and Leydig looks forward to seeing loyal customers who eschew the ability to buy online in order to take a trip to her little piece of America

Not that she harbors hard feelings to those countries whose products she avoids.

"I really don't have anything against any one else," she said. "I just think we should manufactior more in the U.S."

If You Go:

Nov. 27 and 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Norton's USA

400 Lageschulte

Barrington

888-326-7997

www.nortonsusa.com