A Quincy Classic with Deep Local Roots
River Roots sits on Maine Street like a time capsule with a pulse—part headshop, part local art gallery, part community living room. The kind of place you walk into “just to look around” and end up staying a while because it feels good to be there. Owned by Amy Phelps, River Roots has become a Quincy staple for people who appreciate old-school culture, handmade creativity, and a shop that’s clearly built with love.
“We’re an original old school headshop,” Amy says, and she means that in the best way. River Roots specializes in glass art, especially pieces made by artists from Quincy and other Mississippi River towns. It isn’t mass-produced, cookie-cutter inventory. It’s local work with personality—pieces that carry a little bit of the region in them.
Amy started River Roots with her heart more than a business plan. She was looking ahead to retirement and wanted to spend that next chapter doing something that genuinely made her happy. “I wanted something to do that I love leading into my retirement,” she explains. But it wasn’t just about her—it was about Quincy too. “Quincy needed a cool hippy store,” she says, so she built one.
Her vision has always been rooted in people. “Personal relationship with customers,” Amy says, is what guides her decisions, along with “trying to fill my store with locally made products.” That commitment has shaped River Roots into something bigger than a storefront. “In 7 years we’ve gained 79 artists,” she says proudly, “whether they’re from Quincy or another Mississippi River town.”
“Quincy needed a cool hippy store”
Amy Phelps, Owner/River Roots
The shop’s reputation has traveled far beyond the river towns. River Roots was named Head Shop of the Month in a national industry magazine—an honor that still makes Amy grin. “It was also the 420 edition,” she adds, a perfect little cherry on top for a business that’s always stayed true to its culture.
If Amy has one piece of advice for someone dreaming of opening their own place, she doesn’t sugarcoat it: “Location is key!” River Roots is living proof of what can happen when the right business meets the right community—built on local art, loyal customers, and a vibe that keeps Quincy coming back.
River Roots Smoke Shop
Amy Phelps, owner
703 Maine St
Quincy IL 62301
(217) 214-BONG
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