LeAnn (Scull) Pederson, owner of Rivertown Roots, is excited to bring vintage and thrifted items to her hometown.
Lynnville’s newest storefront, Rivertown Roots, is ready to satisfy customers who thrive on nostalgia, a good deal, and finding delight in the search of unique treasures.
Rivertown Roots is both a vintage and a thrift store located at 401 East Street in a building that is no stranger to housing gems from yesteryear. Just a few years ago, the building served as the storefront for Riverside Junction. Now, Rivertown Roots is setting up shop in the historic building.
The store will be more than a place to find vintage and thrifted items. Owner LeAnn (Scull) Pederson hopes it becomes a community mainstay, just like many of the small-town stores that served as the backdrop of her childhood. Pederson’s roots in the community run centuries deep – she grew up along the Skunk River, graduated with the Lynnville-Sully Class of 1988, and has fond memories from her childhood.
“There were so many local businesses that are no longer here, and that saddens me,” said Pederson. “I loved the Skelly gas station and seeing Slim Ver Steegt in his uniform pumping gasoline, and cleaning wind shields, Russ and Jeanne Gosselink at Gosselink’s Grocery store, Van’s TV with Walt and Violet Van Maanen, Miriam Schultz, and their soda fountain shop with the best cherry Cokes and brownies, and Arl and Louise Crews who ran the Farm and Home Store.”
Pederson plans to use her online retail background to grow Rivertown Roots into a place where vintage and thrifted items become another person’s treasure, and a place cemented in locals’ memories just like the Lynnville stores of years past, she holds near to her heart.
Rivertown Roots will celebrate their grand opening with a two-day celebration on Friday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Vintage and newer clothing, toys, home decor, records, small furniture, toys, tools, and jewelry are on display and available for purchase.
Pederson wants the vintage feel surrounding the store to extend beyond the items available for sale and hopes to weave in holiday traditions such as Santa Claus visits complete with goody bags for area children. In January of 2027, Pederson will start accepting vintage items on consignment.
Following the grand opening, Rivertown Roots will be open Wednesdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The store will be closed Saturday, Oct. 24 for a holiday celebration.
