Miss her sooo much... Always striving to Brian life to Dearborn street no matter what the current situation. So strong and so pwettyyyyy luhhh youuu shellzzz Shelly Stout left her mark on Dearborn Street By ERIN MOORE SUN CORRESPONDENT Shelly Stout, owner of Village Gifts & Gallery on Dearborn Street, passed away Wednesday night. She was known to be friendly and outgoing and “always trying to improve Dearborn Street,” friends and co-workers said. ENGLEWOOD — The sandwich board propped in front of Village Gifts & Gallery that normally entices passersby with tasty menu items reflected a somber message Thursday morning. Shelly Stout, the owner of the Dearborn Street shop, passed away Wednesday evening. Serving customers with a smile and warm conversation, Stout worked until just recently despite a twoyear battle with cancer. Customers and fellow shop owners streamed in slowly Thursday, surprised and saddened by the news. “While we knew what we knew, it is still shocking,” said Lynne Kloss, owner of Mystic See located next to Village Gifts & Gallery. “Shelly has put her heart and soul into creating a gathering place.” Stout opened her shop in 2005, Kloss’ business moved in next door in 2006. “We don’t start a day without a morning glory muffin,” she said. Home to the Roasters Coffee Bar serving organic coffee specialties and Big Olaf Creamery homemade ice cream, Stout’s store offers a comfortable and inviting place to shop or grab a bite. Her support of local artisans is displayed throughout the business. Hand-painted furniture and original artwork fill the space between cozy seating arrangements. “It is going to be a real loss for the street,” said Sandi Beach, owner of the canvas photography shop that recently closed on Dearborn. She smiled as she looked around Village Gifts & Gallery recognizing some of the merchandise Stout purchased from her before she closed her doors. “We would sit and talk when we could take the time to come to each other’s shop,” Beach said. “She knew all her customers inside and out. This was her baby.” Peggy Filock first met Stout when she took a gig singing and playing guitar in the store. After two years, she switched to working behind the counter. “Shelly was an amazing person. Always positive throughout this whole situation. Always had a smile on her face.” Filock said as she comforted regular patrons coming in for coffee and shared smiles and stories about their friend. Debbie Crews remembered Shelly’s dog Ivy, a miniature Yorkie, visiting the store on occasion. Crews had stopped in two weeks ago and spoke with Shelly about some of the new raw dessert choices. “She was friendly and open,” she said. Hayley Lutz, also an employee of Village Gifts & Gallery, spoke of Stout’s involvement in the community. “She was always trying to improve Dearborn Street,” she said. Stout recently made coupons for treats at her store to honor teachers at Englewood Elementary during Teacher Appreciation Week. “She was always making gift baskets for fundraisers,” Lutz said. Prior to opening her store, Stout worked as the director of Senior Friends at Englewood Community Hospital. Nita Cole, who worked in public relations and marketing at the hospital, met Stout as she was transitioning out of her position. “I was so pleased that they had hired someone so sweet for that job,” she said. The two would continue a friendship that often brought Cole to the store to catch up with her friend. “I would stay in there a lot longer than I had planned,” she explained, due to Stout’s positive nature and how much they had in common. Cole said she last saw her friend about six months ago, but she did not mention her illness. “That was another trait of hers that I was not surprised by. She never talked about her troubles,” she said.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:49:14 +0000
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