Experience 33 hours of nonstop shopping at True North in Morris

Maybe you’ve gone antiquing, but have you ever done it in the hours between midnight and dawn?

True North, a Morris store known for its curated vintage finds, antiques and oddities, is bringing back one of last year’s most popular events: the 33 Hour Shopping Event. This marathon session is a celebration of all that makes True North a major destination for vintage enthusiasts, kicking off with the store opening at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24. The doors won’t lock again until 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, marking 33 consecutive hours of activities, tasty treats and deals on unexpected items.

True North co-owner Stacey Olson expects this year’s bash to be even bigger.

“It was funny to see the store busy at 1 or 2 a.m.,” Olson said of the 2024 event. “We had a phenomenal turnout back in January, and we expect even more folks for the 2025 event.”

True North will turn into a one-night-only nightlife destination. Shoppers can browse the 250-plus vendors that sell an array of vintage decor, collectibles and upcycled fashion. Merchandise includes Illinois and Midwest-made goods, hand-selected artisan vendors and more. With an increasing cavalcade of fans, countless “best of” awards and attention from vintage and antiquing magazines, True North has established itself as more than a premium vintage store – it’s a tourist attraction for shoppers.

The 33 Hour event comes on the heels of True North’s latest expansion – a second building dubbed True North 2 at 1338 Clay St., Suite 1N, Morris, added nearly 150 new vintage, maker and clothing vendors to the store’s ever-growing umbrella. In keeping with their upcycling ethos, True North expanded into a building that formerly housed a nursing home, allowing for natural light and cozy pocketed vendor rooms. The addition has nearly doubled the size of the operation and is a short walk across the street from the flagship shop. True North 2’s hours sync up with the original store, with both locations open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Both will be open for the entirety of the 33 Hour event.

“I think what makes our store so special is that there really is something for everyone. You’re bound to find, like, an old mug that your grandmother had or a vintage skirt you saw in a picture and thought you’d never see in person,” Olson said. “True North is never the same twice. Booths are constantly being restocked with new items, and each vendor brings their own personality and taste to the table.”

True North specializes in what are called smalls, a subcategory of vintage pieces that favor the eclectic and compact rather than the large and sober pieces many think of when they first hear the word “antiques.” These inexpensive, highly collectible conversation pieces are becoming some of the most popular items in the world of vintage, and they happen to be True North’s forte.

A visit to True North is a self-guided tour through jumbled history, kitsch and culture. For more information and to learn about the store’s other upcoming shopping events, follow True North on Facebook.