Highway 6 Shop Hop Expands from Local Idea to Regional Event

Jared’s Jams effort grows into multi-town showcase of small businesses

By Echo Menges

EDINA, Mo. — What began as a small, local idea at Jared’s Jams in Edina has grown into a multi-community event stretching along Highway 6, bringing together small businesses, artisans and shoppers for the Highway 6 Shop Hop set for May 8–9.

The event was organized by Brenda Niemeyer of Jared’s Jams, who helped launch the concept as a way to highlight local businesses and encourage residents and visitors to shop within their communities. Since its start, the Shop Hop has expanded well beyond Edina, now including participating locations in Hurdland, Edina, Knox City, LaBelle, Lewistown, Ewing and Durham.

The Shop Hop features a wide range of businesses, including boutiques, bakeries, restaurants, crafters and specialty shops. Many locations will offer specials, drawings and handcrafted items throughout the two-day event.

Promotion for the event was handled primarily online, with organizers relying heavily on Facebook to connect businesses and spread awareness across the region.

The format encourages participants to travel along Highway 6, stopping at businesses in each community, creating a regional shopping experience while supporting local economies.

Organizers hope the event will be successful and continue to grow, with the potential to expand into additional counties and include even more communities in the future.

With dozens of participating stops already involved, the Highway 6 Shop Hop reflects a collaborative effort among small-town businesses to draw traffic, increase visibility and showcase the creativity and entrepreneurship found across northeast Missouri.