We've been here before and that's the reason we've returned. Yes, you probably could find almost…read moreany book on the Internet and order it to be delivered to you, but what if you really weren't sure what you were looking for? You need to find a small, curated, family friendly book store. Well for us it's Galena Book & Paper. I'm a true history buff and my partner is into fiction, opposites in the same place. We both love to browse the selection, read some, then make some choices. Jason, the clerk, welcomed us as we entered and asked if there was anything we we specifically looking for. We smiled and told him we're browsers who've been here before and we're searching for some special reads. After about 45 minutes of browsing we found our choices for this trip. Six books and two note cards(plantable seeds inside) for less than $150. They are always welcoming and have a great variety in all categories. So happy they are in Galena. Thanks for all you provide for the greater community. Us too.

I was there for the scout event and was wandering. Found this store and really did not want to…read moreleave. My kids were fine, they didn't need me, I thought. I was asked right away if I needed anything and was left alone when I said no, thanks. I appreciated the acknowledgement and the space to enjoy the store. It was neat, orderly and very intriguing. I made a purchase and literally have dreamt about going back (minus scouts )

I was here a couple of years ago to check out wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses and flower girl…read moredresses. There were 5 people in my group and I called a few weeks ahead of time to make sure it would be okay to bring in the extra people (the store isn't huge). We visited over July 4th weekend, so the shop wasn't too busy, but there were other brides in there checking things out. We received awesome customer service! One of the salesgirls physically helped me into and out of each dress by going in the dressing room with me, which was awesome (in the sense that it was my very first time trying on dresses, they were big, bulky and awkward). Obviously she asked beforehand if she could do this (some people are not comfortable with this), but I didn't mind. That's what the staff is there for; they conduct fittings day in and day out. Note: I should mention that I drove from Cedar Rapids to Dubuque because Soiree carried a very specific bridesmaid dress that I had fallen in love with online (halter top neckline, knee length, with pockets!) The dress was just as awesome in person. We were here for a couple of hours all together. Even though I didn't find a dress for myself, the bridesmaids dresses and flower girl dresses were worth making the trip for. They also have a nice selection of Mother-of-the-Bride dresses, accessories (veils, shoes, jewelry) and more. They were offering cake samples on the day we were there, too. Not sure if they offer this all of the time, or just when they know they have appointments. It was a nice way to sample a Dubuque cake decorator (that we likely wouldn't have otherwise). 4/5 because the selection isn't huge, but there are a lot of nice things to try on. Staff knows exactly where everything is, so if you describe your style or what exactly you're looking for, chances are they can find it quickly (and you don't have to do the searching yourself). Shop local. These women love what they do.

I have this stereotype of middle class White women: patchouli, lavender, vanilla, yoga with the…read moreHinduism extracted, folk guitar, candles, hand made soap, crystals, and cleanses. Like all stereotypes, this is based in ignorance and selective observation. So, given that context let me say I think this is the kind of place White middle class women would like, for clothing, hats, jewelry, perfume, bath oil, hand made soap, and gifts. I did find a pair of "Singing in the Rain" themed cufflinks that were a great gift to me. Friendly, woman centered customer service, a wonderful place if you're into this sort of thing but just not my cup of tea. So to speak.

My three bffs and I happened upon the Fig Leaf the week before Labor Day. It was almost too hot to…read moreshop but......once we entered the shop,Rylynn introduced herself and we started having the most amazing time. She helped us find adorable clothes and some incredible jewelry ! We all found great things and she told us the truth about what looked good and what didn't! She was instantly one of the gang! Who knew Dubuque had such a treasure! Thank Rylynn!

I had a fantastic time at this establishment. The snacks were delicious, and the overall vibe…read morecreated a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere. Highly recommended for anyone looking to relax and have a good time!

Let me say at the outset, that I adore small independent bookstores. This place was awesome! There…read morewas a great banned book section and the saleslady showed us an interesting website that explains why (or at least the supposed reason) books were banned. They had a nice selection of books for all ages. A balance of best sellers, classics, and other books. To find such a gem in a small town in Iowa (without a big college) was a treat.

A very adorable bookstore. We enjoyed visiting. Visited there for the Iowa independent bookshop…read moretour this summer.

Update: I received a call this morning from the owner. He tried to tell me all the reasons why his…read morecouch was worth hundreds of dollars more than the actual price of the couch. To top it all off, he offered me $200 in store credit if I removed this review. HA! Don't waste your time with this shady business. I am really bummed with this place. The lady and gentleman who helped us were very nice and seemed like they were helping us out. We were even thinking about coming back and getting more furniture. Don't fall for it like we did and do your research first! They delivered our couch today, and when I looked it up by patent number, I could get this same couch for about $250 less at Ashley. The lady here told me that she would "throw in the pillows for free," but the couch at Ashley comes with the pillows for no additional cost. I won't be coming back...

My husband and I are returning customers who are not interested in shopping for furniture at the…read morebig-box stores where prices are inflated & construction is particle board. Instead we shop at Affordable Furniture and have never been disappointed! Furniture is beautifully displayed, fabulous selection, clean, lovely. Everything we've bought is lasting for years in our home. Customer service is BEYOND COMPARE. Don't shop anywhere else!

I love Shaggy's Indoor Flea Market! It's so easy to get through. The owner is very nice and…read morehelpful! She knows a lot about all her inventory. It's in a good location, easy to find, convenient parking and plenty of it. You could spend hours walking up and down the aisles. The first time I was there the owner took several dollars off the item I was buying which was unexpected. The prices are more than fair. There's a terrific selection. She had a lot of unique merchandise. Go, have fun and give yourself enough time to get through it. No regrets!

Huge selection and you could most likely find what you're looking for but waaaay overpriced!read more

Super cute kids book and games store. A huge amount of toys and books and some stuff for adults but…read moremostly kids. Reasonably priced. You can find almost anything there. Very nice staff as well.

If you have kids and come to Galena, you already know about Poopsie's. If you're an adult and you…read morehaven't been in here, you still need to go. They've got something for everyone, and it's super fun to walk around the store and interact with the staff and the games. They've got a ton of stuff that you can play with while you're there, and the staff knows about everything there to offer up opinions on all their items. We stop in this place so often that I've lost count. Their content changes so heading in there is normally going to be somewhat of a new experience, and they've remodeled a bit to make it even easier to walk around and check things out. This place is normally super busy, but I did manage to get some pictures since we were the first ones in. It's absolutely a place to support, and they put in a great amount of effort to make sure you have the best experience in a brick-and-mortar store. It's a challenge to not leave with something in your hands. If you have kids, I'd say it's not possible - at least with mine :D