The Trump Truth Store, a politically themed gift shop that shut its doors in Huntley last summer after an eviction settlement, is gearing up for a comeback in Crystal Lake with a soft opening the weekend of Jan. 17 and a grand opening planned for March. Owner Lisa Fleischmann says the new space is several times larger than the old storefront and will start with limited hours before shifting to a full schedule once the ribbon is cut, closing the book on a year that featured municipal citations, protests and legal battles with a former landlord.
According to the shop's official site, the new location at 829 S. Virginia Road will hold a soft opening beginning Jan. 17, with a March ribbon cutting on the calendar, the Trump Truth Store website states. The site lists pre‑opening hours for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend and temporary Thursday through Sunday hours after that, and notes that the interior will feature dedicated displays, including an Oval Office photo area. It also urges visitors to check online before driving over, since hours and events could change as the store ramps up.
Fleischmann has described the Crystal Lake shop as a place to gather, and reporting indicates the new space measures about 3,100 square feet, roughly triple the size of the Huntley spot, with a counter, barstools and big‑screen TVs planned for in‑store events. Plans for Trump‑themed bingo, crafts and a photo‑ready mock Oval Office were detailed in coverage by the Chicago Tribune.
From Huntley To Crystal Lake
Fleischmann's Huntley store closed in mid‑July after she reached a settlement with her landlord during eviction proceedings that followed citations over alleged sign‑ordinance violations, according to court records and local reporting. The dispute over banners, flags and outdoor displays quickly spilled into public view: on May 31, roughly 100 to 150 supporters rallied near the store while a larger anti‑Trump crowd gathered nearby, according to coverage by the Northwest Herald. Those demonstrations and the settlement that ultimately led to the Huntley closure set the stage for the Crystal Lake move.
Officials, Legal Fallout And The Next Steps
Crystal Lake officials say the business will be treated like any other tenant when it comes to signs and permits. Kathryn Cowlin, the city's director of community development, told reporters the shop must secure proper sign permits and follow local rules, a point noted in reporting by the Chicago Tribune. The stance signals that Crystal Lake intends to enforce its code consistently while the Trump Truth Store tests its new home.
Local court records and follow‑up coverage show prosecutors later dropped ordinance cases tied to the Huntley dispute, and Fleischmann briefly opened the Crystal Lake space for a two‑day holiday pop‑up in late December while she finished unpacking. Those developments were reported by the Lake McHenry Scanner.
Fleischmann says she is “elated” about the larger Crystal Lake space and hopes to pair community‑style events with retail, while city officials say they will be watching for any signage that falls outside the rules. For now, attention is on the soft‑opening weekend of Jan. 17 and the planned March ribbon cutting, milestones that will likely keep the store squarely in the middle of local conversation. The Trump Truth Store website lists current hours and event information as the business works toward a full schedule.
