fulfilled. and Carpetbagger Books, Serving A Double Act of Style & Substance

In the vibrant, artsy community of Woodstock, savvy shoppers can find two seemingly different, yet intrinsically linked, businesses residing in a single retail space.

“fulfilled.“ is a vintage clothing store dedicated to sustainable fashion, offering a unique, curated experience led by eco-fashion, sustainability influencer, Mollie Dunn. Carpetbagger Books is a used and antiquarian bookstore run by high school teacher Willy Stastny, who has been bookselling since his own high school years and helps shape the next generation’s writing and reading.

This dual Spotlight Story, a first for McHenry Life, shines on Mollie and Willy, this young entrepreneurial couple redefining retail by emphasizing quality, knowledge, and community.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with them both in their new location on the Historic Woodstock Square, where they’ll be holding a grand opening, which you are all invited to, during this year’s annual Lighting of the Square.

Changing the Way People Dress…& Think, fulfilled.

Mollie’s mission is clear: to change the way people dress by championing sustainable fashion. Her journey began over a decade ago with an Instagram account sharing this message, which evolved into a career working for sustainable brands before fulfilled. was born.

fulfilled. is anything but a typical thrift store. Mollie deliberately maintains a curated, uncluttered selection, combating the “paradox of choice” that can overwhelm shoppers. This is a “less is more” approach, aimed at helping customers build a wardrobe consisting of quality, essential pieces they love, rather than meaningless consumption of fast fashion, resulting in an endless closet full of stuff.

Mollie brings a focus on vintage and quality. The racks are filled with vintage pieces and other items that support a sustainable lifestyle. While the focus is mostly on women’s clothing and accessories, the men’s offering is growing, as well as some home decor items and tiny plants.

The pricing is very approachable, with most items ranging from $15 to $40. Stepping beyond used and vintage treasures, the collection has recently been refreshed with new pieces from sustainable brand Hyer Goods, such as high-quality handbags made from luxury leather scrap, further reducing fashion waste.

Any comparisons to thrift or even other vintage stores come to an abrupt stop there.

Mollie and her staff, which includes a stylist, offer styling appointments to help customers find pieces they truly love. They also support their customers by hosting events, like jewelry-making nights, creative meetups, and even clothing swaps.

As for sustainability awareness? Mollie notes that the public’s working knowledge of sustainable fashion has grown, and being in the environmentally conscious Woodstock area, which hosts an active farmers market and several environmental groups, seems to foster this cultural appreciation.

Carpetbagger Books, Where Every Book Has a Story

Willy, a member of the prestigious Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), started selling books back when he was in high school. His passion and deep knowledge transformed his side hustle into Carpetbagger Books, which specializes in collectible and antiquarian (i.e., antique or rare) works while also serving as a community-used bookstore.

Becoming an ABAA member, a membership currently numbering less than 500, is a significant feat, where the first hurdle is just being in business for at least 4 years…continuously. Beyond that, it requires multiple sponsors, an extensive biographical sketch, often an interview, demonstration of ethical standards and expertise in assessing rare collections, and more.

At the time of this writing, Carpetbagger Books is one of fewer than 40 members within the Midwest chapter. Clearly, a distinction as rare as some of his books.

The store shelves present a fascinating juxtaposition where a $200 first edition collectible might sit next to a $10 contemporary bestseller. This dual focus ensures there is something for every type of book lover, from the casual reader to the serious collector, regardless of budget.

A major part of the Carpetbagger Books experience, though, is education. Willy recognizes that not everyone who walks through the door is an experienced book collector, so Willy includes a slip explaining a book’s importance. And when a book is valued in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, such as a signed first edition in pristine condition, education is important.

Willy says he still enjoys the hunt, like when he was in high school, hitting estate sales, library book sales, and rummaging through thrift stores. But that approach is also less practical now. While some books come through the door as donations, most of his sourcing has been elevated to a higher level, such as making house calls where he purchases entire collections from private individuals, or through auctions and private collectors.

While not quite the Indiana Jones of bookselling, Willy did recently make a trip to New Jersey to secure a collection of 200 boxes of UFO-related literature. And that’s the nature of the game. Willy started with what he knew and liked, modern literature, and continued to branch out into other areas that grabbed his interest…detective fiction, science fiction, and on and on.

Synergy of Shared Space

While they are selling very different products, their passions are similar…educating their customers and cultivating a deeper appreciation, while keeping perfectly good items out of the landfill—certainly an honorable goal in my book.

fulfilled. and Carpetbagger Books, like much of what they sell, are not new, but they may be new to you. They previously shared a space on the upper floor of the Woodstock Mall, but recently moved to this new location on the Square, which has brought more visibility.

The shop is regularly open Friday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but Willy says he is often there cataloging and listing books, so the door is frequently open for shoppers even outside of posted hours.

This unique combination of vintage style, ethical consumption, and literary expertise makes fulfilled. and Carpetbagger Books a truly unique destination, and a testament to how passion and quality can elevate the local retail experience.