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A Spicy Brown Mustard Factory & Fanciful Pottery Shop Attract Tourists

WVIK, Quad Cities NPR | By Michelle O'Neill

Published February 10, 2023 at 5:34 PM CST

Boetjes Dots Pots Collage.jpg — Four varieties of Boetje's mustard and an example of a unique creation from Dot's Pots

Two Quad Cities businesses - known for brown mustard and whimsical pottery - are now part of a state tourism program.

On Friday, the Illinois Office of Tourism presented Illinois Made awards to Boetje's Foods of Rock Island and Dot's Pots of Moline.

Dot Mayor Rayapati Dave Herrell.jpg — "Dot" Dorothy Beach (L), Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, and Pres/CEO Visit Quad Cities Dave Herrell (R)

Dave Herrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, says family-owned Boetje's is an award-winning, internationally known company.

Dot's Pots is not only famous for fine pottery, but also for cross-eyed moose, crazy critters, and "road-kill" Christmas ornaments.

Herrell says the Illinois Made program now features over 200 makers from all over the state.

Three Quad Cities businesses were honored in 2016, the first year of the program: Boetje's, Navarro Canoe, and Lagomarcino's. Wild Cherry Spoon Company is also a featured, Illinois Made business.

Illinois Made promotes small businesses to attract visitors and boost the economies of cities and towns. More information is HERE.

By the way, to pronounce Boetje's, just say "boat cheese."

Dorothy Beach and Dan Dots Pots.jpg — Dorothy Beach and her partner, Dan, in their Moline workshop