Dave’s Down to Earth Rock Shop

After collecting fossils as a hobby for many years growing up, Dave Douglass opened Dave’s Down to Earth Rock Shop in 1970 at the age of 20 (with the help of his parents) at 1312 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, Illinois. The shop contained minerals and fossils, mostly self-collected by the Douglass family.  One year later, Dave met his wife to be, Sandy, who shared his passion for rocks and fossils. They travelled extensively throughout the western United States, Canada, and Mexico on collecting and buying trips. The shop, along with their collection, began to grow. Over time, their private collection of fossils became quite extensive, growing to include some very rare and unique pieces. They felt that it should be on display for anyone who was interested in prehistoric life to enjoy. So in 1987 they moved to a larger shop down the street at 704 Main Street

As a family owned business for over 50 years in Evanston, Dave’s Rock Shop has a great appreciation for our loyal long-time customers, as well as the continuing support of new patrons. We love the excitement of introducing rocks and fossils to a new generation of rockhounds. Our goal is to continue to provide our customers with the highest quality of service, product, and information. Many thanks to you all, and as Dave would say, “Happy Hunting!”.