Think about the word destiny for a moment. Destiny is said to be something foreordained and often suggests a great or noble course or end. Becca Barto believes her destiny of owning her own retail store first took shape when she was a little girl, filled with imagination and the love of one toy.

“Growing up, my favorite toy was the Fisher Price cash register. I feel like I’ve always had retail in my blood.

“I loved to play store,” Becca recalled with a smile. “I would organize my store and make sure it looked perfect for my customers. My store consisted of really anything that I had that were my toys, from dolls to Legos. Who would have thought back then that my playtime would become my real life?”

Indeed, it seems Becca has fulfilled her destiny as proud owner of Sasso Jewelry & Gifts in downtown LaSalle and tells us her store has a gift for everyone whether you are wanting to purchase beautiful home decor or high-end, unique jewelry.

“Sasso is a very unique gift store. It’s a store that you can find a little bit of everything in, from home accessories to home decor to fine jewelry to costume jewelry,” remarked Becca with pride. “I think we’ve been able to be around for over 30 years, because of our customers. Our customers are very loyal because when they walk through the door, they feel welcome right away. We’ve developed relationships with them. We all share laughs and stories. They just they know that they can come in here, and they’re going to walk out with the perfect gift.

Building a foundation of success

Sasso Jewelry & Gifts has a legacy that dates back to 1993 when Drew Bernabei opened the store with his wife Denise. Becca explained that the name “Sasso” holds a special meaning, because it was inspired by the home of Drew’s father in Italy.

“His home was named Sasso, which means rock, which is perfect because we sell rocks, which in our case is jewelry,” Becca shared with a smile while also asserting that Sasso is the last locally-owned family jewelry store in operation in the Illinois Valley.

Before Becca ever owned the store, she was a familiar face at Sasso, working there for 22 years before taking over the reins in July of 2024.

“I worked here on and off, because I also worked in healthcare,” Becca recalled. “That is what my background is in. My mom was a nurse for 40 years, and my sister was also a nurse. So, I just followed in their footsteps. Healthcare was very fulfilling for me. I met a lot of wonderful people along the way, but I feel like my heart was always here (at Sasso). This is where I was meant to be.”

Balancing time between the store and a career in healthcare, Becca’s path was shaped by her passion to help others. Despite the fulfillment she found in healthcare, Becca acknowledged that she always felt a lingering connection to the store.

“I feel Sasso is where I was meant to be, because I could just kind of breathe here. I felt happy, and I felt it was more fulfilling for me,” noted Becca. “I always felt at peace here at Sasso, because it wasn’t as heavy. Healthcare is heavy, and I brought it home a lot of the time. Here, I could just breathe and be happy and make people happy. And I love to make people smile. That is really fulfilling for me, is just to make someone smile and make their day.”

When the time came for the Bernabeis to retire, they knew exactly who they wanted to carry on the legacy of Sasso Jewelry & Gifts.

“I always told Denise that I would take care of this place for them some day,” conceded Becca. “About a year and a half ago, they approached me about the idea of possibly retiring and how I would feel about taking this place over.

“At first I was overwhelmed,” Becca admitted. “But the excitement inside of me, I can’t describe. So, I went home and I talked to my husband about it, and he was 100% on board. Everybody was just so excited and so happy because they knew that this was what I really wanted.”

Today, Becca is living out a dream that all started with a toy cash register.

Labor of love

Becca pours her heart into creating a space where customers feel welcomed, valued, and inspired.

“Our customers love that they can come in, and they can try on things. They can touch things. They know that they have the expert advice from us to help them find their gift,” said Becca describing her store. “That’s not something that you’re going to find online. They don’t have to go to Chicago to find a gift. They can find it right here in LaSalle.”

Whether customers are searching for a timeless piece of jewelry, a unique home decor item, or the perfect gift for a loved one, Becca stressed that her customers can count on the unwavering expertise that the team at Sasso has provided for years.

“I put a lot of hard work and dedication into this place,” stated Becca. “It’s pretty much always on my mind, which some people would think would be a burden. But to me, it just it’s what is going to make this place special and keep going.”

Her dedication is evident in every detail of the store, ranging from thoughtfully arranged displays of homegoods and costume jewelry to the signature gift wrap which is recognizable among those who have shopped for years at Sasso.

“We will wrap gifts for you,” Becca explained with pride. “Our signature wrapping is the white box with gold ribbon, which everyone in the community knows about.”

For Becca, Sasso is more than just a business; it’s part of her family.

“This is definitely a family affair,” said Becca. “I couldn’t do it without the support of my husband. He’s been behind me 100% from day one. I have to give a shout out to my parents. They have supported me so much through the years with everything that I’ve done in my life. My dad has taught me the importance of hard work.”

Customers may also encounter another important member of the family business roaming the sales floor at Sasso: Becca’s beloved English Cream retriever, Elsie.

“She’s everything to me because she gives me that smile when I come home after a long day,” shared Becca with palpable joy in her voice. “She always brightens my day. You may see her in the store at times as she visits us every now and then.

“Customers love Elsie,” said Becca with a chuckle. “She always brings a smile to people’s faces. I know for me, if I’m having a tough day, a dog can always take those worries away.”

A store that matters

Beyond the store, Becca is active in her community. This year, she is a proud sponsor of The Spring Valley Red Devils youth baseball season, reflecting Becca’s commitment to supporting local organizations and giving back.

Becca wants people to appreciate what a brick-and-mortar store brings to smaller cities in Illinois and why shopping locally matters.

“People can just open their laptop and buy whatever they want at any time,” explained Becca. “That does make it convenient for some people. But, that can be a challenge for us. The way we get around it is tremendous, hands-on customer service. You can come in the store and actually touch the item rather than just seeing it on the computer screen.”

Everyone loves Sasso!

For customers a trip to Sasso is like a wonderful, treasure hunt. People can always find something new and different, leaving with a unique gift that will get noticed.

“I love putting a smile on people’s faces,” Becca shared. “I love customers coming in the door, knowing that they’re going to walk out happy with what they purchased. I also absolutely love being out and about around town and seeing our jewelry on our customers. When people see me they know, ‘Hey, that’s Becca from Sasso!’”

Becca’s journey to owning Sasso is guided with sense of purpose and faith.

“I believe in life, you always end up where you’re supposed to be,” reflected Becca with emotion in her voice. “I never left Drew and Denise’s side. I always stayed here with them. Deep down, I just knew that maybe someday I would really take over this place and end up where I’m supposed to be.”