Shopping in Chicago
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Strange Cargo
The retro store stocks kitschy iron-on T-shirts featuring Ditka, Obama and other renowned Chicagoans.
reviewed
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John Fluevog Shoes
Bold and colorful shoes by the eccentric designer are the order of the day at this close-out haven. They come as tough-girl chunky or sex-kitten pointy as you like, and there are equally hip selections for men.
reviewed
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C
Hoypoloi
Hoypoloi is more upscale than most Chinatown stores – it’s actually a gallery filled with Asian artwork, glassware, funky lamps and other interior items. The wind-chime selection wins kudos.
reviewed
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D
New Maxwell St Market
Every Sunday morning hundreds of vendors set up stalls that sell everything from Cubs jerseys in the wrong colors to tube-sock 10-packs to tacos for $1. Don’t let the name mislead you: the market is not actually on Maxwell St, though it was for decades until the ever-sprawling University of Illinois at Chicago campus forced it to relocate. Also, it’s not really ‘new’ anymore, since the move happened in 1994. Still, it’s an entertaining place to nosh with abandon, pick up a new stereo or buy hubcaps (legitimately obtained, versus the days of yore, when odds were they’d be fresh from your own car).
reviewed
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E
Magnificent Mile
The city likes to claim that the Magnificent Mile, or ‘Mag Mile’ as it’s widely known, is one of the top five shopping streets in the world. It’s a bit of a boast, because most of the retailers here are just high-end department stores and national chains that are available throughout the country. Granted, the Mag Mile versions are more slicked up than usual, and their vacuum-packed proximity on Michigan Ave between the Chicago River and Oak St is handy. Probably what’s most magnificent is the millions of dollars they ring up annually. The road does go all out in December with a festive spread of tree lights and holiday adornments.
reviewed
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Threadless
Those seeking that perfect ironic, eccentric, limited-edition T-shirt will find it at Threadless. The company runs an ongoing T-shirt design competition on its website in which designers submit ideas and consumers cast votes (750,000 weekly). The company then releases the seven winning styles in limited quantities of 1500, and they’re only available for two weeks. The new designs appear in-store on Friday, before they’re posted online on Monday. Prices range from about $15 to $25. Bring back your shopping bag and get $1 off your next purchase. There’s a kid-focused outlet at 1905 W Division St.
reviewed
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Randolph Street Market
This market, which styles itself on London’s Portobello Market, has become quite the to-do in town. It takes place inside the beaux-arts Plumbers Hall, where more than 200 antique dealers hock collectibles, costume jewelry, furniture, books, Turkish rugs and pinball machines. One of the coolest facets is the Indie Designer Fashion Market, where the city’s fledgling designers sell their one-of-a-kind skirts, shawls, handbags and other pieces. In summer the action spills into the street. A free trolley picks up patrons at Water Tower Place hourly. Note there are no markets in January, April, October and December.
reviewed
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Maxwell Street Market
Every Sunday morning hundreds of vendors set up stalls that sell everything from Jesus statues to 10 packs of tube socks to power tools. Don’t let the name mislead you: the market is not actually on Maxwell St, though it was for decades until gentrification forced it onward. It has become a hot spot for foodies craving homemade churros, tamales, gorditas and other Mexican noshes, and for folks seeking cheap clothing, electronics and junk galore. The city now runs the market, and it’s supposed to be bringing back live blues bands, which were a feature back in the old days.
reviewed
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I
American Girl Place
This is not your mother’s doll shop; it’s an experience. Here, dolls are treated as real people: the ‘hospital’ carts them away in wheelchairs for repairs; the cafe seats the dolls as part of the family during tea service; and the dolls’ owners – usually outfitted in matching threads, naturally – take classes with their little pals. Creepy? Maybe a little, but the fact that the average shopper’s visit lasts three hours is a testament to the immersive environment. There are outlets in many cities now, but this flagship remains the largest and busiest.
reviewed
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Sports Authority
In a classic rags-to-riches story, Morrie Mages got his start in his family’s store in the old Maxwell St Jewish ghetto, where some of the city’s leading retailers launched their careers by selling clothes in the period between WWI and WWII. Mages built this into the world’s largest sporting-goods store, eventually moving it from Maxwell St into its own renovated eight-story warehouse here. Though Morrie sold the company for a fortune back in 1994, and the store is now owned by national chain Sports Authority, it still continues his discounting philosophy.
reviewed
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Athenian Candle Co
Whether you’re hoping to get lucky at bingo, remove a jinx or fall in love, this store promises to help with its array of candles, incense, love potions and miracle oils. Though they’ve been making candles for the city’s Orthodox churches on-site since 1919, the owners aren’t devoted to one religion: you’ll find Buddha statues, Pope holograms, Turkish evil-eye stones, tarot cards and door mezuzahs (parchment inscribed with Hebrew verses from the Torah). Unlike other stores of the ilk, which can be creepy, Athenian is tidy and the staff amiable.
reviewed
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Merchandise Mart
Beautifully restored in the early 1990s, the Mart contains a modest collection of chain stores on its lower floors. But the real allure lies on the upper floors devoted to distributor showrooms for home furnishings and other interior fittings. As you prowl the halls, you can find next year’s hot trends on display today. Technically, only retailers and buyers can shop on most of these floors, though LuxeHome, with its 100,000 sq ft of kitchen and bathroom fixtures, is open to the public (you must see the concierge to get a free ‘guide’).
reviewed
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Beadniks
Incense envelops you at the door, and you know right away you’re in for a hippie treat. Mounds of worldly baubles rise up from the tables. African trade beads and Thai silver-dipped beads? Got ’em. Bright-hued stone beads, ceramic beads, glass beads? All present. For $3 the kindly staff will help you string your choices into a necklace. Or take a workshop (two to three hours, $20 to $60) and learn to wield the pliers yourself; they take place most evenings throughout the week. The website has the schedule.
reviewed
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Loopy Yarns
This isn’t your grandma’s knitting shop. Loopy Yarns caters mostly to students from the nearby Art Institute, so the books, patterns, needles, hooks and designer yarns are about as hip as they come. Beginners can learn to knit or crochet in a workshop (two hours, $70 to $90, materials included), while advanced practitioners can learn more complex techniques while making a fair-isle hat or flip-top mittens (two hours, $20 to $60, materials not included). Check the website for the schedule.
reviewed
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Blommer Chocolate Store
Often in the Loop, a smell wafts through that’s so enticing you’d shoot your own mother in the kneecaps to get to it. It comes from Blommer Chocolate Factory, which provides the sweet stuff to big-time manufacturers such as Fannie May and Nabisco. Luckily, the wee outlet store sells a line of Blommer’s own goodies straight to consumers at cut-rate prices. The dark-chocolate-covered almonds reign supreme, and there’s a sweet selection of retro candies like Zots, Pop Rocks and Zagnut bars.
reviewed
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Chicago Antique Market
This market has become quite the ta-do in town. It takes place inside the beaux arts Plumbers Hall, where more than 200 dealers hock collectibles, costume jewelry, furniture, books, Turkish rugs and pinball machines. One of the coolest facets is the Indie Designer Fashion Market, where the city’s fledgling designers sell their one-of-a-kind skirts, shawls, handbags and other pieces. Hard-core antique hounds can pay $20 and get first crack at the goods from 7:30am to 9am on Saturday.
reviewed
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Q
Chicago Place Mall
This eight-story mall is occupied mostly by big chain stores such as Saks Fifth Ave and Talbots. Smaller stores that fill the gaps between the large retailers feel a little bit thrown-together, though Love From Chicago is one of the best places to get gifts and souvenirs, including the elusive Al Capone shot glass. Chicago Place Mall also boasts one of the most dramatic food courts in the city – the plant- and fountain-filled area has wonderful views.
reviewed
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R
Boring Store
The big orange sign out front will have you scratching your head, but do yourself a favor and step inside (don’t worry, those 25 surveillance cameras pointed at you are harmless). The place sells crazy-ass spy gear! Mustache disguise kits, underwater voice amplifiers, banana-shaped cases to hide your cell phone in – it’s genius. And better yet: profits from sales go toward supporting the after-school writing and tutoring programs that take place on-site at nonprofit group 826CHI.
reviewed
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Early to Bed
This low-key, women-owned sex shop is good for novices: it provides explanatory pages and customer reviews throughout the store, so you’ll be able to know your anal beads from cock rings from bullet vibes. Also on hand are feather boas, bondage tapes and vegan condoms (made with casein-free latex; casein is a milk-derived product usually used in latex production). Videos and books round out the offerings – the latter include serious resources like sex manuals for rape victims.
reviewed
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Architectural Artifacts
This mammoth, 80,000-sq-ft salvage warehouse, located a bit northwest of Lake View proper, is a treasure trove that prompts continual mutterings of ‘Where on earth did they find that ?’ Italian marionettes, 1920s French mannequins and Argentinean cast-iron mailboxes rest alongside decorative doors, tiles, stained-glass windows, fireplace mantels and garden furnishings. Be sure to step into the free attached Museum of Historic Chicago Architecture (a work in progress).
reviewed
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Wolfbait & B-Girls
Old ironing boards serve as display tables; tape measures, scissors and other designers’ tools hang from vintage hooks. You get that crafting feeling as soon as you walk in, and indeed, Wolfbait & B-girls both sells the wares (tops, dresses, handbags and jewelry) of local indie designers and serves as a working studio for them. Take a fabric book-binding workshop (two hours, $30, materials and drinks included), and who knows? Maybe your stuff will be for sale soon, too.
reviewed
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Tommy’s Rock & Roll Café
Located at the edge of Ukrainian Village, Tommy’s is hands-down the most rawkin’ guitar store in town. So grab a doughnut or a Polish sausage at the tiny front café, then strum (after you wash your hands!) the vintage axes in all their polka-dotted, snake-skinned, heart-shaped and Darth Vader-painted glory. Elvis impersonator photos, letters from Tom Petty, big-ass amps and a whole lot of handcuffs ratchet up the entertainment.
reviewed
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Jazz Record Mart
One-stop shop for Chicago jazz and blues CDs and vinyl.
reviewed
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Bon Bon
A mother-daughter team infuses the handmade chocolates with exotic, heady ingredients like rose petals, chilies and chai tea. As if that wasn’t sensuous enough, they then mold the pieces into figures from the Kama Sutra (as well as into little Buddhas and King Tuts, who are still kind of sexy). Serve the rich concoctions to the object of your affection, and you’ll be ripping each others’ clothes off in no time.
reviewed
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Y
Water Tower Place
Featuring the coolest fountain in all of Chicago mall-land (you’ll see it on your ride up the main escalator), Water Tower Place launched the city’s love affair with vertical shopping centers. Many locals swear this first one remains the best one. The mall houses 100 stores on seven levels, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Macy’s, Aritzia (the mod Canadian chain), Akira (the hip local clothing vendor) and American Girl Place.
reviewed