Chicago
This low-key, women-owned sex shop is good for novices, with explanatory signs and customer reviews to help you tell your anal beads from your bullet…
Must-see shopping in The Great Lakes
Chicago
Northsiders love this small deli-market for its cases filled with fresh, housemade Middle Eastern food: tubs of smoky roasted-eggplant dip and creamy…
Cincinnati
A real-deal, old-fashioned bookstore, in business since 1940, with shelves stacked to the ceiling on five floors. Used books, rare books, art books,…
Detroit
Perhaps the most well-known Detroit comeback brand, Shinola launched its flagship store here in 2013. Watches, bikes, notebooks and leather products, all…
Chicago
A wall of drawers contains 200 different kinds of top-notch loose-leaf tea – Indian black teas, Japanese sencha, Chinese gunpowder, South African rooibos…
Chicago
Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo puts on a spread that draws men and women of all ages. Take the escalators up from street level to the rainbow array of…
Chicago
Whenever you’re at a club, dancing to the beat, Groove is likely the source of the music. The company provides record stores around the world with down…
Chicago
This nonprofit group trawls local landfills and scrap yards for junked bikes and then brings them back to its warehouse and refurbishes them. Half get…
Chicago
True to its name, this laid-back comics store is tucked down a narrow alleyway off N Clark St. The wide selection features single-issue and graphic novels…
Chicago
The big-box retailer's downtown store sits in the landmark Sullivan Center building. It's a bit more upscale than the usual Target and it's a prime place…
Wisconsin
If you venture over to De Pere, 5 miles south of Green Bay, stop by this specialty chocolate-maker near the small downtown. It sells homemade chocolates…
Chicago
Rolling Stone magazine picked Dave's as one of the nation's best record stores. It has an 'all vinyl, all the time' mantra, meaning crate diggers will be…
Chicago
Set inside a massive former movie theater built in 1915, this resale shop has an ocean of browsable wares: racks and racks of clothing, furniture,…
Illinois
The moniker of this long-running Evanston favorite is misleading: rather than focusing on goods from Mexico, it stocks reasonably priced women's clothing,…
Chicago
After-Words is one of the few bookstores in this area. The new and used tomes spread over two floors. Upstairs holds children's, architecture and Chicago…
Cincinnati
Get ready to sift through two floors of used vinyl, with a smattering of CDs, books and pop-culture products thrown in. Shake It is also a record label,…
Cleveland
Look for the neon blue arrow pointing the way into this cool record store. Flick through piles of vintage vinyl, from jazz to classic rock, country, soul…
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
Do some olfactory ogling at this high-end Parisian perfumer's Bucktown boutique – its heady blends come in woody, citrus, floral and other scent…
Chicago
This small shop seems something like an alchemist's lab – and that's not far off. Book in an hour-long 'Signature Scent Creation' appointment ($60) and…
Chicago
Located across from Wrigley Field, Sports World overflows with – that’s right – sportswear. It carries all shapes and sizes of Cubs jerseys, T-shirts,…
Chicago
Who isn't tempted by a store whose windows beckon with a giant creepy clown face and wig-wearing dog mannequin in a velvet skirt? Hollywood Mirror…
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
The smell of incense greets you as you walk in to peruse the array of Bionic Woman lunch boxes, celebrity-saint pillar candles, New Kids on the Block…
Gold Coast
At first glance, this petite shop may seem spare, but surveying the wares it's soon evident that each item has been thoughtfully selected, from minimalist…
Chicago
This store offers top travel and outdoor gear for those looking to escape the concrete jungle, or at least get some abrasion-reinforced fleece to protect…
Chicago
Crossroads sells funky, name-brand used clothing for men and women that you can count on being in good condition. Lots of jeans usually hang on the racks,…
Chicago
The front sign at this Asian snack and candy store says 'Munchies Paradise,' and so it is. Sweet and salty treats fill the bulk bins, from dried salted…
Illinois
Owned by a mother–daughter team, this shop is an excellent spot to pick up one-of-a-kind souvenirs by independent artisans, many of whom are locally based…
Gold Coast
A real beauty, this Lakeside clothing and home-wares shop is the seasonal idyll of a Chicago-based professor of visual merchandising. Beyond a tidy picket…
Chicago
This flashy, four-story Nike brand store is fun to meander. It has loads of Cubs, White Sox and other local team gear, and pays homage to Chicago Bulls…
Ohio
More than 40 vendors offer produce, meats, cheeses and prepared foods in this renovated warehouse. Munch on French crepes, Greek spinach pies, Colombian…
Michigan
This cute-as-a-button, independent bookstore looks like Meg Ryan's shop in the film You've Got Mail. The sunny storefront is relatively small, but it has…
Chicago
This sunny, pastel-colored children's shop markets itself as inclusive. Browse the shelves for wood blocks, progressive children’s books, kite-making kits…
Chicago
What is the bizarre, five-story building on Michigan Ave that has an exterior covered in plaid? It's the British luxury fashion house Burberry, of course…
Ohio
Miller's is for the quilters in the crowd, offering more than 8000 bolts of calico and other fabrics, as well as notions and patterns galore. Colorful…
Lautenbach's Orchard Country Winery & Market
Door County
This roadside market is situated south of Fish Creek along the main Hwy 42. Stop in for locally made food and drink, including candies, snacks, pickles,…
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
Looking for a Street Sweeper or a pair of Lakais? Uprise is the city’s top spot for skateboarders to pick up gear, boards and tips on the local scene…
Chicago
This top-notch farmers market supports local producers, with all items for sale grown, raised or made within 200 miles. Besides local fish, meat, fruit…
Chicago
This leading store for used books can get you just about any title ever published. Shelf after heaving shelf props up the well-arranged stock. Staff…
Chicago
Gramaphone is a favorite of DJs and electronic music fans. It carries a vast selection of new and old, popular and underground house, techno, hip-hop,…
Indianapolis
These self-proclaimed 'purveyors of jewelry, housewares and whatnot' support over 100 small artisan business owners, 33 of which are from the Hoosier…
