Shopping
Whether you’re a window-shopper or a shopaholic, the Windy City satisfies with retail around nearly every corner and everywhere you look. Some neighborhoods are definite destinations. In the eight blocks of North Michigan Avenue between Oak Street and the Chicago River known as the Magnificent Mile, there are more than 450 stores alone, including those stacked into the eight-level Water Tower Place, considered the nation’s first vertical mall. Along the snug strip of Oak Street from North Michigan Avenue to State Street lie some of the glitziest boutiques—think Hermès, Prada, and Barneys New York. With limited street parking, this posh Gold Coast area even offers its own valet service. In Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Ukrainian Village, it’s all about the hip factor, while Lincoln, Southport, and Armitage avenues boast a trend-setting assortment of indie shops.
From a rare literary find at Printers Row bookstore to a relic of recording history at Permanent Records, from a fuzzy Folkmanis puppet at Timeless Toys to a haute custom gown at Ikram, Chicago shopping runs the gamut. The stores listed here give you a good dose of what you’ll find, some of the best of the best and the hidden gems, but by no means the full spectrum. If you can’t decide where to begin, consider taking a ShopWalk tour (773-255-7866, www.chicagoshopwalk.com) to get the lay of the boutique land. These tours, run by style expert Danielle Lutz, provide daily 2- or 4-hour group or private excursions to five different neighborhoods. Or simply embark on your own exploration. Happy shopping!
1. Barnes & Noble
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 871-3610
Address: 1441 W. Webster Ave.
Description: There are two of these big-box stores in the city, and about two dozen in surrounding suburbs. They specialize in a little of everything, with genres ranging from mystery novels to biographies, self-help to science fiction, travel to children’s books. Plus, they sell an impressive selection of magazines, toys and games, some DVDs, journals, stationery, and cards you won’t necessarily find at your local drugstore. Most stores also have author visits, story times, cafes, and free Wi-Fi. Hours vary, but generally open every day until at least 9 p.m. A second Chicago location is at 1130 N. State St. (312-280-8155).
2. The Book Cellar
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 293-2665
Description: From author readings to joke-telling workshops, book clubs to speed-dating events, this Lincoln Square bookstore embraces its diverse community with more than just its carefully edited book selection. Besides the regular reads, the tightly packed space (read: leave strollers outside) carries a wide assortment of local authors. Pick one up, then grab a Julius Meinl coffee and Southport Grocery vanilla cupcake or light sandwich in the cafe and enjoy the ambience. Open daily; Sun and Tues have limited hours.
3. Chicago Comics
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (800) 509-0333, (773) 528-1983
Address: 3244 N. Clark St.
Description: Searching for an old Archie & Friends, Batman, Avengers, or Doctor Who? From classic books to up-and-coming newcomers and one of the most extensive selections of indie titles in the Midwest, this neatly jam-packed store, founded in 1991, is where comic book fiends get their fix. Behind the counter, comic gems of yesteryear hang, while huge bins hold backstock books. Can’t find your favorite? If it’s not sitting in their basement storage, the dedicated staff will special-order it for you—or get it from their sister store Quimby’s. Kapow! Open daily starting most days at noon.
4. Europa Books
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (312) 335-9677
Address: 832 N. State St.
Description: Just off the beaten Mag Mile path, you’ll find this slice of literary Europe. Though not quite as storied as its Harvard Square sibling Schoenhof’s Foreign Books (founded in 1856), Europa is equally worldly with its focus on foreign-language literature, periodicals, and educational series. Special emphasis is given to French, Spanish, Italian, and German, but there are also items in Hebrew and Latin. Service can be hit-or-miss, but the unique finds keep ex-pats, culturally curious, foreign visitors, and language learners coming back. Open daily.
5. Open Books Ltd.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (312) 475-1355
Address: 213 W. Institute Place
Description: A bookstore with noble goals, this nonprofit used bookstore uses its proceeds to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. It began in 2006 with an initial 10,000 donated books stored in founder Stacy Ratner’s basement; by 2008, more than 200,000 books filled a warehouse. In 2009, the store opened, allocating space for writing and reading programs on the second level. The welcoming, whimsically decorated store—a coffee table that looks like stacked books, purple and red walls and bookshelves—now boasts about 50,000 books for sale at any given time, plus game nights, book review-writing open to anyone, author readings, children’s story times, and more. Open daily.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Address: 715 S. Dearborn St.
7. Quimby’s
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 342-0910
Address: 1854 W. North Ave.
Description: Founded in 1991 with the intent to carry “every cool, bizarre, strange, dope, queer, surreal, weird publication ever written and published,” this Wicker Park store with the Chris Ware mascot (a mouse that’s also named Quimby, but not named for it) delivers what it promised. You may be surprised, shocked, or even offended by some of it, but that’s all part of the First Amendment philosophy of owner Eric Kirsammer (who also owns Chicago Comics). Find everything from lowbrow art books like Bodies of Subversion: A Secret History of Women and Tattoo to adult (read: X-rated) graphic novels to consignment zines and some seriously off-beat kids stuff (Never Mind Your P’s And Q’s: Here’s the Punk Alphabet, Black Book of Colors). Open daily, usually from noon.
8. Sandmeyer’s Bookstore
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (312) 922-2104
Address: 714 S. Dearborn St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Brick walls, exposed wood ceiling beams, and creaky wood floorboards give this South Loop mainstay a rustic feel, just perfect for cozying up with a new release, bestseller, or old classic. The mom-and-pop shop has been selling them all since 1982 and has become the kind of bookstore that gets you excited about buying a bunch of books to stack by your bedside. There’s also a generous children’s book selection, and, if you ever have trouble finding what you’re looking for, just ask owners Ulrich or Ellen Sandmeyer. Open daily.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Address: 5757 S. University Ave.
10. Unabridged Bookstore
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 883-9119
Address: 3251 N. Broadway St.
Description: If the name doesn’t clue you in to what this Lakeview indie shop is all about, just take a step inside. Lots of insider staff recommendations, a book of the month, and usually a surprising themed table—“Chilling Scandinavian Mysteries,” for example—make it a must-visit for any book lover. Though owner Ed Devereux opened his store in 1980 to showcase gay and lesbian literature, he has always upheld a dedication to all genres, including general fiction, travel, home design, poetry, cooking, and his award-winning children’s section. Don’t miss the sale books too. Open daily.
11. Women & Children First
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 769-9299
Address: 5233 N. Clark St.
Description: There’s a whole lot of estrogen soaring through the stacks of this feminist-focused Andersonville bookstore, founded in 1979. Each staff member purports to be “a reader, a feminist, and a bookseller,” and they give extra attention to books by and about women. There is also a phenomenal children’s book nook—story times here are very popular—as well as lesbian and gay fiction and nonfiction. Open daily.
12. Akira
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 489-0818
Address: 1814 W. North Ave.
Description: It’s high style (not to mention, high heels) without the highfalutin’ price tags at this trend-setting local chain. Opened in 2002 at this original Bucktown location by college pals Erikka Wang, Jon Cotay, and Eric Hsueh, Akira instantly changed Chicago’s fashion landscape. They now boast 14 locations in the city and suburbs, including stores for men’s clothing and shoes, with more on the way. Wang is always on the lookout for the next best thing and comes up with fashion-forward finds like strappy, chunky-heeled shoes from Qupid, a Blaque Label asymmetrical chiffon tube dress, Urban Behavior cargo pants, and a gold-plate-and-leather cocktail ring from House of Harlow 1960 Jewelry Collection by Nicole Richie. Store hours vary; most open daily.
13. Art Effect
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 929-3600
Address: 934 W. Armitage Ave.
Insider Pick:
Description: This rambling Armitage Avenue boutique happily crosses the line between gift shop and women’s clothing store. For yourself, pick up a frilly Odd Molly Hawthorne blouse, Havaianas flip-flops, a V-neck Three Dots tee or a short-sleeve, uneven-hem Ella Moss dress. Then check everyone else off your list with gifty things like a cheese tasting party kit, MOR body products, a Jonathan Adler porcelain menorah, or Smencils scented pencils—kids go ape over flavors like bubble gum, root beer, and cotton candy. You might just keep those for yourself too. Open daily.
14. Blake
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (312) 202-0047
Address: 212 W. Chicago Ave.
Description: You’d better know where you’re going when you head to Blake, because there’s no welcome sign and no window display and you need to buzz to be allowed in. Fitting entry considering the showroomlike layout of this home for ready-to-wear high fashion—there’s just one size per garment out for viewing, for starters. Opened in 1984 by dynamic duo Marilyn Blaszka and Dominic Marcheschi, Blake boasts one of the most complete lines of big-time Belgian designer Dries Van Noten, along with other notables such as Givenchy, Marni, and Balenciaga. If you’re serious about fashion and have some serious cash to drop, you’ll find just what you’re looking for. Open Mon through Sat; closed Sun.
15. Casa De Soul
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (773) 252-2520
Address: 1919 W. Division St.
Description: Self-described “creative director” Kennedy Ashinze did a little soul-searching, chucked his stockbroker day job in 2004, and turned to a life of style. He has since made a name for himself with his Wicker Park shop and garnered fans of his funk sensibility seen through clothing. Though there’s a smattering of menswear, like club-casual tops by Freshjive, most of the racks reel in women with a globally hip, decidedly urban feel. And mixed in with the Elroy Apparel organic cotton dresses and flirty jackets by 2two, there are art mags, high-end headphones, and the latest musical offerings from musicians like Fela Kuti. Open daily.