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A potent concentration of famous retailers around Michigan Avenue and neighborhoods bursting with one-of-a-kind stores combine to make Chicago a shopper's paradise. Michigan Avenue's legendary Magnificent Mile lures thousands of avid shoppers every week. How often can you find Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barneys New York within walking distance of one another? In recent years State Street has regained some of its former glory as well, with discount department stores sharing prime real estate with trendier clothing boutiques and the Block 37 retail development.
Neighborhood shopping areas, like fun-but-sophisticated Lincoln Park, eclectic Lakeview, and the hipster haven of Wicker Park/Bucktown, offer countless independent stores that cater to every desire, whether Prairie tyle furniture, cowboy boots, or outsider art. And there are countless smaller shopping enclaves within these neighborhoods that have concentrated clusters of antiques stores, home-furnishings shops, high-end boutiques, and other specialty stores. Those averse to paying retail won't have to venture far to unearth bargains on everything from fine jewelry to business attire. When it comes to shopping, this is one city that has it all.
Be forewarned that a steep 9.5% sales tax is added to all purchases in the city except groceries and prescription drugs. Neighborhood shops on the North Side, especially those in Wicker Park and Bucktown, tend to open late—around 11 or noon. Most stores, particularly those on North Michigan Avenue and the North Side, are open on Sunday, although this varies by type of business (galleries, for example, are often closed on Monday); where applicable, more information is provided at the beginning of each category.
This general store takes its name from the custom framing business that launched them, but travelers are much more likely to pay them a visit for the vast array of cards, gifts, books, socks, stickers, vintage items, and Chicago-centric souvenirs they've curated. The original Lakeview location and the Andersonville location have both spawned standalone framing businesses, leaving the boutiques plenty of space to focus on fun products.
Descriptive synonyms for "gallimaufry" include jumble, assortment, medley, and hodgepodge, which fairly describes the items—many handcrafted—available here. Shoppers with an eclectic taste will appreciate the tightly packed selection of greeting cards, wood carvings, jewelry, and incense.
Bring home a tin of Chicago's famous popcorn and you'll score major points. Lines can be long, but this stuff is worth the wait. To avoid lines, you can place an order in advance on the website, then go to the pickup window at certain Garrett’s locations, including the one on the Mag Mile.
In a block-long, 10,000-square-foot space, Asian furnishings and artifacts are arranged in vignettes depicting various eras and regions, from a British Colonial reception hall to a Chinese scholar's courtyard. The vast collection includes a line of custom-designed modern furnishings made from reclaimed wood. If you can't fit that must-have Burmese colonial bookcase or mid-century Chesterfield in your suitcase, cheer up: purchases can be shipped around the world.
Local DJs and club kids go to Gramaphone to find vintage and cutting-edge dance, house, techno, and hip-hop releases. You can hear them on the spot at one of the store's listening stations. It also stocks merch like slipmats for your turntable, products for maintaining your record player, and Chicago house music–themed apparel.
Previously the Richard Gray Gallery, this location of Gray (there's also one in West Town) lures serious collectors with work by modern artists ranging from Pablo Picasso and David Hockney to Alex Katz and local artist Theaster Gates.
This family-owned store in the Hancock Building stocks a well-chosen selection of stylish and comfortable brands, including Thierry Rabotin, On Running, Mephisto, Birkenstock, Hoka One One, and more.
Travel back to antiquity amid this wondrous trove of classical Greek, Roman, and Byzantine coins and artifacts. Don't miss the gallery rooms in the back.
The folks at this family-owned wineshop know their stuff but aren't in the least pretentious about helping you find a bottle that suits your needs, whether you're building your cellar with rare vintages or in the market for a $15 bottle for dinner.
This Humboldt Park lifestyle boutique is packed with stylish treasures. The selection of tableware is a particular strength, favoring natural woods, sculptural glasses, and enamelware in a 1970s palette. There are also cool clutches, handmade earrings, letterpress cards, and feminist buttons and stickers.
The striking red facade of this flagship is unique and stylish, as is the merchandise inside, selected by fashion maven Ikram Goldman, known as the informal stylist to Michelle Obama. There are clothing and accessories from well-known designers like Azzedine Alaïa, Comme des Garcons, Gucci, and Valentino, as well as lesser-known brands like Muveil and Undercover. The Ikram sales staff is welcoming and knowledgeable and skilled at helping customers develop their style.
This quirky hole-in-the-wall specializes in greeting cards, art prints, jewelry, candles, stickers, and other design-forward gifts and collectibles, including many crafted by local artists. There's also a small collection of curated vintage items and clothing on hand.
Iwan Ries didn't just jump on the cigar bandwagon; the family-owned store has been around since 1857. Cigar smokers are welcome to light up in a designated area, which also displays antique pipes. Almost 100 brands of cigars are available, along with 15,000 or so pipes, deluxe Elie Bleu humidors, and many other smoking accessories.
Jameson may love Danger (the store was named for the owner's two dogs), but Andersonville pet lovers love this boutique shop that offers high-quality pet food, treats, toys, and supplies for dogs and cats. Grooming services and walking services are also available, if you've traveled to Chicago with a haircut-needing pooch who needs to get out of the AirBNB for an afternoon.
The largest concentration of wholesale and retail jewelers in the Midwest has been housed in this building since 1921, and it's open to the general public. Roughly 190 retailers span 13 floors, offering all kinds of jewelry, watches, and related repairs and services.
Established in 1969, this iconic gallery has an amazing collection of Audubon prints and specializes in antique natural-history pieces.
Off-kilter fun is the unifying principle behind the eclectic goods at Judy Maxwell Home, a gift shop owned by Chicago-bred actress Joan Cusack. Pop in to buy disappearing ink, a candle that looks uncannily like a bowl of Fruit Loops, or earrings shaped like tiny dentures for that friend with the wacky sense of humor.
This well-stocked vintage shop is pure flashback fun. In addition to some fashion-forward pieces, Knee Deep specializes in apparel and accessories from the '20s to the '90s, with some vintage home furnishings and ephemera thrown in for good measure.
This unusual vintage shop specializes in loud, bold clothing, shoes, and accessories from the '80s and '90s. Period pop culture is a particular fascination here; on a given browse you might find a Garfield ringer tee or American Gladiators trading cards.
This boutique is a two-story treasure trove of well-curated must-haves for women from mindful, environment-friendly designers like Aviator Nation, Rag & Bone, and Ulla Johnson, all of which reflects the style of the trendy Southport Corridor.
Whether you're looking for a hot new release, some deep cuts on vinyl, a cult classic on DVD or VHS, or just something new to spin during your visit, the staff at Laurie's will be happy to help find what you need or suggest something new.
"Eclectic" best describes the collection at this longtime Roscoe Village antique shop, with jewelry, advertising pieces, radios, furniture, lighting, artwork, and other various collectibles on hand. Lazy Dog also sells and rents pieces to local TV productions, so the piece you buy today might also show up on your screen at home.
This family-owned business, the former Chicago Watch Center, has one of the city's most outstanding inventories of used luxury watches.
Dedicated to modern lighting, this 3-story, 20,000-square-foot showroom is an essential stop for designers and architects, not to mention passersby drawn to the window displays. Lightology is the brainchild of Greg Kay, who started out as a roller-disco lighting designer in the 1970s.
Dozens of dealers carrying antiques and collectibles share this large space. Mostly focused on furniture and housewares, there's a good selection of French and mid-century modern pieces here, plus estate jewelry, oil paintings, and other artwork.
Trumpette, Wes & Willy, and Petunia Picklebottom are just some of the funky kids' labels at this cute neighborhood shop. There's also a fun selection of children's reading material.
There's a great selection of swimwear, workout clothes, and yoga gear here.
Once a mobile shop operating out of a 1976 Dodge RV, Lost Girls is now a brick-and-mortar store in Ukrainian Village (with an additional location in Logan Square). True to its theme of fun and adventure, you never know what you'll stumble upon. But you're sure to leave with a gem, be it a '50s cocktail dress or '70s beaded handbag. Stock is helpfully arranged by decade, so you can head straight for your favorite era.
The international contemporary furniture in this 21,000-square-foot showroom includes pieces by Philippe Starck and Antonio Citterio. Sleek kitchen designs and tabletop pieces are from Zaha Hadid and other edgy designers from around the globe.
