Holiday shopping is in full swing and there is no better time to take advantage than the weekend after Thanksgiving.
Sure, you can shop the Magnificent Mile, but there are many great shops across the city that deserve a little love too. Shop a little local for everyone on your holiday list. From the trendsetter to the foodie fanatic, this holiday haute list has a great selection of shops that will check off the naught and nice on your list.
Note: Many of these local shops are hosting their own Black Friday or Small Business Saturday sales.
Strangelovey curates great vintage finds from shop owner Kim Tanner. The finds vary from fabulous classic mirrors to MCM (Mid Century Modern tables), wardrobes and nightstands. Visit the storefront in person to shop the best vintage finds of this small business.
Galerie F makes the gift giving easy for the artist and collector on your holiday list. Find works from locally bases artists like Matthew Hoffman( You are Beautiful) and Sentrock ( Bird Masks)to that are in constant rotation at this Logan Square gallery.
Foursided has several locations throughout the city. My favorite location is located in Andersonville. A boutique of custom framing and local apothecary. The shop has even opened a holiday pop-up shop next door, that carries everything from ornaments to handmade holiday cards.
Mod + Ethico focuses on socially responsible and sustainable clothing, shoes, and accessories. The conscious collection of goods is located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. This is the perfect retailer for finding brands like Splendid, that meet one or more of the retailers quality standards, such as fair-trade practices of eco-friendly materials.
There is no better brand that represents Chicago. The network of five unique private label brands is created in and under one house in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. Founded by three native Chicagoans, Vic Lyod, Joe Freshgoods, and Rello the founders have seamlessly created a retailer of unique street-wear brands that represent their hometown on not only a local but global level.
Lori’s Shoes provides high-end department store quality brands shoes with no corporate b.s. Lori’s carries trendy brands like Dolce Vita to Pour La Victorie. The iconic shoes and accessories store is conveniently located across several neighborhoods in the Chicagoland area.
Timeless Toys has been the heart of the Lincoln Square community for over 23 years. The small, but mighty toy shop is the perfect alternative to big-box retailers. They offer a wide collection of toys, games, puzzles, dolls, books, and more. The passion and vision of this is neighborhood gem is kept alive by the current owner Scott Friedland.
Children come in various shapes and size and that is especially true of parents to pets. Paw Naturals prides itself in providing the best pet foods to its customers. The natural pet food store mission is to “supply nutrition that’s free from by-products, corn, soy, and wheat. This is a one-stop shop for pet gift giving. The store also supplies multivitamins as well as all-natural grooming supplies.
Give the gift of fabulous to your favorite kid this year with clothing from The Red Balloon Co. The store, once known for selling their handmade furniture and signature toy chests, is the ‘it’ store for a myriad of children’s items. Visit the retailer in Bucktown or Southport neighborhoods for a wide-range sure to meet your holiday needs.
Pastoral Artisan gives gifting giving a whole new meaning. The shop offers gourmet gift baskets. Baskets can be customized with a variety of goods, like the CH Build Bar. The CH Build Bar is comprised of Chicago’s own CH Distillery spirits as well as a mix of perfectly paired snacks. Pastoral makes hosting and attending any holiday party easy. The shop is also great for picking up a variety of wines and cheeses as well as other charcuterie and accompaniments such as jams and olives.
Gene’s Sausage shop offers a renowned delicatessen, butcher shop, and imported specialty items located in a unique two-story retail space in Lincoln Square. The infamous deli carries the highest in quality meats, over 40 different types of smoked sausages and meats made daily, along with over 30 homemade sliced deli meats. Gene’s meats and treats can be easily shipped throughout the U.S, just in case you decide to send some goods to a friend who is missing their native city this holiday season.
Not all foodies eat out. For those who prefer to be their own ‘Wolfgang Puck’, a gift from The Spice House is perfect. The Spice House location in Old Town, like the other locations, offers in house blended batches from across the globe. The company specializes in gift boxes that unique combine blends based on various ethnic neighborhoods in the city.
