Chicago
As if the hanging sausages, ripe cheeses and flaky pastries lining the shelves at this European market weren't enough, Gene's also rocks a rooftop summer…
Must-see shopping in The Great Lakes
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Detroit
Local boy Jack White opened Third Man, and it's a super-fun browse. The store sells records (of course), turntables, T-shirts and other gear, but the…
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Chicago
People form long lines outside this store on the Mag Mile. Granted, the caramel corn is heavenly and the cheese popcorn decadent, but is it worth waiting…
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Chicago
Buy a used book here and you’re helping to fund this volunteer-based literacy group’s programs, which range from in-school reading help for grade…
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Chicago
This emporium is frequently cited as one of the nation's best comic-book stores. Old Marvel Superman back issues share shelf space with hand-drawn works…
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Minneapolis
This indie record store sells a whopping selection of new and used CDs and vinyl, plus groovy hats, T-shirts and incense. It has the lowdown on the local…
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Chicago
This is not just a doll shop – it’s an experience. Kids can create a completely customized doll that looks just like them, and even buy matching outfits…
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Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
Chicago’s best indie-rock record and CD emporium lets you listen to everything before you buy. There's plenty of elbow room in the big, sunny space, which…
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Chicago Architecture Center Shop
Chicago
Browse through skyline T-shirts and posters, Frank Lloyd Wright note cards, skyscraper models and heaps of books that celebrate local architecture at this…
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Chicago
Hot chocolate in unexpected flavors like tea and cookies and brown butter is the fan favorite at this shabby-chic boutique. While you await your elixir of…
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Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
The epicenter of Chicago’s comic and zine worlds, Quimby’s is one of the linchpins of underground literary culture in the city. Here you can find…
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Wisconsin
On Saturdays, a food bazaar takes over Capitol Sq. It's one of the nation's most expansive markets, famed for its artisan cheeses and breads. Craft…
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John K. King Used & Rare Books
Detroit
This cluttered, multistory bookstore is a Detroit landmark sure to delight any bibliophile. Treasures await in the dusty stacks, and exploring the…
Chicago
Travel fiends and design junkies alike will delight in this charmingly curated shop, which deals in quirky finds such as tableware from steamships and…
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Chicago
At awesomely academic Seminary Co-op, you might run into a Nobel laureate or three. Local scholars adore this place, where you'll find no less than eight…
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Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
If you want to take a bit of Chi-town home with you, check out these locally made, Chicago-inspired wares – souvenirs with style. Just about anything that…
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Chicago
Decorated with vintage typewriters and old card-catalog bureaus that serve as desks, this small store for new and used books charms. Sliding ladders…
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Chicago
This is Columbia College's student store, where student artists and designers sell their wares. The shop carries original, handcrafted pieces spanning all…
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Chicago
Over a hundred indie vendors sell their fair-trade and locally made artisan wares in kiosks spread over three floors. Sweets, coffee, clothing, handbags,…
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Chicago
An impressive and thoughtfully curated collection of beer, wine and spirits, especially the flavored bitters and the prodigious amount of small-batch…
Chicago
Merz is a true turn-of-the-century European apothecary. Antique pharmacy jars contain herbs, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and supplements, and the…
Chicago
This appealingly curated shop in Humboldt Park stocks vintage modern home goods – from acapulco chairs to retro bar carts to colorful kilim rugs – as well…
Chicago
This spacious antique market in Edgewater – 75 dealers spread across 20,000 sq ft and two floors – is a treasure trove of 20th-century furnishings, from…
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Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
Old-school soul, Latin beats, American gospel, bass-stabbing hip-hop, every flavor of jazz – if it’s funky, Dusty Groove (which also has its own record…
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Chicago
This charming independent shop is better described for what it does not carry – no Barbies, Harry Potter books or trendy kiddie togs. Instead you’ll find…
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Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co
Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
This place sells 'espionagical wares' (aka crazy spy and detective gear): mustache disguise kits, underwater voice amplifiers, Sherlock Holmes deerstalker…
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Chicago
An Andersonville mainstay, this feminist independent bookstore has been around for more than 35 years. Book signings and author events happen most weeks…
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Chicago
Rotofugi has an unusual niche: urban designer toys. The spacey, robot-y, odd vinyl and plush items will certainly distinguish you from the other kids on…
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Chicago
A bombardment of fragrance socks you in the nose upon entering this Old Town spice house, which offers delicacies such as black and red volcanic salt from…
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Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
Bold and colorful shoes by the eccentric Canadian designer are the order of the day at this spacious haven for fans of funky footwear. They come as tough…
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Detroit
Pewabic’s famed tiles, known for their iridescent glazes, grace the Guardian Building and other landmark structures around town. The century-old studio…
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Chicago
Optimo is a Chicago institution, the last custom hat-maker for men in town. Want a lid like Al Capone's? Get one here, made with serious, old-school…
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Chicago
This slick shop outside Wrigley Field has every Cubs-logoed item you could dream of. Browse two stories of official team paraphernalia, including an…
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Woolly Mammoth Antiques & Oddities
Chicago
Part morbid curiosity shop, part eerie art installation. Creepy doll heads, a stuffed groundhog wearing a Superman cape, death masks, Victorian medical…
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Ohio
Bibliophiles go gaga in this sprawling German Village bookshop occupying a block of pre–Civil War era buildings. You’re guaranteed to get lost in the…
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Gold Coast
This hub of the Warehouse District is a one-stop shop for a local experience. Grab a cup of joe and a simple but perfect egg sandwich from BLK/MRKT cafe…
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Chicago
After ooohhing and aaahhing at the cool models of rockets, castles and dinosaurs scattered throughout the store, kids can build their own designs at pint…
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Wisconsin
The state's best cheese shop specializes in small-batch and hard-to-find local hunks. Browse the basket of 'orphans' by the cash register, where you can…
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Wicker Park, Bucktown & Ukrainian Village
It's a fine spot to browse for a pillbox hat or a classic houndstooth-check jacket. Along with its vintage wares, Una Mae’s has a collection of new, cool…
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Wisconsin
The heaving shelves are stacked with thousands of new, used and collectible books, making this an indispensable stop to pick up some travel reads or just…
